The Muhlenberg Weekly

Issue date: 1/25/07 Section: Sports

Matt Loesch is a senior two-sport athlete. After playing football in the fall, Loesch trades in his pads and helmet for a singlet and headgear for wrestling's winter season. The transition is not an easy one. Loesch wrestles in the 197 lb weight class and has reached weights as high as 245 lbs prior to the start of football. Weight isn't the only challenge he faces from playing two sports. Loesch was out for the early part of the season with a football injury. Loesch damaged his knee, tearing his ACL, fracturing his tibia and damaging the meniscus as well. Since returning from break, he has been wrestling though with a large knee brace and a good deal of pain. "The season is only for another two months or so, and then it's all over. So I'm really trying to do what I can," says Loesch.

He has been wrestling since age four. In high school, he was Captain of the Football, Track and Wrestling Teams. His leadership extends through college where he is in his second year as the Wrestling Team's Co-captain. During his high school career, he earned over 100 wins. This year, Loesch sees his role as a Captain to get "the most out of everybody since they have so much talent."

Today he is regularly recognized for his accomplished wrestling career with the College. In his second year as team Co-captain, Loesch has a career record of 79-14, with 21 pins. He is second in Muhlenberg history for win percentage and ninth for career wins. In his first three seasons, Loesch had never lost a Centennial Conference match (17-0). This year's opponents are tougher than ever, but Loesch came out on top this past Saturday with a win against Johns Hopkins and Gettysburg making his CC record 19-0.

His impressive career also includes three Centennial Conference championships. Loesch has been a three-time NCAA Nationals qualifier. As a freshman, he received the Rookie of the Year Award with a 25-5 record and three tournament championships, but missed the chance to be an All-American by one match. In his sophomore and junior years he reached the semi-finals finishing 4th and 6th, making him twice named a NCAA All-American. Loesch has been ranked as high as number one in the country and came into the season ranked 3rd. He holds the Pennsylvania state record for the fastest pin occurring in just 4 four seconds. He has clocked this time twice, though only once officially.

It is challenging to be an athlete, but even more so to be a student athlete. Loesch has proved he can excel at both. "It's one thing to be in college, it's another to be in a sport, and it's a completely different thing to have to be drawn and so worn out everyday from cutting weight," he says. His teammates are in the same positions and Loesch recognizes that "it's difficult to keep everybody focused and keeping their eye on what we can accomplish if we keep going like we're going."

Continued...

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