DECORAH, Iowa — The University of Wisconisn-Eau Claire wrestling team was back on the road Saturday as they competed at Luther College at the Luther Open. Of the 22 Blugolds competing, four wrestlers finished fifth place or better with many top-15 Division III and Division I and II teams in attendance. 

Travis Moelter placed the highest of the UWEC wrestlers with a 2nd place finish in the Elite 125 pound bracket. Moelter started his day with a pin against Wartburg College's Raio Hamaguchi at the 4:49 mark. Moelter continued his momentum in the quarterfinals against Division II Quincy University's Brian Farley with a 18-0 tech fall, 6:23 into the match. In the semifinals, Moelter faced UW-La Crosse's top seeded Quintin Wolbert and advanced to the finals courtesy of a UWL illegal move. In the finals, Moelter was unable to compete and was forced to medical forfeit, earning him runner up status.

Sloan Welch capped off an exciting weekend with a third place finish in the Elite 285 pound bracket. After a first round bye, Welch was victorious in the second round over Hawkeye Community College's Isaac Ericson with a 39 second pinfall. In the quarterfinals, Welch was defeated in a close sudden victory by the top seeded Tyler Raway from Augsburg College, 4-1. In the third place match, Welch defeated Division II St. Cloud State's Donnie Hidden with a 4-0 decision to claim the third place results.

Ian Pepple and Cole Matulenko both placed fifth in their respective brackets. Pepple opened his day with a pin in 2:49 before falling in the Quarterfinals to UW-Platteville's Kain Killmer by a 15-7 major decision. In the wrestlebacks, Pepple defeated Division I Iowa's Broady Sampson, 8-1 and pinned Luther College's Griffin Schultz in 1:51. During the fifth place match, Pepple defeated Luther's Ben Strehlow 7-6. Matulenko started his day with a first round victory over Division II Minnesota State's Joshua Gaye by 5-4 decision. Matulenko was defeated in the second round by 4-2 decision, but bounced back with a 1:39 pin in the wrestlebacks. Using his momentum form the pin, Matulenko earned a 10-1 major decision win and a 4-0 decision victory to make it to the fifth place match. Matulenko capped off the day with a 53 second pin against Coe College's Wyatt Smith to earn his fifth place finish.

The Blugolds will be back in action on Saturday, November 22 when they host the 8-Man/8-Woman Battles presented by Mancino's Pizzas and Grinders in the McPhee Gymnasium. First bouts are scheduled for 10 a.m.

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