STEVENS POINT, Wis. (blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire wrestling team still has wrestlers competing in nine of the 10 weight classes after the first day of action at the NCAA Division III Upper Midwest Regional. The Blugolds had seven of their 10 wrestlers advance to the semifinals of their weight class and have a chance to send several competitors to the NCAA Championships.

The top three finishers in each weight class advance to nationals. The Blugolds have nine wrestlers who still have a chance to qualify heading into the final day of the regional on Saturday.

Izzy Balsiger (So. – Chippewa Falls, Wis.), Tyler Fleetwood (Sr. – Fulton, Ill.), Zach Sato (Jr. – Oswego, Ill.), Tristan Massie (Sr. – Hillsdale, Wis./Barron), Jared Stricker (Jr. – Ashland, Wis.), Niall Schoenfelder (Jr. – Antioch, Ill.) and Jackson Schichel (Sr. – Hastings, Minn.) are all still in the mix to become regional champions. They will all compete in the semifinals of their respective weight classes on Saturday.

Stricker made a bit of history on Friday, pinning his first two opponents to move his season total to 20 falls. That broke Evan Lawrence's school record for most pins in a single season, which he set with 19 in 2019-20.

Balsiger, the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) 125-pound champion, began his day with a 4-1 sudden victory in his first match. He booked his ticket to the semifinals with a 24-9 technical fall over Aurora's Zane Ely in the second round. Balsiger will wrestle UW-Stevens Point's Luca Paladino in the semifinals, where a win would clinch a trip to nationals. It will be a rematch of the WIAC championship match from two weeks ago, which Balsiger won by decision.

Fleetwood got off to a flying start in the 133-pound bracket, winning his first match by pin in one minute. He added another pin in the second round, taking down Alex Morales of MSOE in 4:44. It moved the senior into the semifinals, where he will take on UW-Whitewater's Dominik Mallinder on Saturday. It will be a rematch of the WIAC championship match, which Mallinder won.

Drew Kested (So. – Sterling, Ill.) dropped his 141-pound opener by 4-2 decision and moved into the consolation bracket. He won his first wrestle-back match by pin in the final period to advance to the third round. Kested extended his tournament into Saturday by winning via sudden victory to advance to the consolation quarterfinals, where he will take on Troy Mock of Elmhurst.

Sato began his 149-pound campaign with a pin in his first match, dropping his opponent in 3:45. He advanced to the semifinals with a 19-2 technical fall over Chicago's Ryan Fleck in the quarterfinals. Sato will take on third-ranked Charlie Stuhl of Augsburg in the semifinals on Saturday, where a win would punch a ticket to nationals.

Colton Sund (Jr. – Prior Lake, Minn.) picked up a 16-0 technical fall in his first match in the 157-pound bracket. He dropped into the consolation bracket after suffering a 16-3 defeat to top-ranked Nolan Hertel of UW-La Crosse in the quarterfinals. He kept his tournament run alive with a pin in the consolation bracket to advance to the consolation quarterfinals. He will look to earn a spot on the podium through wrestle-backs on Saturday. He wrestles Michael Smith of MSOE Saturday morning.

Massie cruised in his 165-pound opener, scoring a 15-0 technical fall to start the day. He kept his momentum rolling in the quarterfinals, defeating Jeff Nugent of Elmhurst by decision 14-8 to move into the semis. Massie will face UW-Whitewater's Brayden Peet in the semifinals on Saturday, where he can earn a return trip to nationals with a victory. Massie won the only meeting between the two earlier this winter.

Stricker, the defending regional champion at 174 pounds, started his title defense with a bang. He pinned his first opponent in just 15 seconds, which is the fastest pin by a Blugold this season. He followed with another first-period pin in the quarterfinals. He will face UW-La Crosse's Eddie Simes in the semifinals needing one more win to advance to nationals. Stricker defeated Simes earlier this season.

Schoenfelder returned to the mat for the first time since January and wrestled in the 184-pound bracket. He didn't show any signs of rust, pinning his first opponent in 2:49. He moved into the semifinals with another pin in the quarterfinals. Schoenfelder will square off with Marcus Orlandoni of UW-La Crosse on Saturday, and would earn his first career trip to nationals with a win.

Connor Collins (Sr. – Oshkosh, Wis./West), the WIAC 184-pound champion, moved up a weight class for regionals. He won his 197-pound opener by 18-3 technical fall, but dropped his second match in a 12-5 decision. He saw his regional run come to an end with a defeat at the hands of Jordan Lewis from UW-Whitewater in the consolation bracket.

Schichel wrestled at 285 pounds and got off to a winning start, posting a 13-4 major decision in his first match of the day. He moved into the semis with a pin late in his quarterfinal match. He takes on second-ranked Michael Douglas of UW-La Crosse in the semifinals on Saturday, and could earn his first career trip to nationals with a win.

Wrestling continues at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 2. The championship semifinals and consolation quarterfinals are the first matches on tap.