Dave Malecek begins his 21st season as UW-La Crosse's head wrestling coach in 2026-27.
AT UW-LA CROSSE:
* Nine top-four finishes at National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III Championships.
* School-best second three times (2008, 2010, 2026).
* Four third-place finishes (2007, 2009, 2011, 2024)
* Two fourth-place finishes (2012, 2013).
* Coached 15 NCAA Division III Champions and 77 All-Americas.
* Fourteen Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Championships (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025)
* Dual record of 258-61-1 (.808), including 93-9 (.912) in WIAC.
* Ten WIAC Wrestler of the Year Awards.
* Eight WIAC John Peterson Wrestler of the Meet Awards.
* Earned 86 individual WIAC Championships.
* Twelve WIAC Max Sparger Scholar-Athlete of the Year Awards.
* Total of 106 wrestlers named to the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Academic Team.
2025-26:
* Finished second at NCAA III Championships.
* Five wrestlers earned All-America honors, including Tanner Gerber won national title (165-pounds). Tate Flege fifth (184), Noah Leisgang (174) and Markos Mihalopoulos (285) sixth and Joe Penchi (157) seventh.
* UWL went 14-3 overall and 5-0 in WIAC duals.
* Finished second at NCAA Division III Region VII Regional.
* UWL finished second at WIAC Championships.
* Gerber (165), Leisgang (174) and
Tyler Dormanen (197) won league titles.
* Fourteen of 15 wrestlers competing at the conference championships placed in the tournament.
* Gerber selected the WIAC Wrestler of the Year while Mihalopoulos was voted the WIAC Co-Newcomer of the Year.
2024-25:
* Finished fifth at NCAA III Championships.
* Four All-America honors, Marcus Orlandoni captured the national title (184), Gerber third (165), Tyler Goebel sixth (157) and Ben Kawczynski seventh (197).
* Won NCAA III Region VIII Regional.
* UWL finished 11-2 overall and 5-0 in the WIAC.
* Douglas (285), Gerber (165), Goebel (157), Orlandoni (184) and Talan Schutte (141) won individual titles. Eighteen of 19 wrestlers placed.
2023-24:
* Finished third at NCAA III Championships.
* Five All-America honors, Nolan Hertel (157) won his second straight national title while Michael Douglas (285), Goebel (149) and Noah Leisgang (165) all placed second. Kawczynski (197) finished eighth to earn All-America recognition.
* Finished second at NCAA III Upper Midwest Regional.
* UWL finished 12-2 overall and 5-0 in the WIAC.
* UWL won WIAC Championship.
*Goebel (149), Hertel (157), Leisgang (165), Kawczynski (197) and Douglas (285) won individual titles as 18 of 20 wrestlers placed.
* Hertel was named the 2023-24 WIAC Co-Wrestler of the Year.
2022-23:
* UWL finished at NCAA III Championships.
* Four All-America accolades, including Hertel (157) winning national title. Leisgang (165) and Seth Brossard (174) both placed third and Douglas (285) eighth.
* Second at NCAA III Regional.
* UWL finished 13-3 overall and 5-0 in the WIAC.
* UWL won WIAC Championship.
* Hertel (157), Leisgang (165) and Tyler Shackle (141) each won individual titles. Seventeen of UWL's 20 wrestlers placed.
2021-22:
* UWL finished 19th at NCAA III Championships.
* Hertel placed fifth (157) and Brossard seventh (165) to earn NCAA III All-America honors.
* Third at NCAA III Regional.
* Won WIAC Championship, three individual titles with Hertel (157), Brossard (165) and Kawczynski (285). Fifteen of UWL's 16 wrestlers placed at WIAC Championships.
* Went 8-4 overall and 2-2 in the WIAC.
Dave Malecek Year-by-Year at UW-La Crosse
| Year |
Overall |
WIAC |
WIAC Tournament |
NCAA III Championships |
| 2006-07 |
13-1 |
5-1 |
1st |
3rd |
| 2007-08 |
21-2 |
6-0 |
1st |
2nd |
| 2008-09 |
19-6 |
5-1 |
1st |
3rd |
| 2009-10 |
14-3 |
5-0 |
1st |
2nd |
| 2010-11 |
12-3-1 |
5-0 |
1st |
3rd |
| 2011-12 |
18-2 |
5-0 |
2nd |
4th |
| 2012-13 |
17-4 |
4-1 |
2nd |
4th |
| 2013-14 |
10-6 |
4-1 |
2nd |
21st |
| 2014-15 |
16-5 |
4-1 |
2nd |
8th |
| 2015-16 |
15-4 |
4-1 |
2nd |
6th |
| 2016-17 |
9-0 |
5-0 |
1st |
Tied 11th |
| 2017-18 |
10-4 |
4-1 |
1st |
7th |
| 2018-19 |
11-3 |
5-0 |
1st |
Tied 24th |
| 2019-20 |
10-4 |
5-0 |
1st |
Canceled |
| 2020-21 |
5-0 |
5-0 |
1st |
Canceled |
| 2021-22 |
8-4 |
2-2 |
1st |
19th |
| 2022-23 |
13-3 |
5-0 |
1st |
5th |
| 2023-24 |
12-2 |
5-0 |
1st |
3rd |
| 2024-25 |
11-2 |
5-0 |
1st |
5th |
| 2025-26 |
14-3 |
5-0 |
2nd |
2nd |
| Totals |
258-61-1 (.807) |
93-9 (.912) |
|
|
2020-21:
* NCAA III Championships were canceled due to the COVID-19 public health threat.
