La Crosse, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse wrestling team, ranked 11th in the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III Top-25 Poll, earned a 36-6 victory over 25th-ranked UW-Platteville Tuesday night in Mitchell Hall. The Eagles, wrestling in their home finale, improve to 9-4 overall and 3-1 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) while the Pioneers drop to 3-3 overall and 2-2 in the conference.
UWL won eight of 10 matches Tuesday night, including four by fall. The Eagles took the first four matches to lead 15-0.
Mitch Hertel started the dual with a win by decision (5-3) over Isaac Brosinski at 165-pounds. UWL's
Sawyer Massie followed with a win by decision (8-1) over UW-Platteville's Kevin Gschwendtner at 174-pounds for a 6-0 lead.
Spencer Nevills won by fall Tuesday night.
The 184-pound match featured a pair of ranked wrestlers as UWL's
Sean O'Neil, ranked sixth in the NWCA, won by decision (2-1) over UW-Platteville's Grant Wedepohl, ranked first in the nation. It was Wedepohl's first loss of the season (10-1) while O'Neil improved to 16-1.
UWL's
Wesley Schultz followed with a win by fall (:23) over Billy Busse at 197-pounds to make it 15-0.
The Pioneers got on the board at 285-pounds with D'Andre Johnson earning a win by decision (5-3) over the Eagles'
Konrad Ernst. UWL's
Nelson Baker won by fall (2:08) over Beau Harrier at 125-pounds for a 21-3 team advantage. UW-Platteville's Scott Arneson won by decision (4-2) over
Sawyer Sarbacker at 133-pounds to make it 21-6.Â
UWL took the final three matches, including two by fall.
Reid Johnson won by fall (5:29) over Luke Pradel at 141-pounds and
Spencer Nevills won by fall (2:57) over Trevor Harsh at 149-pounds. The Eagles'
Michael Murnane finished the meet with a win by decision (15-8) over Isaac Roffers at 157.
UWL returns to action Friday, January 26 at the Wheaton College (Ill.) Pete Willson Invitational at 11 a.m.
