2024-25 UW-La Crosse Wrestling Schedule

La Crosse, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse has announced its 2024-25 wrestling schedule.  The Eagles will host three events in Mitchell Hall this season, including the season opener versus Cornell College (Iowa) on Friday, November 1 as part of the Wisconsin Wrestling Showcase.  

UWL also hosts The College of New Jersey on Thursday, November 14 and UW-Stevens Point on Friday, February 7. The College of New Jersey placed ninth at the 2024 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III Championships. 

The Wisconsin Wrestling Showcase will feature NCAA Division I, II and III matches in UWL's Mitchell Hall. Along with UWL hosting Cornell (Iowa) in the NCAA Division III dual, the University of Wisconsin faces Ohio University in NCAA Division I while UW-Parkside takes on Maryville University (Mo.) in NCAA Division II.  

"Once again, we are excited about our schedule for this season as we wrestle one of the toughest schedules in all of Division III," said UWL head coach Dave Malecek.  "We do this on purpose to prepare our guys for the NCAA Championships in Rhode Island. I'm really excited for our home dual as part of the Wisconsin Wrestling Showcase."  

Malecek, in his 19th season as UWL's head coach, was a four-time NCAA Division I qualifier at Northern Iowa University from 1991-94 and earned All-America accolades with a fourth-place finish at 177-pounds in 1994. Ohio University's current head coach Joel Greenlee was the Panthers' assistant coach from 1989-97. 

The Eagles travel to the Rochester Community & Technical College (Minn.) Open on Saturday, November 2. UWL will compete in seven other invitationals in 2024-25. The Eagles travel to the UW-Oshkosh Duals on Saturday, November 16 and at the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Multi-Divisional National Duals on Friday-Saturday, January 10-11 in Cedar Falls, Iowa. 

The NCAA Division III Upper Midwest Regional is Friday-Saturday, February 28-March 1 at a time to be determined. The NCAA Division III Championships are Friday, March 14-Saturday, March 15 in Providence, Rhode Island. 

"This schedule will challenge our team as our conference and regional will be as tough as ever," added Malecek.

Malecek has led UWL to top-four finishes at the NCAA Division III Championships in eight different seasons. The Eagles placed second in 2008 and 2010, third in 2007, 2009, 2011 and 2024 and fourth in 2012 and 2013. UWL finished third at the 2024 championships held at the La Crosse Center with five wrestlers earning All-America honors. Nolan Hertel (157-pounds) won his second straight individual national title while Michael Douglas (285), Tyler Goebel (149) and Noah Leisgang (165) all placed second. Ben Kawczynski (197) finished eighth to earn All-America recognition.

UWL was 12-2 overall and 5-0 in Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) duals in 2023-24. It marked UWL's sixth undefeated conference dual season in the last eight years. The Eagles captured their eighth straight WIAC Championship and conference record 23rd in school history.