GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (blugolds.com) — The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire wrestling team went unbeaten on the opening day of the Blithe Memorial Duals on Friday at Cornerstone University. The third-ranked Blugolds won twice to win their pool, and advanced through the tournament quarterfinals with another victory in the evening session.
UW-Eau Claire is the defending champion at the tournament. Pool play began on Friday, with the Blugolds drawn in Pool A against Midway University and Saint Ambrose University. The Blugolds beat both, and then defeated Cornerstone University in the quarterfinals. They'll wrestle in the semifinals on Day 2 of the tournament.
UW-Eau Claire opened the day with a 46-3 victory over Midway. The Blugolds won nine of 10 bouts in the dual to earn a straightforward victory. Eight of the team's wins came by fall, technical fall or major decision, with four ending via pin.
Carter Schulz (So. – Rice Lake, Wis.) gave the Blugolds their first pin of the day in the 125-pound match, ending the bout by fall in 1:05. Top-ranked
Tyler Fleetwood (Sr. – Fulton, Ill.) made short work of his foe at 133 pounds, winning by technical fall 19-3. UW-Eau Claire's
Bo Niewiadomski (Jr. – Rosholt, Wis.) fell by 8-2 decision to a nationally ranked NAIA wrestler at 141 pounds. Fifth-ranked
Zach Sato (Jr. – Oswego, Ill.) got the Blugolds back on track at 149 pounds, earning a 16-1 technical fall to start a run of seven straight wins for the Blugolds.
Jan Hernandez-Soto (Jr. – Minneapolis, Minn./Patrick Henry) followed with a 22-8 major decision at 157 pounds.
Jon Harvey (So. – Lake City, Minn./Lincoln) scored the Blugolds' second pin at 165 pounds, ending the match at 2:06. Second-ranked
Jared Stricker (Jr. – Ashland, Wis.) made it back-to-back pins, dispatching his opponent in just 0:54 at 174 pounds. Seventh-ranked
Niall Schoenfelder (Jr. – Antioch, Ill.) ran the streak to three consecutive victories by fall, pinning his foe in 2:29 at 184 pounds.
Cole Matulenko (Fr. – Libertyville, Ill.) scored a 15-0 technical fall at 197 pounds, and
Jackson Schichel (Sr. – Hastings, Minn.) finished off the dual with a 3-2 victory at 285.
The Blugolds were quickly back in action against Saint Ambrose in the afternoon. They picked up their second win of the day, 35-9.
UW-Eau Claire dropped the 125-pound match against the Bees, but Fleetwood quickly got the Blugolds moving back in the right direction. The top-ranked 133-pounder won by technical fall, 15-0.
Drew Kested (So. – Sterling, Ill.) got his first action of the day at 141 pounds, where he fell in a narrow 3-2 decision. Sato followed with a pin at 149 pounds, ending his match late in the first period. Hernandez-Soto added a 9-3 decision victory at 157 pounds, and Harvey won 4-2 at 165. The 174-pound match pitted second-ranked Stricker against Jayden Terronez, ranked 15
th in the NAIA. Stricker won the match via first-round pin. The 184-pound match was another ranked meeting with No. 7 Schoenfelder defeating No. 24 Dylan Meiners by 7-2 decision. Matulenko stayed unbeaten on the day with a 10-4 win at 197 pounds, and Schichel ended the dual with a first-period pin at 285 pounds.
The wins over Midway and Saint Ambrose put the Blugolds into the championship bracket, where they took on Cornerstone University. UW-Eau Claire won that dual 38-7.
Schulz dropped in a major decision to open the dual at 125 pounds. Fleetwood responded with a technical fall victory at 133. Kested fell in overtime at 141, but Sato got points back for the Blugolds with a pin at 149. Hernandez-Soto won via forfeit at 157. Harvey scored a 12-7 victory at 165. Stricker earned another pin in quick fashion, ending the 174-pound match in 0:34. Schoenfelder posted a shutout in an 11-0 major decision win at 184. Matulenko earned a 12-4 major decision at 197. Schichel closed out the day with an 11-0 major decision win.
The Blugolds will wrestle Campbellsville University in the semifinals on Saturday, December 2. Start time is TBD.
