Mike Wehler was named the second wrestling coach in Mercyhurst College history on August 1, 2007.

His first season at the helm was a success, as the Lakers finished ninth at the NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships, and two wrestlers, Hudson Harrison and Josh Shields, earned All-American honors.

Wehler helped Harrison finish as the national runner-up at 165 pounds and Shields to a fourth-place finish at 174. Harrison became only the third Laker in program history to compete in a national title bout. Three other Lakers qualified for the national championships and 149-pounder Brian Pogel and 157-pound Andy Lamancusa won East Region Championships.

With Wehler's direction, Pogel posted a school-record 34 victories and Harrison posted a personal best with 33 wins. Pogel climbed as high as No. 3 in the national poll after defeating the defending national champion at the NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals.

The Lakers posted a 10-14 dual record and wrestled a formidable schedule, facing seven Division I opponents and nine nationally-ranked Division II programs. Wehler's Lakers also took first place at the National Catholic Invitational and Ashland's Simonson Invitational.

Prior to coming to Mercyhurst, Wehler spent three years leading a historically successful program at West Liberty State. While there, he continued and built on the tradition. In three seasons, he coached four Division II All-Americans, 12 national qualifiers, and 21 Academic All-Americans.

In 2007, four of his wrestlers recorded at least 20 victories, and as a team, the squad set or tied five team records. Individually, four wrestlers qualified for nationals.

Wehler's coached 174-pound Tommy Clark to an NCAA Division II East Region Championship, helped him to 42 wins (the second-best single season mark in school history) and three new career records in major decisions, decisions and ride time. At the end of the 2007 season, Wehler's wrestlers broke five individual school records.

His 2007 squad also placed at the NWCA National Duals. Wehler finished his three-year stint at West Liberty with an overall dual meet record of 27-20.

Not only did Wehler's team excel on the mat, but also in the classroom. In his first season at the helm, six Hilltoppers earned Academic All-American status. The following year, seven were honored and in 2007, eight were give the award. That same 2007 team finished second in all of Division II in team GPA with a mark of 3.365.

Prior to his time at West Liberty State, Wehler was a graduate assistant coach at North Carolina at Pembroke in Pembroke, N.C. He was also the head wrestling coach at Hollidaysburg Area Senior High in Hollidaysburg, Pa. from 2000-02 and an assistant coach at Williamsport High School in Williamsport, Pa. from 1999-00.

Wehler wrestled at NCAA Division I Lock Haven from 1995-99 where he wrestled at 118 and 125. He was a memer of the 1996 and 1997 PSAC Championship teams and the EWL title winner in 1997.

He was named to the Dean's List four times and received his bachelor's degree in health and physical education in May of 2000. He then earned his master's degree in physical education from North Carolina at Pembroke and will complete his doctor of education in physical education teacher education from West Virginia in the fall of 2008.

Contact: mwehler@mercyhurst.edu