* Won WIAC Championship with Josh Stenger (133), Shackle (141), Hertel (157), Grant Zamin (165), Reed Williams (174), Connor Williams (184) and Konrad Ernst (285) capturing individual titles.
2019-20:
* NCAA III Championships were canceled due to the COVID-19 public health threat.
* Five wrestlers qualified for NCAA III Championships.
* Isaac Lahr (197) and Zamin (157) were named to the All-America First Team by the NWCA while Mitch Hertel (165) and Sawyer Massie (174) earned Second Team honors. Sawyer Sarbacker (125) was NWCA All-America Third Team.
* Finished second at NCAA III Upper Midwest Regional.
* Won WIAC Championship with individual titles from Zamin (165), Hertel (165), Massie (187) and Lahr (197). Sixteen of 18 wrestlers placed. Lahr was named the WIAC Newcomer of the Year.
* Finished 10-4 overall and 5-0 in the WIAC.
2018-19:
* UWL tied for 24th at NCAA III Championships.
* Two NCAA III All-America, Ernst (285) seventh and Zamin (157) eighth.
* Finished second at NCAA III Upper Midwest Regional.
* Won WIAC Championship as Logan Schlough (149), Zamin (157), Jackson Schoen (165) and Ernst (285) won titles. Fifteen of 16 wrestlers placed.
* Finished 11-3 overall and 5-0 in the WIAC.
2017-18:
* UWL finished seventh at NCAA III Championships.
* Three All-America honors, Wesley Schultz (197) placed third, Konrad Ernst (285) sixth and Massie (174) sixth.
* Finished second at NCAA III Upper Midwest Regional.
* Won WIAC Championship. Thirteen of 16 wrestlers placed, including champions Hayden Schlough
(141), Hertel (165), Massie (174) and Ernst (285). Massie was named the WIAC John Peterson Wrestler of the Meet.
* Finished 10-4 overall and 4-1 in the WIAC.
2016-17:
* UWL tied for 11th at NCAA III Championships.
* Two All-America honors, Dustin Weinmann won title (141) and Richard Carlson fifth (174).
* Second at NCAA III Midwest Regional.
* Won WIAC Championship with Weinmann (141), Mason Geary (149), Carlson (174) and Michael Otomo (197) earning individual titles.
Finished 9-0 overall and 5-0 in the WIAC. First undefeated dual season in school history and first undefeated conference season since 2011-12.
2015-16:
* UWL finished sixth at NCAA III Championships.
* Three All-America honors, Weinmann placed third (133), Tyler Schneider fourth (174) and Austin Cook (184) sixth.
* Second at NCAA III Midwest Regional.
* Placed second at WIAC Championships, including individual titles from Schneider (174), Sean Ward (197) and Clay Broze (285).
* Finished 15-4 overall and 4-1 in the WIAC.
2014-15:
* UWL finished eighth at NCAA III Championships.
* Three wrestlers All-America honors, including Schneider (165) who placed second with Eric Twohey (197) finishing third and Carlson (184) sixth.
* Twohey named to Capital One Academic All-American® First Team.
* Finished third at NCAA III Midwest Regional.
* Second at WIAC Championships with four individual titles. Ryan Weinmann (125), Martino Balsiger (133), Schneider (165) and Eric Twohey (197) won championships.
* Finished 16-5 overall and 4-1 in the WIAC.
2013-14:
* UWL finished 21st at NCAA III Championships.
* Two All-America honors, Jake Minske sixth (285) and Twohey eighth (184).
* Twohey named to Capital One Academic All-American® Second Team.
* Second at NCAA III Midwest Regional.
* Second at WIAC Championships with Cody See (141), Dylan Shaffer (149), Schneider (165) and Twohey (184) capturing titles.
* Finished 10-6 overall and 4-1 in the WIAC.
2012-13:
* UWL finished fourth at NCAA III Championships.
* Four All-America honors, including
Adam Sheley won title (141). Billy Mayer third (285); Izzy Balsiger fourth (125) and Kevin O'Brien fifth (174).
* Sheley (first team) and O'Brien (third team) named to Capital One Academic All-American® Team.
* Finished third at NCAA III Midwest Regional.
* Second at WIAC Championships. Balsiger (125), Sheley (141), JR Lewis (157), O’Brien (174), Twohey (184) and Mayer (285) won conference championships.
* Went 17-4 overall and 4-1 in the WIAC.
2011-12:
* UWL finished fourth at NCAA III Championships.
