Junior Matt Loesch of the Muhlenberg wrestling team is ranked first in Division III at 197 pounds in the Brute-adidas National Wrestling Coaches Association poll released this week.

Loesch, the first Mule ever to be ranked first at his weight class, “climbed” to the top spot in a roundabout way. An All-American after finishing fourth at the 2005 NCAA Championships, he was ranked fourth in the preseason poll. In the first regular-season poll, released Nov. 13, he climbed to second, as one wrestler ranked ahead of him had dropped down a weight class and another was ineligible until the second semester.

When the Brockport State wrestler ranked ahead of him was defeated at the Messiah-Petrofes Invitational, it opened the door for Loesch – even though he hadn’t competed yet. Loesch spent the fall with the Mule football team and was not ready for the Petrofes meet.

Loesch made his season debut at Muhlenberg’s home dual meet against Centenary and escaped with a 3-2 win in a rough nine-minute bout in which he got slammed on his head. The narrow win was enough to give Loesch the No. 1 ranking.

Loesch, who has a career record of 56-10, will get a chance to defend his ranking when the Mules travel to the Williams Invitational on Jan. 7. Among the teams scheduled to compete at the tournament is Ithaca, which has the seventh-ranked wrestler at 197.