The Muhlenberg men's wrestling team showcased some of its new talent - and some of its veterans - in the season-opening Tonee Ellis Memorial Tournament at Alvernia.

Senior CJ Horvath led the Mule contingent by placing second at 125. Junior Noah Schlofer came in seventh at 197, and four freshmen also earned places - Izaiah Santiago (third at 133), William Shakir (sixth at 285), Joseph Stanzione (tied for seventh at 157), and Daniel Berardi (eighth at 125).

Horvath picked up right where he left off last season, when he set the season and career records for technical falls, winning his first bout by tech. He added a decision and major decision to advance to the tournament's final for the third time in the last four seasons.

Schlofer, who recorded two technical falls all last winter, matched that total in his first competition of the new season, including one in the seventh-place match.

Santiago won the first three bouts of his career, two by fall, before suffering his first loss in the semifinals. He rebounded to take the third-place match, breaking a 1-1 tie against a Western New England foe on a takedown with 1:21 left.

Shakir won four straight bouts in the consolation bracket, including three straight by fall, one in 24 seconds. Stanzione pinned his first career opponent in 29 seconds before falling to the eventual runner-up, but he came back to win three consecutive consolation matches. Berardi dropped his first career bout to the eventual champion, then won the next three, two by major decision.

Among the Mules' other newcomers, freshman John Gagen recorded a pair of pins at 165.

Although he didn't place, sophomore Eoghan O'Hara (pictured above) had an impressive run through the consolation bracket, pinning three opponents in a row - all in less than 45 seconds.

Team Scores
1. Alvernia (Alv) 193.5
2. Albright (Alb) 155
3. Shippensburg (Ship) 131
4. Gettysburg (G) 128.5
5. Western New England (WNE) 126
6. Eastern (E) 125
7. Alfred State (Alf) 100
8. MUHLENBERG 77.5
9. Shenandoah (She) 74
10. Rowan College of South Jersey (R) 35
11. Delaware Valley 16.5
12. Bethany (B) 11.5
13t. Camden County College (CC) 4
13t. Thaddeus Stevens (TS)
15. Md.-Baltimore County 3

Muhlenberg Results
125
CJ Horvath (Muhl) tech fall Brandon Bates (Alb), 2:28 (17-2)
Horvath dec. Nathan Caracciolo (Ship), 4-1
Horvath maj. dec. Rocco Monteferrante (Alv), 10-0
final: Abramm Schaffer (Alv) pinned Horvath, 2:58

125
Abramm Schaffer (Alv) pinned Daniel Berardi (Muhl), 1:35
Berardi pinned Jordan Humes-Stewart (R), 1:18
Berardi maj. dec. Tristan Eckles (B), 14-4
Berardi maj. dec. Spencer Crawley (Alb), 18-9
Beniamino DiCocco (WNE) tech fall Berardi, 3:56 (15-0)
seventh place: Maximus Conley (Alb) pinned Berardi, 2:02

133
Izaiah Santiago (Muhl) pinned Torey Falkinburg (G), 5:45
Santiago dec. Quinn Carr (TS), 8-3
Santiago pinned Haji Saccoh (R), 1:23
Kade Pascoe (Alb) pinned Santiago, 1:13
third place: Santiago dec. Antonio Intinoli (WNE), 4-2

133
Antonio Intinoli (WNE) pinned Max Rotter (Muhl), 2:28
Rotter pinned Christian Caputo (Alf), 1:06
Quinn Carr (TS) dec. Rotter, 12-9

157
Gavin Pascoe (G) maj. dec. Eoghan O'Hara (Muhl), 10-1
O'Hara pinned Chance Gatley (B), 0:39
O'Hara pinned Jose Alvarenga Giron (She), 0:36
O'Hara pinned Nate Racz (Alf), 0:43
Aiden Swann (Alv) pinned O'Hara, 2:45

157
Joseph Stanzione (Muhl) pinned Seth Watkins (B), 0:29
Brandon DellaPia (Alf) maj. dec. Stanzione, 8-0
Stanzione pinned Bryan Mpengo (She), 1:21
Stanzione dec. Conlan Boyer (G), 12-8
Stanzione dec. Elijah Trader (CC), 11-5

157
Jose Alvarenga Giron (She) tech fall Isaac Obando (Muhl), 4:17 (17-1)
Michael Trainor (Ship) pinned Obando, 1:01

165
John Gagen (Muhl) pinned Max Milligan (G), 5:55
Teghan McConnell (WNE) pinned Gagen, 2:41
Gagen pinned Jordan Suiter (CC), 3:49

184
Lucas Velando (Muhl) maj. dec. Tanner Shaffer (Ship), 13-4
Cole Hosey (Alv) over Velando by medical forfeit, 1:22

184
Abdoul Akala (Alb) pinned Xandder Ky (Muhl), 0:34
Ky pinned A. Rubin, 2:28
James Hopkins (E) tech fall Ky, 2:12 (19-4)

184
Jonny Beckett (E) maj. dec. Archie Rubin (Muhl), 14-3
Rubin pinned Braden Catlett (G), 0:31
X. Ky pinned Rubin, 2:28

197
Noah Schlofer (Muhl) dec. Ean Wilson (G), 9-7
Caidyn Leaf (Alb) maj. dec. Schlofer, 11-3
Schlofer tech fall Nicholas Morey (E), 5:23 (21-4)
Wilson dec. Schlofer, 5-3
seventh place: Schlofer tech fall Chase Lewis (Alb), 2:26 (16-1)

285
Tristan Cooper (Alv) pinned William Shakir (Muhl), 3:36
Shakir pinned Chimdi Adim (CC), 0:24
Shakir pinned Austin DeBolt (Alf), 5:47
Shakir pinned Ross Worlds (E), 1:58
Shakir dec. Aaron Johnson (Alf), 4-2

285
Colton Hai (Alf) maj. dec. Carter Van Kley (Muhl), 17-6
Daniel Basil-Barker (She) pinned Van Kley, 1:05