EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (blugolds.com) — The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire wrestling team earned a statement victory on Saturday night, taking down fourth-ranked Johnson & Wales University 27-18 at the McPhee Center. The eighth-ranked Blugolds won six of the 10 matches and racked up two pins and a technical fall in an impressive showing over a top-five team nationally.

The wrestling began at 149 pounds, where Zach Sato (Jr. - Oswego, Ill.) set the tone with a dominant showing. The 12th-ranked Blugold won by technical fall in the second period after going ahead 16-1 in short order.

Colton Sund (Jr. - Prior Lake, Minn.) wrestled at 157 for UW-Eau Claire and fell to Jack Richardson by technical fall 21-1 in the second period.

Seventh-ranked Tristan Massie (Sr. - Hillsdale, Wis./Barron) took the mat at 165 pounds for UW-Eau Claire. He was dominant in dispatching Thomas DiResta in a 15-2 major decision, and started a run of three straight wins for the Blugolds.

Second-ranked Jared Stricker (Jr. - Ashland, Wis.) followed with a 10-4 decision victory over Scott DeFex at 174 pounds, earning his second win of the season.

Niall Schoenfelder (Jr. - Antioch, Ill.), ranked No. 10 at 184 pounds, added another decision victory for the Blugolds. He beat Christian Murphy 12-6.

The Wildcats got back in the win column at 197 pounds, but it wasn't easy. Blugold freshman Ian Pepple (Fr. - Hastings, Minn.) gave 11th-ranked Ryan DeVivo a battle, earning plenty of late points before falling in a 17-13 decision.

Freshman Sloan Welch (Fr. - Arpin, Wis./Auburndale) had perhaps the win of the night for UW-Eau Claire. Squaring off with third-ranked Dylan Harr in the heavyweight class, Welch impressed with a first-period pin to score a huge victory for the Blugolds.

Carter Schulz (So. - Rice Lake, Wis.) battled defending national champion and top-ranked Joziah Fry at 125 pounds, falling by pin in the second period.

Top-ranked Tyler Fleetwood (Sr. - Fulton, Ill.) lived up to his ranking at 133 pounds, pinning Jake Eckerle in the first period to stay unbeaten this season.

Drew Kested (So. - Sterling, Ill.) squared off with eighth-ranked Victor Perlleshi at 141 pounds. The Blugold battled but fell by major decision, 14-4.

The win improved the eighth-ranked Blugolds' dual record to 1-1 this season. They'll be back in action with their Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) opener on Wednesday, Nov. 15. They travel to UW-Oshkosh for the annual Chancellor's Cup dual. Wrestling is slated to begin at 7 p.m. in Oshkosh.