Cedar Falls, Iowa - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse wrestling team advanced to the semifinals of the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA)/Marine Corps Multi-Divisional National Duals Friday with a pair of victories at the University of Northern Iowa UNI-Dome. The duals are presented by A Better Way Athletics, Capital Construction and Defense Soap hosted by NUWAY.

The Eagles, now 8-0 in duals this season and third in the NWCA Dual Rankings, opened with a 45-4 victory over 18th-ranked Millikin University (Ill.) in the first round. UWL followed with a 21-20 win over 19th-ranked UW-Whitewater in the quarterfinals. UWL will face second-ranked Wartburg College (Iowa) in the semifinals on Saturday, January 6 at 11 a.m. 

Versus Millikin (Ill.), the Big Blue took a 4-0 lead at 125-pounds with Zac Blasioli earning a major decision (17-5) over the Eagles' Remington Bontreger. Blasioli is third and Bontreger 10th in the NWCA rankings. UWL then won the next nine matches. 

Zachary Weiler cut the team lead to 4-3 with a win by decision (12-9) over Coby Haney at 133. The Eagles took a 15-4 lead with a pair of wins by fall on Friday. Fourteenth-ranked Sam Lorenz won by fall (2:15) over William Tucker at 141-pounds followed by third-ranked Tyler Goebel winning by fall (1:54) over Colin Claffey at 149. 
 

The Eagles' Nolan Hertel, ranked first at 157, extended the lead to 18-4 with a decision (7-1) over ninth-ranked Nathan Callaway. Noah Leisgang, ranked sixth, earned a win by forfeit at 165 to make it 24-4. UWL won three of the last four duals by fall. Leo Draveling won by fall (2:41) over Devin Top at 174-pounds followed by 11th-ranked Marcus Orlandoni winning by decision (10-4) over Mason Clem at 184.

Ninth-ranked Ben Kawczynski and third-ranked Michael Douglas completed the match with victories by fall. Kawczynski won by fall (1:23) over Tate Crowell at 197 with Douglas winning by fall (1:41) over Ruben Silvas at 285. 

UWL rallied for its 21-20 victory over UW-Whitewater. The Warhawks won the first three matches to take a 14-0 lead. Jonah Edwards won by technical fall (18-3) over Bontreger at 125-pounds to make it 5-0. Fifth-ranked Dominik Mallinder won by fall (2:20) over Weiler at 133 and Ethan Pogorzelski extended the lead with a decision (10-6) over Lorenz at 141. 

Goebel and Hertel cut the deficit to 14-7 as Goebel won by decision (4-1) over Scott Busse at 149-pounds and Hertel by major decision (10-0) over Jermaine Butler at 157. The Warhawks took a 17-7 advantage after Brayden Peet won by decision (4-1) over Leisgang at 165. Ryan Riser won by decision (8-7) over 11th-ranked Eddie Simes at 174-pounds to give UW-Whitewater a 20-7 lead. 

UWL took the last three matches to earn the team victory. Orlandoni earned a sudden victory (4-1) over Gavin Kohel at 184-pounds to cut the lead to 20-10. Kawczynski followed with a win by fall (:14) over Jordan Lewis at 197 and Douglas secured the win with a technical fall (21-6) over Cadin Koeppel at 285.