A long layoff didn’t slow down the Muhlenberg wrestling team, which crowned three champions at the Roger Williams Mid-Winter Classic, its first competition in four weeks.

The Mules had placewinners in seven of the 10 weight classes and finished third in the eight-team event with 87.5 points, behind Williams and the 27th-ranked hosts.

One of the titlists came back from an even longer period of inactivity. Senior Matt

Tartar’s previous best tournament finish was third, three times: at the Ursinus Fall Brawl in 2004 and 2006 and at the 2005 Centennial Conference Championships.

Loesch, who hadn’t wrestled since earning All-America honors for the second year in a row last March, returned to win the 197-pound bracket. It was the sixth career title for Loesch, whose 2006-07 wrestling debut was delayed by an injury he suffered during the football season.

Also taking first place in their brackets were sophomore Billy Hall at 133 and junior Joe Tartar at heavyweight. Hall, wrestling for the first time since earning a national ranking of No. 7, won his second straight tournament with a 5-0 decision in the championship bout. Tartar pinned his final opponent to capture his first career title.

Two other sophomores reached the championship final, with Rob Kein falling by medical forfeit against the eighth-ranked 141-pounder in Division III and Matt Horn (184) dropping a major decision.

Freshman Tucker Grass (125) and sophomore Matt Friedman (149) both earned fourth-place finishes.

Click here for Muhlenberg results.