ALLIANCE, Ohio -- In the age of COVID-19, creating collegiate athletic schedules is a laughable folly.  As of Friday, the Heidelberg University wrestling team planned to wrestle Otterbein University and Muskingum University at the University of Mount Union.  

On Friday evening, the Muskies had to cancel because of COVID protocols.  

Undeterred, Heidelberg and Mount Union decided to wrestle each other to make up for the missing match.

Then on Sunday morning, Otterbein opted to cancel their trip due to hazardous road conditions in the Columbus area.  

Nevertheless, the Student Princes and Purple Raiders met for a conference dual and 12 exhibition matches. No. 9 Mount Union won the dual, 36-9.  

MOUNT UNION - 36    HEIDELBERG - 9
Mount Union, wrestling for the first time this season, roared out of the gates.  The hosts led 22-0 halfway through the contest.  

At 165, Devin Miller moved to 3-0 on the season by picking up a 4-3 win over Brailyn Lightner. Lightner struck first with a takedown in the opening moments of the match, but Miller quickly escaped.  In the final moments of the first period, Miller scored a takedown and led 3-2.  

In the second period, Lightner started on the bottom and wriggled free, evening the match with an escape.  Late in the frame, an official awarded -- then quickly waved off -- a go-ahead takedown by Lightner as Miller scrambled to stay neutral.  The second period ended with the match knotted at three.  

Lightner chose to let Miller up to start the third, yielding an escape point that proved to be the difference in the match.  Lightner's best chance for a takedown was thwarted by a blood timeout.  In the final seconds, Miller was able to dart away from his opponent's desperate attempts for a takedown.  

At 184, Dylan Roth continued his impressive career with another impressive victory.  He pinned Warren Gentile in 1:44 and moved to 3-0 this season.  In his career, Roth is 16-0 in OAC duals and 88-6 overall.  With 88 wins, he moved into a tie for 14th place in the Heidelberg career record books, equaling Joey Hada (2000-04), Aaron Bomer (1996-2000), and HU Head Coach Tony Patrizi (2000-04).

THAT'S WHAT HE SAID
Tony Patrizi on the Sunday showdown with Mount Union ... "We are very appreciative for the opportunity to wrestle. We have another opportunity this week to continue improve and we are looking forward to it."

UP NEXT
Heidelberg returns to Alliance to face No. 9 Mount Union, No. 3 John Carroll and No. 6 Baldwin Wallace.