33 / 52
Lansberry went to Line Mountain High
School, placing twice at the PIAA Class
AA championships and finishing as the
state runner-up his senior year.
He came to Lycoming on the
recommendation of brother, Nick ’11, with
high expectations. He won a freshman-
record 35 matches before winning 31 more
as a sophomore.
“I wanted to do good things, but I didn’t
realize how much work you have to put
in,” Lansberry said. “I got that little taste
and just wanted to work harder for it.”
He came back from a season-ending
injury in 2015 by winning 38 matches
as a junior and finishing second at the
NCAA Regional to earn his first bid to
the Division III Championships, where he
finished fourth. During the breakthrough
season, he became the fifth Warrior to
reach 100 career wins, sitting 23 away
from the school record of 127 set by Royce
Eyer (1997-01).
“It has crossed my mind,” Lansberry
smiles and says when asked about the wins
record. “Having Nolan so close has pushed
me to work harder. I hate losing, though,
so that is extra motivation.”
A three-time district champion at
Clearfield Area High School, Barger
finished fourth in the PIAA as a senior,
leaving him seeking more when he
followed his brother, Tom ’11, and sister,
Emily ’15, to Lycoming College.
As a freshman, he won 29 matches
at 157 pounds before moving to a new
weight class as a sophomore, finishing
36-8 at 165 pounds, winning the NCAA
Mideast Regional with two wins over
nationally-ranked opponents. Last year,
he was the marked man — ranked second
from the start of the season to the NCAA
Championships. He won his first 31
matches, the second-longest streak in
program history, and he picked up his
second All-American honors.
Much like Lansberry, he enters this
season within reach of the program’s all-
time wins mark and he could become the
first three-time All-American in program
history.
“The goal is to win the tournament,”
Barger said, with an intent focus in his
gaze. “I don’t want to end on the same note
that I did the last two years. I just want to
constantly improve.”
During his sophomore season, Conrad
won 36 matches for the Warriors before
his outstanding work as a chemistry
major helped him earn recognition as an
Academic All-American.
A two-time section and district
placewinner at Bloomsburg High
School, Conrad didn’t come to
Lycoming with the sparkling resume
of Barger or Lansberry. He won the
starting job at 174 pounds early in his
freshman year, though.
Now as a junior, he is primed to
continue working toward a national
qualifier, All-American status and a
national title.
“My first day of college, Dr. [Jeremy]
Ramsey [assistant professor of
chemistry], put a quote on the classroom
board that said, ‘Discipline is choosing
what you want now and what you want
most,’” Conrad said. “That has stuck
with me.”
The Warriors have had some great
wrestling trios and quartets in the past,
from Lee Wolfe, Harry Romig and Bill
Kehrig in 1960 to Eyer, Eric Walker,
Andy Lausier and Rob Cosper in
2000, but the trio of Barger, Lansberry
and Conrad could once again firmly
implant the Warriors back in the heart
of the discussion of the best programs
in Division III. Of course, they’d also
welcome any of their teammates along
for the ride.
“I wasn’t in the top 30 my sophomore
year when I qualified for the first time,”
Barger said. “We have guys in the room
that have a chance to make the podium.
A few big wins and peaking at the right
time is a big factor.”
ens
iron
33
www.lycoming.eduAT H L E T I C F E AT U R E