Eau Claire, Wis. - In a match-up of top-three ranked teams, the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse wrestling team earned a 21-14 victory over UW-Eau Claire Wednesday night in McPhee Physical Education Center.
 
The Eagles, ranked second in the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA), improve to 7-0 overall and 3-0 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC). The third-ranked Blugolds drop to 6-1 overall and 2-1 in the conference.
 
UWL now leads the all-time series, 52-7, with UW-Eau Claire. The Eagles have won 38 straight duals over the Blugolds. UW-Eau Claire last earned a dual win during the 1986-87 season.
 
With the victory Wednesday night, UWL improves to 85-9 all-time in WIAC duals under head coach Dave Malecek. The Eagles also extended their league winning streak to 14 straight duals.
 

UW-Eau Claire took a 6-0 lead after the first two matches on Wednesday. Ranked sixth in the NWCA, Izzy Balsiger won by decision (12-7) over eighth-ranked Quintin Wolbert at 125-pounds. Travis Moelter followed with a win by sudden victory (5-2) over Teague Holzer at 133.
 
UWL cut its deficit to 6-4 as Talan Schutte won by major decision (12-1) over UW-Eau Claire's Andrew Kested at 141-pounds. The Blugolds secured the four team points back at 149-pounds to take a 10-4 lead with second-ranked Zach Sato winning by major decision (13-2) over the Eagles' Josh Cherba.
 
The Eagles won the next two duals. Cole Hansen won by decision (7-5) over Landon Church at 157-pounds to cut the lead to 10-7 and Tyler Goebel, ranked second in the NWCA at 165, gave UWL its first lead at 11-10 with a major decision (12-2) over Preston Carlisle.
 
Top-ranked Jared Stricker gave UW-Eau Claire a 14-11 advantage with a major decision (11-0) over 10th-ranked Eddie Simes.
 
UWL won the final three matches to earn the dual victory. At 184-pounds, the Eagles' seventh-ranked Marcus Orlandoni won by sudden victory (4-1) over sixth-ranked Niall Schoenfelder to tie the dual at 14-14. Fourth-ranked Ben Kawczynski, ranked fourth at 197-pounds, gave UWL an 18-14 lead with a major decision (12-0) over Ian Pepple. The Eagles' Michael Douglas, the number one ranked wrestler at 285-pounds, won by decision (3-1) over Sloan Welch.
 
UWL returns to action Friday, January 10 at the NWCA Multi-Division National Duals in Cedar Falls, Iowa.