ROCHESTER, Minn. - The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire wrestling team began their 2025-26 season on Saturday at the Yellowjacket Open, hosted by Rochester Community Technical College. With 27 Blugolds entering into the ten brackets, four UW-Eau Claire wrestlers found themselves with podium finishes. 

Tristan Drier took second place in the 174 bracket, going 3-1 on the day. After a first round bye and a 54 second pinfall in round two, Drier defeated UW-La Crosse's Jack Gillis in the semifinals by a 5-2 decision that saw a takedown and a reversal by Drier. In the finals, Drier was defeated by Division II Augstana's Gunner Mullen, as Mullen tallied five takedowns in the two periods.

Zak McPhee was crowned Consolation Champion in the 184 bracket with a 5-1 record and three pins. McPhee took opened the day with a 15-6 major decision victory and followed that up with a pin in five minutes over individual Johan Gomez. McPhee fell to Saint Cloud State Division II wrestler Dominic Mann by a 7-2 decision. McPhee then secured an 8-6 decision in his first wrestle back round. With momentum, McPhee pinned his next two opponents in 2:51 and 3:00 to reach the Consolation final. In the final, McPhee faced Division II wrestler Jonah Anderson from Southwest State Minn. and came out strong with a 10-3 first period. In the second, McPhee shut the door and sealed the deal with an escape, a takedown, and a nearfall in the final 1:47 to secure the victory.

Finn Bloomquist also captured a top-5 placement going 3-2 on the day in the 149 bracket. After a pinfall in 5:14 in the opening round and a 13-3 major decision in round two, Bloomquist found his way into the top-4 with a 9-3 decision over Iowa Community College's Zavian Geronimo with an early 4-0 lead in period one and an escape in the third. Bloomquist fell behind early in the semifinals and couldn't make up ground as he suffered his first loss of the day to Division II wrestler Vance Barz From Saint Cloud State, 18-5. In the third place match, Bloomquist faced Parker Lyden from SCSU and fell behind in the first, 12-2. After a scorless second, Bloomquist came out in the third with some momentum grabbing an esacpe and a takedown for four points. Another takedown from Bloomquist in the third brought the score to 13-10, but Lyden's escape and takedown in the seconds gave Bloomquist the fourth place finish.

Ethan Struck finished as the consolation runner up in the 165 bracket after going 5-2 on the day. A first round major decision win was followed by a 10-6 loss in round two. In the wrestle backs, Struck won four matches in a row with a pair of major decisions and a pair of tech falls. Struck surrendered in the Consolation finals with a no contest to finish as the consolation runner up.

The Blugolds will gear up for Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletics Conference (WIAC) competition on Wednesday, November 12 against UW-Oshkosh. First matchups are scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Kolf Sports Center.

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