Eau Claire, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse wrestling team opened its Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) dual season with a 25-12 victory at UW-Eau Claire Wednesday night in McPhee Center. The Eagles, competing in their first dual of the year, earned their 34th straight victory over the Blugolds. UWL leads the all-time series, 48-7.
UW-Eau Claire drops to 1-1 overall with both matches in the WIAC.
UWL won seven of 10 matches Wednesday night. The Eagles took a 5-0 lead at 125-pounds as
Tristan Jenny won by technical fall (19-3, 6:01) over Jack Marley. The Blugolds cut the lead to 5-3 after Thomas Severson won by decision (7-6) over
Josh Stenger at 133. Stenger is sixth on this week's d3wrestle.com rankings.
The Eagles took the six matches to lead 25-3.
Hayden Schlough (141),
Tyler Shackle (149) and
Nolan Hertel (157) all won by decision. Schlough defeated Tyler Demo (10-5) while Shackle earned the victory over Jake Drexler (4-3) and Hertel defeated Adam Rients (4-1).
Grant Zamin, ranked third in the country at 157-pounds, moved up to 165 and earned a major decision (10-2) over Chase Schmidt.
Sawyer Massie, ranked seventh at 174-pounds, followed with a win by decision (7-4) over Evan Lawrence.
UWL's
Connor Williams earned a major decision (17-5) over Grant Balconi at 184-pounds.
UW-Eau Claire took the final two matches with James Huntley winning by decision (9-4) over UWL's
Adam Gusky and 197-pounds and Austen Hakes winning by injury default (5:18) over
Konrad Ernst at 285. Ernst is ranked second on d3wrestle.com.
UWL returns to action Saturday, November 23 at the Augsburg University (Minn.) Auggie Open at 9 a.m.
