WAYNESBURG, Pennsylvania - February 15, 2025 - The Hiram men's wrestling team got their first taste of the PAC Championships on Saturday afternoon, which marked the first PAC Championship event for any Hiram Athletics team since the College has officially returned to the conference.

It was a day that showcased the depth of the Terriers roster, with freshman Lewis Deloach (133 lbs) and senior Jimmy Thomas (174 lbs) both placing third in their respective brackets, while junior Jaden Bell (197 lbs) coming one win away from a PAC title in what shaped out to be a runner-up finish.

Also competing in the event was Ian Fuentes (125 lbs), Will Brodbeck (141 lbs), Seth Holt (184 lbs), Michael Hopson (285 lbs) and Edward Powers (285 lbs). Holt led that group with a pair of wins over two wrestlers from Thiel (Fall 4:28 and Fall 4:04) before the senior fell short in the third place match against Saint Vincent's Ryan Weinzen (TF 19-2).

For the all-conference selections, Thomas displayed his experience with wins in the quarterfinals over Thiel's Anthony Joiner (Fall 3:33) and in the consolation semifinals against Waynesburg's AJ Tomaino (Fall 4:39). The senior capped off the day with a win in the third-place match against Saint Vincent's Charlie Mesich (MD 18-6).

Deloach followed the same path as his veteran teammate, beating Thiel's Hunter Crouse (medical forfeit) and Thiel's Dreyvin Livingston (Fall 0:37), which locked in a spot in that third-place match. The freshman from Austintown, OH came through in his first postseason action, topping Washington & Jefferson's Zane Garner by technical fall (17-0).

Bell highlighted the event with one of the most highly anticipated bouts for the Hiram men's wrestling program since it returned to competition in 2021. He got to that point by winning against Waynesburg's Kevin Willis (Fall 3:58) and W&J's Logan Smith (TF 22-6), securing a spot in the first place match for the title at 197 lbs.

The junior from Cleveland, OH lost in that championship match to Thiel's Joseph King (Fall 0:35), but scored his team the most points in what turned out to be a fourth-place team finish but a memorable result for the entire roster in its only conference-wide event of the year.

Hiram will take part in the Futures Tournament at Adrian College next Saturday before preparing for the NCAA Central Regional on Friday, Feb. 28 and Saturday, Mar. 1.