WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (blugolds.com) — The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire wrestling team successfully defended its championship at the Budd Whitehill National Duals by knocking off a pair of ranked opponents on Saturday at Lycoming College. The ninth-ranked Blugolds took down No. 19 Roanoke College in the semifinals to start the day, then clinched a second consecutive title at the tournament with a win over No. 8 Stevens in the finals.
The Blugolds finished 5-0 at the tournament and improved to 17-4 in duals this season, which ties the program's single-season record for dual victories. UW-Eau Claire avenged an early-season loss to Stevens by taking down the Ducks 26-13 in the finals. It was the second year in a row the Blugolds defeated Stevens in the Budd Whitehill championship dual.
The finals began at 125 pounds, where
Carter Schulz (So. – Rice Lake, Wis.) fell in a narrow 7-5 decision. The Blugolds got on the board at 133 though, where seventh-ranked
Tyler Fleetwood (Sr. – Fulton, Ill.) scored a technical fall by a 19-1 score.
Bo Niewiadomski (Jr. – Rosholt, Wis.) fell to No. 15 Nico Diaz by major decision at 141 pounds, but
Zach Sato (Jr. – Oswego, Ill.) put the Blugolds back in front with a 17-7 major decision at 149.
Colton Sund (Jr. – Prior Lake, Minn.) nearly knocked off the No. 4 wrestler in Division III at 157 pounds, pushing Ryan Smith to the final whistle before falling in a slim 3-2 decision.
Sixth-ranked
Tristan Massie (Sr. – Hillsdale, Wis./Barron) got the lead back for the Blugolds with a 3-2 decision at 165 pounds.
Jared Stricker (Jr. – Ashland, Wis.) made it back-to-back wins for UW-Eau Claire with an impressive technical fall over 12th-ranked Stefan Major at 174.
Connor Collins (Sr. – Oshkosh, Wis./West) put the Blugolds on the brink of winning the tournament championship by earning an upset win at 184 pounds. He unseated No. 11 Joel Martsinovsky by 4-1 decision, giving UW-Eau Claire a 10-point lead in the dual with two matches left.
Cole Matulenko (Fr. – Libertyville, Ill.) fell by decision at 197 pounds, but the result sealed the win for the Blugolds by leaving them ahead by seven points with one match left.
Sloan Welch (Fr. – Arpin, Wis./Auburndale) finished off the title with a first-period pin at 285 pounds.
The Blugolds had reached the tournament finals by defeating No. 19 Roanoke College 35-8 in the semifinals on Saturday morning.
Izzy Balsiger (Chippewa Falls, Wis.) got the Blugolds off to a good start, scoring an upset victory over No. 14 Mac Cafurello by sudden victory at 125 pounds. The Maroons countered with wins at 133 and 141, but the Blugolds took the rest of the matches to pull away. Stricker won by fall in the first period. Collins and Matulenko both won by technical fall and Sato won by major decision.
UW-Eau Claire improved to 4-4 against ranked opponents this season.
Stricker was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler at the tournament. He and Welch both earned a spot on the all-tournament team.
UW-Eau Claire will next be in action on Friday, January 19, with a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) dual at UW-Platteville. Wrestling is set for 7 p.m.
