TIFFIN -- In the OAC finale, the Heidelberg University wrestling team took No. 10 Mount Union down to the final match, but wound up on the wrong end of a 25-18 team score.  Heidelberg won five bouts, but three Purple Raider pins proved to be the difference.  

Prior to the match, Heidelberg (5-12, 3-4 OAC) honored senior student athletic trainers Morgan Fultz and Kaitlyn Moore, as well as wrestlers Hayden Bates, Mason Brainard, Joe Damm, Blake Jerome, Dylan Roth and Slade Todd.  

At 125, Mount Union's Seth Hayes struck first, taking down Harrison Hadley with less than a minute to go in the first period.  To start the second, Hayes started in the bottom position and padded his lead with a reversal.  Hayes worked Hadley onto his back and picked up a pin with 3.8 seconds remaining in the second.  

Mason Brainard, in his final home match, looked to right the ship against David Massey. Massey scored a quick takedown, but Brainard escaped 29 seconds later.  The same thing happened prior to the end of the first, and Massey led 4-2 to start the second.  Brainard started down to begin the second period and escaped quickly.  Another Massey takedown and Brainard escape in the second gave MTU a 6-4 lead to start the third.  In the final period, Massey added an escape point early and led 7-4 and had a riding time point in his pocket.  Massey danced his way to an 8-4 win.  

With his team trailing in the dual 9-0, it was Hayden Bates' turn at 141 -- also his final Seiberling Gymnasium match.  Bates picked up a quick takedown and led Nolan Wochna 2-0 after the first.  In the second, Wochna rode Bates out.  Neutral to begin the third period, Bates added a takedown to the delight of the raucous Seiberling crowd.  A stalling point gave Bates a 5-0 victory, and closed the match score to 9-3.  

Drama hit at 149.  Mount Union's Luke Hernandez took down Slade Todd early, but appeared to injure his lower body.  Hernandez tried to grit it out, but wound up taking a medical forfeit -- giving Todd the win in his Seiberling swan song.  The six-point swing tied the dual at 9-9.  

Tre Bogetich scored first at 157, taking a 2-0 lead on Kyle Jenkins into the second period.  Bogetich, sporting a freshly buzzed head, added a takedown in the second.  Down to start the third, Bogetich escaped quickly to ensure a riding time point.  He won, 6-0, giving Heidelberg a 12-9 match at intermission.  

When wrestling resumed, Devin Miller took down Brendan Laird in the first and led 2-0 after one.  Laird escaped, scoring the only point of the second period.  Miller returned the favor early in the third. With a riding time point locked in, Miller added another takedown for good measure, winning 6-1.  

Adam Medeiros made his OAC debut for Heidelberg with a bang -- picking up a tumbling takedown of Conner Homan.  The Medeiros momentum was short-lived.  Homan escaped, scored a takedown, then pinned Medeiros.  

The match was tied at 15 heading to 184.  Dylan Roth nearly stacked George Lassnick early, but settled for four back points, taking a 6-0 lead.  After an escape, Roth used another takedown to go up 8-1.  Roth tacked on four nearfall points before the clock sounded.  In the second, Lassnick went on the offensive and took Roth down and rode out the period.  Starting down in the third, Roth was unable to escape quickly.  Again, Lassnick rode out Roth and added a point for riding time.  The points proved critical as Roth won the match, but was unable to add bonus points.  Heidelberg led 18-15 with two bouts left.  

Mount Union's Landon Talbert took down Da'Veon Parker early in the first, then added an escape to start the second.  Behind 5-0 in the third, Parker allowed a few more takedowns and lost by a major decision, 11-2.  

The match came down to the 285 bout.  There, Mount's Grant Martin had an early takedown and tacked on two nearfall points on HU's Eric Adkins.  Martin stayed on the attack and won with a first-period pin.  The Purple Raiders took the match, 25-18.

With the win, Mount Union clinched the OAC championship with a perfect 7-0 record.  

Heidelberg returns to action this weekend at the Mid-States Invitational.