* Five All-America honors, including Bebeto Yewah second (141) with Schmitz third (174), O'Brien fourth (165); Mayer fifth (285) and Sheley sixth (133).
* Second at WIAC Championships with Sheley (133), Yewah (141), O’Brien (165) and Schmitz (174) winning titles.
* Finished 18-2 overall and 5-0 in the WIAC.
2010-11:
* UWL finished third at NCAA III Championships.
* Five All-America honors, including Yewah (141) winning his second straight national crown while Albie McKinney was second (125); Mike Schmitz third (174); Sheley fifth (133) and Mayer sixth (285).
* Won WIAC Championship. The Eagles won seven individual titles with McKinney (125), Sheley (133), Yewah (141), Matt Mauseth (149), Cory Ferguson (165), Schmitz (174) and Mayer (285).
* Finished 12-3-1 overall and 5-0 in the WIAC.
2009-10:
* UWL finished second at NCAA III Championships.
* Three individual champions, including Yewah (133), Schmitz (174) and Dan Laurent (285). UWL was the only team to win multiple individual titles in 2010. Mauseth was third (149); Andy Moore fourth (197) and Ferguson eighth (165) to earn All-America honors.
* Won WIAC Championship. Seven individual titles with McKinney (125), Yewah (133), Mauseth (149), Ferguson (165), Schmitz (174), Moore (197) and Laurent (285).
* Finished 14-3 overall and 5-0 in the WIAC.
2008-09:
* UWL finished third at NCAA III Championships.
* Five All-America honors with Mauseth (149) and Laurent (285) winning titles and josh Zabel (184) third and Schmitz (174) and Moore (197) fourth.
* Won WIAC Championship, including five individual titles. McKinney (125), Mauseth (149), Schmitz (174), Zabel (184) and Laurent (285) won championships.
* Finished 19-6 overall and 5-1 in the WIAC.
2007-08:
* UWL finished second at NCAA III Championships.
* Six individual All-America honors, including titles from Chelf (174) and Laurent (285). Kolinski (133) finished fourth, Palmer (165) and Zabel (184) fifth and Mauseth (149) sixth.
* Won WIAC Championship with seven individual titles, including Jordan Kolinski (133), Mauseth (149), Tim Palmer (165), Josh Chelf (174), Zabel (184) and Laurent (285).
* Finished 21-2 overall and 6-0 in the WIAC.
2006-07:
* UWL finished third at NCAA III Championships.
* Six All-America honors with Chelf (174) winning the national title. Palmer (165) and Lulloff (184) were third, Needham (157) fourth and Kolinski (133) and Larsen (149) sixth.
* Won WIAC Championship, with seven champions in Kolinski (133), Jake Larsen (149), Ross Neeham (157), Palmer (165), Chelf (174), Jason Lulloff (184) and Laurent (285).
* Finished 13-1 overall and 5-1 in the WIAC.
Malecek By The Numbers
| WIAC Tournament Titles: 14 |
NCAA III Champions: 15 |
| WIAC Coach/Coaching Staff of the Year: 15 |
WIAC Champions: 86 |
| NWCA Coach of the Year: 2 |
WIAC Wrestler of the Year: 10 |
| NCAA III Top Four Finishes: 9 |
WIAC Scholar-Athletes: 12 |
| NCAA III All-Americas: 77 |
NWCA Academic Team: 106 |
HONORS:
* NCAA Division III Assistant Coach of the Year at Wartburg (Iowa) (2006).
* NCAA Rookie Coach of the Year (2007).
v D3wrestle.com Coach of the Year (2010).
* Osage (Iowa) High School Hall of Fame (2021).
* NWCA Division III Coach of the Year (2023-24; 2024-25).
* NWCA Hall of Fame (2024).
* UWL Wall of Fame (2026).
* WIAC Mertz Mortoreilli Coach of the Year seven times (2007-11, 2015, 2017).
* WIAC Coaching Staff of the Year Award eight seasons (2018-25).
OTHER EXPERIENCE:
* Head assistant coach at Wartburg College (Iowa) from 2000 to 2006, helping lead the Knights to three NCAA Division III Championships (2003, 2004, 2006).
* Team won six Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) titles.
* Eleven national champions and 47 All-America selections.
* Two years as head coach at Xavier High School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, recorded 31 dual victories.
* Coached 10 state qualifiers and one state champion.
* Instructor in Wartburg (Iowa) Physical Education Department.
* Taught at Wright Elementary School (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) and Aurelia (Iowa) Schools.
PLAYING EXPERIENCE:
* Four-time NCAA Division I qualifier at Northern Iowa University (1991-94).
* Earned All-America accolades in 1994 (fourth-place at 177-pounds).
* Two-year team captain (1993, 1994).
* Seventh in career victories.
* Participant in United States’ Olympic Trails in 1992 and 1996.
* Two-time state champion at Osage (Iowa) High School.
EDUCATION/FAMILY:
* Bachelor’s degree (1994) and master’s degree (2005) from Northern Iowa.
* Wife, Kayahbah, have four daughters, Amalia, Lydia, Kora and Isabella.
