The Muhlenberg wrestling team fell to Ursinus, 23-13, in its final dual match of the season.

The Mules (9-3, 4-1) would have clinched the Centennial Conference dual championship with a win against the Bears (8-2, 3-0), who are the defending CC champions. With 12 regionally ranked wrestlers taking to the mat, the match was closely contested throughout, and the outcome was in doubt until the final bout.

Two Muhlenberg wrestlers posted wins against Bears who were ranked higher in the region.

After Ursinus won the first bout at 174 with a major decision, sophomore Ryan Fairchild, ranked fourth in the Mideast Region, squared off against the third-ranked wrestler, who came in with a season record of 27-4. Fairchild (pictured above) was taken down in the second period and trailed 4-2 before scoring a dramatic takedown with just two seconds left in the third period. A point of riding time for the Ursinus wrestler sent the bout into sudden victory tied at 5-5, and Fairchild ended it with a takedown 28 seconds into the extra period.

The Bears won another overtime bout at 285 to take a 10-3 lead, but the Mules came out on top at the three lightest weights to go ahead, 13-10.

Following a 4-0 decision at 125 by senior Joey Lamparelli and a 16-4 major at 133 by junior Frank DiEsso, freshman Andrew Loniewski, who is unranked, opposed the eight-ranked 141-pounder in the region. A first-period takedown by Loniewski was the difference in a 4-2 decision, his 19th win of the season.

Ursinus won the next two bouts with bonus points to regain the lead at 19-13. The Mules needed a pin at 165 to win, but the Bears' lone nationally ranked wrestler scored a major decision to close out the match.

Ursinus 23, Muhlenberg 13
174 Sean Cowan (U) maj. dec. Tyson Derenberger, 9-1
184 Ryan Fairchild (M) dec. Maxwell Borton, 8-5 (sv)
197 Nils Updale (U) dec. Paul Parise, 8-4
285 Jake Ahmad (U) dec. Andrew Franklin, 2-1 (sv)
125 Joey Lamparelli (M) dec. Franco Mazza, 4-0
133 Frank DiEsso (M) maj. dec. Evan Shriberg, 16-4
141 Andrew Loniewski (M) dec. Andrew Schaen, 4-2
149 Dante Monaco (U) maj. dec. Alex Greco, 15-3
157 Nick Lattanze (U) tech fall Chris Sockler, 1:55 (15-0)
165 Shawn Marchesano (U) maj. dec. Nick Stump, 15-3