La Crosse, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse wrestling team earned a 26-14 win over UW-Platteville Friday night in Mitchell Hall to remain undefeated in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC). The Eagles, ranked 18th on the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Top-25 Poll, improve to 8-4 overall and 4-0 in the WIAC while the Pioneers, ranked 25th in the NWCA, drop to 3-2 overall and 2-2 in the WIAC.
The Eagles won six of 10 matches Friday night. UW-Platteville would get on the board first when Issac Wiegel won by decision (5-3) over UWL's ninth-ranked Sawyer Sarbacker at 125-pounds. The Eagles would answer back when Josh Stenger won by decision (3-2) over Luke Pradel at 133-pounds, tying the match 3-3.
UWL would take the lead after Hayden Schlough won by major decision (16-3) over Asher Wiegand at 141-pounds. The Pioneers' Garrett Ruckdashel followed with a win by decision (3-1) over Sam Wenzel at 149-pounds to cut the deficit 7-6.
Josh Stenger won by decision at 133-pounds.
Ranked first in the NWCA, UWL's Grant Zamin won by technical fall (20-1, 6:09) over UW-Platteville's Coy Ruess at 157-pounds to give the Eagles a 12-6 lead.
After the Pioneers' Nathan Wynsma won by decision (7-3) over Nick Fetzner at 165-pounds to cut the Eagles' lead to 12-9, UWL's Mitchell Hertel won technical fall (18-3, 7:00) over Nick Dado at 174-pounds gave the Eagles a 17-9 lead. Connor Williams followed with a win by decision (11-7) over Jacob Skelnar at 184-pounds to make it 20-9.
UWL's Isaac Lahr won by fall (3:15) over Max Schmitz at 197-pounds making it 26-9. UW-Platteville would take the last match as fifth-ranked Lucius Rinehart won by technical fall (17-0, 4:31) over Isaac Gust.
UWL returns to action Friday, January 31 hosting Luther College (Iowa) at 7 p.m. in the Mitchell Hall Fieldhouse.
