The Muhlenberg wrestling team split two matches against nationally ranked teams in its final duals of 2019.

The Mules (6-2) defeated 17th-ranked Messiah, 31-15, before losing to fifth-ranked Johnson & Wales, 27-16, in a match that came down to the final bout.

The matches were held in Jersey City, New Jersey, in a highly competitive event that also included fourth-ranked Wabash and Merchant Marine. The five teams have a combined 27 wrestlers who appear in the d3wrestle.com rankings.

In defeating Messiah, Muhlenberg beat a nationally ranked opponent for the first time since the 2007-08 season, also against Messiah.

Seniors Dylan Schwartz (165), Jimmy Fratantoni (184) and Austin Sherman (149) and sophomore Luca Colestock (197) all went 2-0 on the day.

The Messiah match started at 165, and the Mules took advantage of their strength at the upper weights by capturing the first five bouts. The most impressive win was by senior 174-pounder Brian Jamison, who scored an 8-4 decision against a 2019 NCAA qualifier who is a rankings contender. Jamison built an 8-1 lead on three takedowns and a near-fall and did not give up any points in the third period despite being on the bottom for the entire two minutes.

Colestock and senior Scott Schaeffer recorded back-to-back pins to give Muhlenberg a 22-0 lead.

The Falcons took the first three bouts after the lineup cycled back to 125 to close to within 22-15, but Sherman (pictured above) clinched the victory with a 7-5 decision on the strength of a first-period four-point near-fall.

Muhlenberg won five of nine contested bouts in the second match, but three of Johnson & Wales' wins came with bonus points.

Sophomore Greg Baum posted the Mules' first win at 141, recording two takedowns in a 6-4 decision against a rankings contender whose wins this season include one against a 2018 national champion from Ithaca.

Schwartz, ranked 10th in Division III, notched his second major decision of the day against a wrestler receiving honorable mention in the rankings, and Colestock won a 6-2 decision in a matchup of two rankings contenders.

That made it 21-16 with one bout remaining. Schaeffer faced the sixth-ranked heavyweight in Division III and needed a pin to win the match for the Mules. Tied 3-3 late in the third period, he went for it but got caught and was pinned.

Muhlenberg 31, Messiah 15
165 Dylan Schwartz (Mu) maj. dec. Kevin Edwards, 14-4
174 Brian Jamison (Mu) dec. Brian Shermeyer, 8-4   
184 Jimmy Fratantoni (Mu) dec. David Stevens, 5-2
197 Luca Colestock (Mu) pinned Joe Embleton, 4:19
HWT Scott Schaeffer (Mu) pinned Carter Urich, 2:34
125 Sean Redington (Me) won by forfeit
133 Josiah Gehr (Me) pinned Alex Helpin, 1:47
141 Garret Cornell (Me) dec. Greg Baum, 4-3
149 Austin Sherman (Mu) dec. Nick Barnhart, 7-5
157 Angelo Mahaffey (Mu) won by forfeit

Johnson & Wales 27, Muhlenberg 16
125 Justin Lopez (JW) won by forfeit
133 Freddy Eckles (JW) pinned Jeorcy Pena, 2:24
141 Greg Baum (M) dec. Gabe McDaniel, 6-4
149 Austin Sherman (M) dec. Gavin Cunningham, 6-2
157 Darius Joyce (JW) dec. Angelo Mahaffey, 3-2
165 Dylan Schwartz (M) maj. dec. Christian Murphy, 12-4
174 Cam Altobelli (JW) pinned Brian Jamison, 1:45
184 Jimmy Fratantoni (M) dec. Nick Caracappa, 6-1
197 Luca Colestock (M) dec. Tommy Wrzesien, 6-2
HWT Michael DiNardo (JW) pinned Scott Schaeffer, 6:46