Muhlenberg wrestled with a heavy heart all season following the untimely death of longtime assistant coach Jason Rute just days before the Mules’ first match.

Little happened during the first part of the season to raise the

Brown recorded the Mules’ fastest pin of the season, flattening a King’s opponent in 33 seconds.

team’s spirits, but the Mules hung tough after their 1-9 start, winning four of their last five dual matches to finish with a 7-13 record.

Sophomore Dale Mills and freshman Matt Loesch won Centennial Conference championships at their respective weight classes and advanced to the NCAA Championships in Dubuque, Iowa.

Loesch knocked off the No. 4 wrestler at 197 pounds at the NCAA meet and came up just one win short of All-America status. He ended the season with an impressive 25-5 record that included three tournament titles.

Mills dropped his two matches to the third- and fourth-ranked wrestlers at 149, one by a single point, at NCAAs to finish 26-10. He ranked second in the CC with 10 pins, two behind senior teammate Josh Carter.

Carter went 21-6 and, like Mills, finished second at two tournaments. Senior David Brown posted an 18-16 record at 133 and placed third at the CC Championships. He tied Loesch for the team lead with three major decisions. Junior Jeremy Hart went 16-14 at 141 pounds.