UW-La Crosse 44, UW-Stevens Point 3

La Crosse, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse wrestling team, fourth in the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Dual Rankings, earned a 44-3 win over UW-Stevens Point Friday night in Mitchell Hall. The Eagles improve to 13-3 overall and 5-0 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) while the Pointers drop to 2-10 overall and 0-5 in the conference. 

With the win, UWL improves to 78-9 all-time in WIAC duals under head coach Dave Malecek. He has led the Eagles to five undefeated (5-0) conference dual seasons in the last seven years.  

UWL took a 6-0 lead Friday as Brandon Murphy won by forfeit at 125-pounds. Zach Weiler's decision (9-4) over Blaze Thurber at 133 gave the Eagles a 9-0 lead. Tyler Shackle followed with a major decision (9-0) over Cooper Peterson at 141-pounds for a 13-0 lead. 

Tyler Goebel and Nolan Hertel earned back-to-back wins by fall for a 25-0 lead. Goebel, ranked sixth at 149-pounds, defeated (1:54) Kyle Smith while Hertel, ranked fourth at 157, defeated (2:19) Alex Gundrum. 

UW-Stevens Point earned its lone win at 165-pounds as 10th-ranked Brandon Peckham won by decision (4-2) over Kaleb O'Reilly.  

UWL took the final four matches. At 174, Leo Draveling won by major decision (10-0) over Josh Heuss. Kalyn Jahn followed with a win by fall (2:20) over Austin Schrei at 184-pounds and ninth-ranked Ben Kawczynski won by technical fall (19-4, 7:00) over Blake Flach at 197. Michael Douglas won by major decision (12-1) over Ben Gunderson at 285-pounds. 

The Eagles honored their seven seniors, Seth Brossard, Hertel, Jahn, Murphy, O'Reilly and Shackle prior to the dual.

UWL returns to action Saturday, February 4 at the UW-Eau Claire Don Parker Open at 10 a.m.