NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals

Springfield, Ill. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse wrestling team finished third at the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA)/Cliff Keen National Duals Sunday afternoon in the Prairie Capital Convention Center. The Eagles, ranked fourth in the Brute-Adidas NWCA Division III Poll and the tournament's fourth-seed, fell to top-ranked and top-seeded Wartburg College (Iowa) in the semifinals Sunday (25-9).  UW-L came back to capture third-place with a victory over third-ranked and third-seeded Ithaca College, N.Y. (21-13).  The Eagles are now 14-2 on the season.

UW-L went 2-0 Saturday, defeating 13th-seeded Centenary College, N.J. (31-9) and 12th-seeded the University of Mount Union, Ohio (29-10).

Wartburg earned seven wins in its dual victory over UW-L Sunday. The Knights took a 5-0 lead as third-ranked Kenny Anderson won by technical fall (17-0) over the Eagles' Joey Nelson at 125-pounds.  UW-L came back to take a 6-5 team lead as Adam Sheley, ranked sixth at 133, won by decision (7-3) over fifth-ranked Tommy Mirocha and Bebeto Yewah, the nation's top wrestlers at 141-pounds, won by decision (10-4) over Mike Kremer.

The Knights won the next three matches to lead 15-6. Kodie Silvestri won by major decision (9-1) over Bobby Dorn at 149; Cameron Wagner earned a double overtime victory (2-1) over JR Lewis at 157 and seventh-ranked Landon Williams defeated Kevin O'Brien by decision (5-1) at 165.

UW-L's Mike Schmitz, ranked first in NCAA Division III at 174, won by decision (4-3) over Bradley Banks to make it 15-9, but Wartburg took the last three matches.   Fifth-ranked Dylan Azinger won by decision (10-5) over Grant Miller at 184; top-ranked Byron Tate won by major decision (22-9) against Tony Piechowski and Ryan Fank beat sixth-ranked Billy Mayer by decision (9-2) at 285.

Versus the third-ranked Bombers, the Eagles won six of the 10 duals.  Ithaca took a 3-0 lead at 125 as Dominick Giacolone won by decision (3-1) over Nelson.  UW-L took the next four matches to lead 14-3. Sheley beat Alex Gomez by major decision (10-1) at 133; Yewah defeated third-ranked Seth Ecker by decision (5-3) at 141; Dorn won by major decision (9-1) against Kevin Collins at 149 and Lewis won by decision (2-1) over Jason Fraser at 157.

Ithaca's Nicholas Sanko, ranked 10th in the country, won by decision (2-0) over O'Brien at 165-pounds and third-ranked Jules Doliscar beat Schmitz by decision (4-1) at 174 to cut UW-L's lead to 14-9.

UW-L's Miller won by major decision (12-3) over Kyle McKeighan at 184-pounds to make it 18-9 and Piechowski earned UW-L's last win, defeating Shane Bartum in overtime (2-1).

The Bombers' seventh-ranked Matthew Mahon won by major decision (16-4) over Zach Tooley at 285.

UW-L returns to action Saturday, January 14 at the Matman Invitational in Mt. Vernon, Iowa at 9 a.m.