MONTGOMERY, Ala. (blugolds.com) — The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire wrestling team took first place at the Hawk Classic hosted by Huntingdon College on Sunday. The Blugolds had multiple individuals earn championships at their weight class, and had 14 place-winners overall.
Ethan Struck (Fr. - Marengo, Ill./Marian Central Catholic),
Preston Carlisle (So. - Red Wing, Minn./Cannon Falls),
Jackson Schichel (Sr. - Hastings, Minn.) and
Sloan Welch (Fr. - Arpin, Wis./Auburndale) all won their weight classes. Struck took first at 157 pounds, Carlisle won the 174-pound class and Schichel and Welch shared the 285-pound title. The Blugolds earned 137 team points, holding off runner-up Reinhardt University by 15 points.
Struck went 4-0 en route to his first-place finish. He won once by pin, once by technical fall and twice by decision. He clinched the title with an 8-4 victory by decision in the finals.
Carlisle went 4-0 at 174 pounds, winning twice by forfeit and once by technical fall and pin. His tech fall and pin in the first and second rounds set him up ahead of back-to-back forfeits in the semifinals and finals.
Schichel and Welch both won three matches at 285 pounds, and did not wrestle in the finals due to being matched up against each other. That meant they shared the title.
Connor Collins (Sr. - Oshkosh, Wis./West) placed third at 184 pounds. He went 4-1 on the day with three technical falls and a major decision to his credit.
Carter Schulz (So. - Rice Lake, Wis.) and
Travis Moelter (Fr. - River Falls, Wis.) shared third at 125 pounds after double forfeiting in the third-place match.
Colton Sund (Jr. - Prior Lake, Minn.) and
Jan Hernandez-Soto (Jr. - Minneapolis, Minn./Patrick Henry) shared third place at 157 by double forfeiting the third-place match.
Carter Melton (So. - Spooner, Wis.) took fourth at 197 pounds.
Chris Cushman (Fr. - Wabasha, Minn./Wabasha-Kellogg),
Drew Kested (So. - Sterling, Ill.) and
Ryder Depies (Fr. - Merrill, Wis.) all took fifth place in their respective weight classes.
Landon Church (Fr. - Jordan, Minn./Scott West) placed sixth at 149 pounds.
In all, the Blugolds had 19 wrestlers competing. It was the second tournament title of the season for UW-Eau Claire.
The Blugolds are next in action on Friday, January 12. They travel to Williamsport, Pa., for the Budd Whitehill Duals.
