EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (blugolds.com) — The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire wrestling team overturned an early deficit to defeat UW-Whitewater 25-14 in a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) dual on Thursday at the McPhee Center. The third-ranked Blugolds fell behind by 11 points early, but ripped off five straight wins late in the dual to remain unbeaten in the WIAC.
A pair of back-to-back pins at 174 pounds and 184 pounds put the Blugolds in front and ignited a packed McPhee gym. The Warhawks couldn't recover, with a major decision clinching the win at 197 pounds. UW-Eau Claire moved to 8-3 this season and 2-0 in the WIAC with the victory.
The wrestling began at 125 pounds, where
Carter Schulz (So. – Rice Lake, Wis.) took the mat for the Blugolds. The sophomore fell by 3-0 decision. The Warhawks earned a second consecutive victory at 133 pounds, where No. 9 Dominik Mallinder scored a 7-1 upset of top-ranked
Tyler Fleetwood (Sr. – Fulton, Ill.). The 141-pound match saw
Bo Niewiadomski (Jr. – Rosholt, Wis.) take a slim lead early in the third period, but a late takedown gave UW-Whitewater a 4-3 decision.
Fifth-ranked
Zach Sato (Jr. – Oswego, Ill.) got the Blugolds on the board in the 149-pound match. He used a near fall and stalling points late in the match to earn a 7-0 victory. The Warhawks countered at 157, where
Jan Hernandez-Soto (Jr. – Minneapolis, Minn./Patrick Henry) fell by 15-0 technical fall.
Seventh-ranked
Tristan Massie (Sr. – Hillsdale, Wis./Barron) scored some much-needed points by winning a ranked clash at 165 pounds. He knocked off No. 15 Brayden Peet by 5-3 decision to cut the Warhawks' lead to 14-6.
Second-ranked
Jared Stricker (Jr. – Ashland, Wis.) then gave the Blugolds a huge boost by picking up a second-period pin to take the 174-pound match, cutting the dual deficit to 14-12. Seventh-ranked
Niall Schoenfelder (Jr. – Antioch, Ill.) made it a pin party with a second-period fall at 184 pounds, giving the Blugolds their first lead at 18-14.
Cole Matulenko (Fr. – Libertyville, Ill.) sealed the victory with a dominant showing at 197, earning a 15-2 major decision to put the score out of reach in the Blugolds' favor.
Sloan Welch (Fr. – Arpin, Wis./Auburndale) finished things off at 285 pounds, scoring a 7-5 decision.
UW-Eau Claire will be back in action with a top-five clash on Wednesday, December 13. The third-ranked Blugolds visit fourth-ranked UW-La Crosse, with wrestling beginning at 7 p.m.
