Recent Muhlenberg College graduate and wrestling standout Matt Loesch has been named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Men’s At-Large Team (College Division), selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). He was a second-team choice.

Loesch, the first Academic All-American in the history of the Mule wrestling program, also is the most accomplished wrestler Muhlenberg has produced, earning All-America honors three straight years. He is only the second athlete in College history to be an All-American and an Academic All-American; the other was softball pitcher Elaine Gratrix ’91.

Loesch’s fourth-place finish in the 197-pound weight class in 2005 is the best ever by a Mule at the NCAA Championships. He won four Centennial Conference titles and received the 2007 Chris Clifford Award as the senior with the most career tournament points. He finished his career with a record of 90-16 and was ranked first in Division III in his weight class as a junior.

Loesch, who graduated with a double major in psychology and business administration, was named to the Academic All-District II team each of the last two years. Last month, he was awarded an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship.

Also a two-year member of the Muhlenberg football team, Loesch was heavily involved in the life of the College apart from athletics, as executive secretary of Student Council, campus delegate, peer tutor and member of the church choir.

The Academic All-America program annually honors over 1,600 student-athletes who have succeeded at the highest level on the playing field and in the classroom. To be eligible, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.20 on a scale of 4.00 and have reached sophomore athletic and academic standings at his current institution. The Men’s At-Large program includes the sports of fencing, golf, gymnastics, hockey, lacrosse, rifle, skiing, tennis, volleyball, water polo and wrestling.