June 26, 2007

Erie, Pa. - Mercyhurst wrestling coach Tony Cipollone has announced the signing of six athletes for the 2007-08 season. After graduating just two wrestlers from a successful 2006-07 squad, the Lakers are built for a strong year.

Cipollone announced the signing of Lance Pitcel (Richmond High School, Michigan), Trevor Delahoy (Southwestern High School, New York), Phil Dukes (Ravenna High School, Ohio), Joe McCullough (Cathedral Prep High School, Pennsylvania), Sean Will (Lake Shore High School, New York), and Chris Boyes (Northwest High School, Pennsylvania). Those six join two-time heavyweight state champion Nathan Sharp (West Branch High School, Ohio), who was announced in December as an early signing.

Pitcel placed second in the Michigan State Championships in 2007 at 133 after going 53-6. He placed seventh in the state as a junior and eighth as a sophomore, finishing with a career record of 170-41.

Delahoy, who wrestles 157, placed fifth in the New York State Championships this year and went 40-8 on the season. He had a career record of 138-30.

Dukes, a 165-pound wrestler, finished third at the Ohio State Championships in 2007 after placing sixth a year earlier. He finished with a career record of 135-26, including a 42-7 mark as a senior.

McCullough wrestled at 125 and placed fifth in the Pennsylvania State Championships in 2006. He had a career record of 93-20.

Will was a sectional placer at 149 with a record of 29-4 as a senior. His career record was 89-32.

Boyes was a two-time District 10 qualifier at 184 in Pennsylvania with a career record of 77-39, including a 30-5 record as a senior.

Mercyhurst went 11-6-1 in 2006 and placed 15th at the NCAA Division II National Championships. Three wrestlers were named All-Americans and six wrestlers competed at the National Championships. Cipollone won his 100th career match in a victory over rival Gannon and is now 110-90-1 in 11 years, including 66-41-1 in six seasons at Mercyhurst.