#5 UW-La Crosse 59, UW-Oshkosh 0

La Crosse, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse wrestling team, fifth on the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Division III rankings, opened its 2023-24 home season with a 59-0 victory over UW-Oshkosh Thursday night in Mitchell Hall. 

The Eagles improve to 1-0 overall and 1-0 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) while the Titans drop to 0-1 overall and 0-1 in the conference.  

It is UWL's largest winning margin since a 58-0 victory over Gustavus Adolphus College (Minn.) during the 1990-91 season. 

UWL now leads, 43-12, in the all-time series with UW-Oshkosh, winning 32 of the 33 duals. 

Remington Bontreger started the dual off with a win by fall (1:57) over JP Culver at 125-pounds. UWL's Zach Weiler won by forfeit at 133-pounds to make it 12-0. Sam Lorenz followed with a win by fall (1:34) over Andrew Schad of UW-Oshkosh at 141-pounds and Josh Cherba's win by forfeit at 149 extended the lead to 24-0.

Nolan Hertel, ranked first in NCAA Division at 157-pounds, won by fall (2:46) over the Titans' Joey Spizzirri followed by Cole Hansen winning by fall (1:09) over Adib Korabi at 165-pounds. 

At 174-pounds, Leo Draveling won by forfeit and at 184, Tyler Dormanen won by fall (1:59) over UW-Oshkosh's Tyler Blanchard to give UWL a 48-0 lead. 

Fifteenth-ranked Ben Kawczynski followed with a technical fall (18-2, 4:23) over Michael Loger at 197-pounds and third-ranked Michael Douglas completed the dual with a victory by fall (3:39) over Camden Harris at 285-pounds.   

UWL returns to action Saturday, November 11 at the Luther College (Iowa) Open at 9 a.m. and in a dual versus Cornell College (Iowa) at 2 p.m. at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside.