Cleveland, Ohio - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse wrestling team finished seventh Saturday night at the 2018 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III Championships at the Cleveland Public Auditorium. Baldwin Wallace University (Ohio) and the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission are serving as hosts of the championships.  

UWL totaled 42.5 team points while Wartburg College (Iowa) captured the national title with 136.5. Augsburg University (Minn.) was second with 82.0 points, Ithaca College (N.Y.) third with 79.0 and Stevens Institute of Technology (N.J.) fourth with 55.0. Wabash College (Ind.) was fifth with 44.0 points and Johnson & Wales University (R.I.) sixth with 43.5. Messiah College (Pa.) placed eighth with 38.0 points followed by UW-Whitewater ninth with 35.0. The University of Mount Union (Ohio) and SUNY Oneonta tied for 10th with 34.5 points. A total of 51 teams scored points.

It marks UWL's 22nd top-10 finish at the national championships since joining NCAA Division III in 1992.

Three UWL wrestlers earned their first career NCAA Division III All-America honors at this year's championships. The Eagles' Wesley Schultz placed third at 197-pounds while Sawyer Massie finished sixth at 174-pounds and Konrad Ernst was sixth at 285-pounds.

UWL has now claimed 121 All-America honors in wrestling, including 105 in the NCAA Division III and 16 in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).

"So proud of this team," said UWL head coach Dave Malecek. "We started the year 109th and ended in seventh-place. We had tremendous growth and improvement."

Schultz, seeded seventh at 197-pounds, went 5-1 in this year's national championships. He won by fall (1:33) over Hasan Alic of York College (Pa.) in the first round Friday before losing by decision (11-4) to second-seeded Guy Patron of Loras College (Iowa) in the quarterfinals. Schultz came back to win by decision (7-5) over Ramsey Bloy of UW-Eau Claire in the consolation second round to secure All-America honors.

Finishing 30-9 overall this season with a team-leading 17 wins by fall, Schultz went 3-0 in Saturday's action. He won by major decision (8-0) over Dylan Diebitz of UW-Stevens Point in the consolation quarterfinals and by major decision (14-4) over fourth-seeded Etiini Udott of Centenary University (N.J.) in the consolation semifinals. Schultz captured third-place with a win by fall (1:39) over Andrew Holladay of Coe (Iowa).

Massie finished 3-3 in the two-day championships to earn his sixth-place finish and NCAA III All-America honors at 174-pounds. After opening with a loss Friday by decision (9-7) to eighth-seeded Brandon Conrad of Lycoming College (Pa.), Massie won by fall (4:23) over Jaison White of Ithaca (N.Y.) in the consolation first round. He then won by decision (2-1) over seventh-seeded Daniel Kilroy of The College of New Jersey in the consolation second round.

Massie opened with a win by decision (9-5) over sixth-seeded Jake Voss of Coe (Iowa) in Saturday's consolation quarterfinals. He lost by fall (:39) to top-seeded Eric Devos of Wartburg (Iowa) in the consolation semifinals and by decision (6-3) to third-seeded Ben Swarr of Messiah (Pa.) in the fifth-place match. Massie finishes the season at 27-10.

Ernst finished 4-3 in this year's NCAA III Championships to claim All-America honors at 285-pounds with his sixth-place finish. He lost by sudden victory (6-4) to Jonah Aurelio of Johnson & Wales (R.I.) in his opening match on Friday. Ernst then won three straight matches Friday to earn his All-America award. He won by fall (5:49) over Nathan Barcaskey of Ohio Northern University in the wrestlebacks and by fall (4:28) over Joe Fusco of Springfield College (Mass.) in the consolation first round. Ernst won by decision (7-6) over Nico Ramirez of Southern Virginia in the consolation second round.

He opened Saturday's action with his fourth straight victory, winning by fall (4:36) over sixth-seeded Austin Bellile of Milwaukee School of Engineering (Wis.) in the consolation quarterfinals. Ernst lost by decision (1-0) to top-seeded Lance Evans of Wartburg (Iowa) in the consolation semifinals and by decision (5-3 in overtime) to third-seeded Jake O'Brien of Ithaca (N.Y) for fifth-place. He finishes the season at 26-6.

The Eagles' Spencer Nevills went 1-2 at 149-pounds Friday to finish his season at 25-14. Nevills lost by decision (6-5) to third-seeded Gregory Warner of York College (Pa.) in the first round before a win by decision (9-5) over Josh Lawson of Elmhurst College (Ill.) in the consolation first round. He was eliminated after a loss by decision (6-1) to Trevor Corl of Lycoming College (Pa.) in the consolation second round. 

UWL's Hayden Schlough went 0-2 at 141-pounds in Friday's national championship to finish the year at 19-11. He lost by decision (7-3) to eighth-seeded Ben Brisman of Ithaca (N.Y.) in the first round and by decision (5-0) to Sean Lyons of New York University in the wrestlebacks.

Massie, Schultz, Ernst, Nevills and Schlough were all making their first career appearance in the national championships.