UW-La Crosse 39, UW-Eau Claire 6

La Crosse, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse wrestling team opened its 2018-19 home schedule with a 39-6 victory over UW-Eau Claire Friday night in Mitchell Hall. The Eagles improve to 1-0 overall and 1-0 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) while the Blugolds drop to 0-1 overall and 0-1 in the conference. 

UWL now leads the all-time series, 47-7, with UW-Eau Claire. The Eagles have won the last 33 meetings with the Blugolds.

UWL, tied for 13th in the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Preseason Rankings, took a 3-0 lead at 125-pounds with Tristan Jenny earning a win by decision (8-3) over UW-Eau Claire's Thomas Severson. The Blugolds tied the match, 3-3, with Tanner Deist winning by decision (7-4) over Josh Stenger.  

The Eagles took a 6-3 advantage after Hayden Schlough won by decision (11-4) over Hunter Pierce at 141-pounds. Cal Hansen got the first of five wins by fall for UWL at 149-pounds, winning over David Dudych (4:59) to make it 12-3.  Grant Zamin gave UWL a 15-3 lead with a win by decision (4-3) over UW-Eau Claire's Seth Vosters at 157-pounds. Zamin earned the win with a late reversal in the third period. 

UW-Eau Claire earned its second win of the dual as Connor Hanson won by decision (4-3) over UWL's Logan Schlough at 165-pounds to make it 15-6. 

UWL took the final four matches by fall. Sawyer Massie, ranked third at 174-pounds, defeated Evan Lawrence (:48) for a 21-6 lead and Isaac Lahr won by fall (1:02) over Jordan Blanchard at 184-pounds for a 27-6 advantage. Jake Meyer won by fall (1:41) over James Huntley at 197-pounds and Konrad Ernst, ranked fourth in the country at 285-pounds, won by fall (4:01) over Tyler Burt. 

UWL returns to action Saturday, November 10 at the Luther College (Iowa) Open at 9 a.m.