The Shippensburg University wrestling team enters the 2013-14 season ranked sixth in the Atlantic Region in both the Super Region I rankings compiled by coaches and the Basford Division II rankings.

Shippensburg is coming off back-to-back seasons of 12 or more dual-meet victories for the first time since 1997-98 and 1998-99. Just a year ago, the Raiders placed sixth at the 2013 NCAA Super Region I Championships and seventh at the PSAC Championships – their best finish at each event since 2007.

Overall, SU returns 15 wrestlers from last year's squad. The group includes five Atlantic Region place-winners and two national qualifiers.

Shippensburg has 22 dual meets on its schedule in addition to competition at tournaments. Among the bouts the Raiders have on tap this season include clashes with Division I opponents Lock Haven and Bucknell scheduled for this weekend.

The PSAC will continue to hold its championship tournament in early December for the 12 PSAC schools that sponsor the sport (regardless of division). For the second consecutive year, a PSAC team champion will also be awarded based on the results of the regular-season head-to-head dual meets between the eight schools sponsoring wrestling at the Division II level (Shippensburg, Kutztown, Millersville, East Stroudsburg, Mercyhurst, Gannon, Seton Hill and UPJ.

Also among SU's regionally-ranked wrestlers entering the season are sophomore Cameron Throckmorton, who won last year's 133-pound regional title (SU's first regional champion in four years), and freshman newcomer Evan Ramos of Hawthorne (N.J.) High School.

SU has three wrestlers ranked No. 4 at their respective weight class. Senior Simon Rice (141 pounds) returns from a redshirt season, while sophomore Luke Etter (174 pounds) was a regional place-winner two years ago. Sophomore Bobby Scheivert (165 pounds) took third at the 2012 PSAC Championships last December – marking the best conference finish by a Raider wrestler in three years. He totaled 12 victories during the season and led the Raiders with eight pins.

Among the other veteran returners are junior Neal Grudi, a two-time NCAA regional place-winner, and senior heavyweight Jacob Nale.