The Muhlenberg men's wrestling team nearly pulled off a big comeback in its final match at the Virginia Duals.

After dropping their first match to The Apprentice School, 33-14, the Mules (2-3) wrestled Liberty in the 11th-place contest. Trailing 20-11 through six bouts, the Mules took the next three to take a 22-20 lead, but Liberty won at 285 to eke out a 23-22 win.

Sophomore 174-pounder Noah Schlofer led Muhlenberg with a pair of successful comebacks on the day. Against Apprentice, he fell into an early 6-1 hole but recorded three third-period takedowns to score a 12-9 win.

In the Liberty match, Schlofer (pictured above) again was taken down twice in the first period to fall behind, 6-1. Competing against a 2025 NCWA All-American, he forged ahead with two takedowns in the second period, then rode his opponent out for the entire third period to win, 12-7.

Schlofer's win made the score 20-14, and back-to-back major decisions by junior Nick Stump at 184 and senior Ryan Fairchild at 197 gave the Mules the lead heading into the final bout.

Stump's major capped a 4-0 weekend that included three pins. Fairchild went 3-1 with a major, technical fall, and pin.

Junior CJ Horvath (125) and freshman Eoghan O'Hara (149) also recorded wins against Liberty. Horvath built a 15-0 lead in the first period for his 16th career technical fall, capping a 3-0 tournament. O'Hara notched his team-leading eighth pin of the season.

Box Scores
Apprentice School 33, Muhlenberg 14
125 Lucas Vannostrand (A) tech fall Max Rotter, 3:00 (18-1)
133 Aiden Vasquez (A) pinned Jace Yannucciello, 4:22
141 Landon Yoder (A) tech fall David Rosenfarb, 5:45 (25-7)
149 Michael Phoutasen (A) dec. Eoghan O'Hara, 10-3
157 Dimetrus Wince (A) tech fall Trey Miletics, 5:00 (25-9)
165 Owen Cherry (A) dec. Tyson Derenberger, 4-1
174 Noah Schlofer (M) dec. Logan Eastman, 12-9
184 Nick Stump (M) pinned Lucas Sumners, 1:23
197 Ryan Fairchild (M) tech fall Chase Smith, 3:47 (18-0)
285 David McElravy (A) won by forfeit

Liberty 23, Muhlenberg 22
125 CJ Horvath (M) tech fall Landon Starnes, 2:08 (15-0)
133 Brodie Altman (L) tech fall Jace Yannucciello, 3:28 (18-1)
141 Nicholas Schmucker (L) pinned David Rosenfarb, 1:45
149 Eoghan O'Hara (M) pinned Christian Knuckles, 2:27
157 Matox Allen (L) pinned Trey Miletics, 2:37
165 Jordan Scott (L) dec. Tyson Derenberger, 7-3
174 Noah Schlofer (M) dec. Drake Bowers, 12-7 
184 Nick Stump (M) maj. dec. Ronald Black, 17-6
197 Ryan Fairchild (M) maj. dec. Braden Ewing, 18-7
285 Wade Wheeler (L) dec. Hayk Grigorian, 7-0

bonus matches
125 Max Rotter (Muhl) maj. dec. Caiden Lucente (Marymount), 14-3
157 Gunner Hostetter (MSU Moorhead) pinned Jack Nickell (Muhl), 2:36
157 Aiden Karlie (East Stroudsburg) pinned Jack Nickell (Muhl), 0:30
165 Joshua Estrada (Marymount) pinned Jack Nickell (Muhl), 2:12
174 Xandder Ky (Muhl) pinned Cody Freer (Marymount), 1:30
174 Tommy Grimley (East Stroudsburg) pinned Noah Schlofer (Muhl), 2:10
174 Kishmar Eberline (MSU Moorhead) pinned Zach Cohen (Muhl), 1:22
184 Kishmar Eberline (MSU Moorhead) maj. dec. Archie Rubin (Muhl), 16-3