EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (blugolds.com) — The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire wrestling team hosted its annual Don Parker Open on Saturday at the McPhee Center.
Tristan Massie (Sr. - Hillsdale, Wis./Barron) won the 165-pound championship to highlight the Blugolds' showing at their home tournament.
UW-Eau Claire had 31 wrestlers compete at the tournament, with nine finishing as place-winners. There were no team scores at the event.
Massie, ranked sixth in the nation, went 5-0 to win the 165-pound title. He won his opener by fall in 31 seconds and advanced to the quarterfinals with a 7-2 victory in the second round. A 15-3 major decision victory sent him to the semifinals, where he advanced with a 6-5 sudden victory. He defeated Wisconsin's Danny Sheen by 15-2 major decision in the finals to clinch the title.
Izzy Balsiger (So. - Chippewa Falls, Wis.) placed fourth at 125 pounds. He won his opener via pin to advance to the quarterfinals and moved into the semis with another fall. He closed out fourth place by dropping two matches by slim decisions.
Three Blugolds placed fifth in their respective weight classes.
Drew Kested (So. - Sterling, Ill.) placed fifth at 141 pounds by winning three matches. After a quarterfinal loss, he bounced back with wins by fall and decision in the consolation bracket to clinch fifth place.
Ian Pepple (Fr. - Hastings, Minn.) took fifth at 197 pounds. He opened the tournament with back-to-back technical falls to advance to the quarterfinals, where he took his only loss of the day. The freshman rallied with wins by decision and major decision to lock up fifth place through wrestle-backs.
Sloan Welch (Fr. - Arpin, Wis./Auburndale) finished fifth at 285 pounds. The freshman went 4-1 on the day, with his only coming at the hands of Wisconsin's Brooks Empey in the quarterfinals. Welch won twice by fall, once by major decision and once by decision.
Preston Carlisle (So. - Red Wing, Minn./Cannon Falls) took sixth at 174 pounds. He went 3-2 on the day, earning two wins by fall and one by decision.
Travis Moelter (Fr. - River Falls, Wis.) and
Jon Harvey (So. - Lake City, Minn./Lincoln) took seventh place at 125 and 165, respectively. Harvey went 3-2 at the tournament and Moelter finished 2-2.
Landon Church (Fr. - Jordan, Minn./Scott West) took eighth at 149 pounds. He won his first two matches of the day.
UW-Eau Claire will be at home one more time this season. The Blugolds host UW-Stevens Point in their final Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) dual of the campaign on Friday, February 9. Wrestling will take place at the Ade Olson Addition at 7 p.m., with the Blugolds hosting Senior Night and Parents Night.
