WHEATON, Ill. (blugolds.com) — The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire wrestling team sent three wrestlers to the semifinals of their respective weight classes on the first day of the Pete Willson Wheaton Invitational on Friday.
Zach Sato (Jr. – Oswego, Ill.),
Jon Harvey (So. – Lake City, Minn./Lincoln) and
Jared Stricker (So. – Ashland, Wis.) are all still in contention for titles heading into Saturday.
The sixth-ranked Blugolds are tied atop the team standings with third-ranked UW-La Crosse. Both squads have 88 team points heading into Saturday.
Sato advanced to the 149-pound semifinals with two technical falls and a pin. He won 15-0 in his first match and 26-7 in his second to advance to the quarterfinals, where he won via second-period pin. He faces Tyler Herrema of Olivet in the semifinals on Saturday.
Harvey went 3-0 to move into the 165-pound semifinals. He won by 11-0 major decision in his opener before earning a pin in the second round. He earned a 4-3 decision in the quarterfinals to move into the semis. He'll face seventh-ranked Brayden Peet of UW-Whitewater in the semifinals.
Stricker advanced to the semis at 174 pounds with two victories and a medical forfeit. He took his opener by first-period pin and received a medical forfeit in round two. The junior won by 8-0 major decision in the quarterfinals. He wrestles Carson Trotzer of UW-Stevens Point in the semifinals.
The Blugolds have several wrestlers who can still finish as place-winners despite losses on Friday.
Tyler Fleetwood (Sr. – Fulton, Ill.) is still alive in the 133-pound consolation bracket. He won twice to start the day before falling in the quarterfinals. He won his first wrestle-back match by decision and will continue wrestling on Saturday.
Connor Collins (Sr. – Oshkosh, Wis./West) won twice to start his 184-pound campaign but fell in the quarterfinals. He's still alive in the consolation bracket after a wrestle-back victory.
Jackson Schichel (Sr. – Hastings, Minn.) is still going at 285 pounds. He advanced to the quarterfinals with back-to-back victories but was bumped into the consolation bracket after a defeat. He won by technical fall in wrestle-backs to extend his stay into Saturday.
Carter Schulz (So. – Rice Lake, Wis.) dropped his opening match at 125 pounds to enter the consolation bracket. He won two wrestle-back matches before falling by decision to end his run.
Bo Niewiadomski (Jr. – Rosholt, Wis.) won by pin in his first 141-pound match on Friday but later lost to fall into the consolation bracket. A pair of wins in the wrestle-backs kept him going, but fell in his third consolation match.
Colton Sund (Jr. – Prior Lake, Minn.) got out to a good start at 157 pounds, winning by technical fall in his opener. He fell in his second match but bounced back with a win in the wrestle-backs. He ended his run with a defeat in his fourth match of the day.
Cole Matulenko (Fr. – Libertyville, Ill.) went 2-2 on the day, dropping his opening match before winning twice in consolation action. His run ended with a defeat by decision.
Wrestling continues on Saturday at 11 a.m.
