#5 UW-La Crosse 29, UW-Platteville 15
La Crosse, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse wrestling team improved to 11-3 overall and 3-0 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) with a 29-15 win over UW-Platteville Saturday afternoon in Mitchell Hall. It is UWL's ninth straight win over UW-Platteville. The Eagles, fifth in this week's National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Rankings, are now 6-0 at home this season. UW-Platteville falls to 3-3 overall and 1-3 in the WIAC.
The opening match of the dual at 125-pounds featured a pair of nationally-ranked wrestlers. UWL's
Ryan Weinmann, ranked fifth in the NWCA, won by decision (11-7) over UW-Platteville's Cole Ferguson, ranked second at 125. Weinmann trailed 7-4 after the second period, but cut the margin to 7-6 with a reversal and took a 10-7 lead on a four-point near fall. He added a point for riding time (1:13).
UWL took a 8-0 lead at 133-pounds as
Dustin Weinmann won by technical fall (18-0, 1:52) over UW-Platteville's Zach Blizzard. Weinmann, ranked sixth, had a takedown to start the match followed by four near falls worth four points each.
Thomas O'Brien earned a win by forfeit at 141-pounds to give UWL a 14-0 lead.
UW-Platteville got its first win of the day at 149-pounds as Mason Bohm won by fall (2:16) over
Qarin Johnnic at 149-pounds to make it 14-6. UWL came back to take the next three matches to lead 26-6.
Michael Murnane won by technical fall (21-2, 6:50) over Jake Somann at 157-pounds, scoring 11 points in the third period. The Eagles'
Andrew Dayland followed with a win by major decision (15-6) over Michael Belanger at 165-pounds and
Tyler Schneider won by decision (6-2) over Isaac Brosinski at 174-pounds. Schneider is ranked fourth in the country at 174.
The Pioneers cut the Eagles' lead to 26-9 at 184-pounds as Grant Wedephol won by decision (5-2) over
Alex Friedman. Wedephol improved to 11-1 on the season. UWL's
Zach Tooley won by decision (10-5) over Bryant Etherton at 197-pounds to improve to 14-4 on the year and give the Eagles a 29-9 lead. UW-Platteville's D'Andre Johnson improved to 20-3 on the year with a win by fall (5:56) over UWL's
Clay Broze at 285-pounds. Broze is ranked sixth.
UWL returns to action Thursday, January 21 at UW-Whitewater at 7 p.m.
