MINNEAPOLIS — Jared Stricker (Sr. – High Bridge, Wis./Ashland) became the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference's all-time leader in career victories as the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire wrestling team opened up the NCAA Division III Region VII tournament on Friday at Augsburg.

Stricker earned the 162nd victory of his career in the first round to break the record of 161 set by Ryan Allen of UW-La Crosse in 2006. It highlighted a strong day for the Blugolds, who still have all 10 wrestlers in contention for a trip to the NCAA Championships entering the final day of the tournament on Saturday.

The Blugolds sit in third place in the team standings with 84.5 points. They trail only Augsburg (108.5) and UW-La Crosse (102).

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Zach Sato (Sr. – Oswego, Ill.), Preston Carlisle (Jr. – Red Wing, Minn./Cannon Falls), Stricker, Niall Schoenfelder (Sr. – Antioch, Ill.) and Ian Pepple (So. – Hastings, Minn.) are all in contention for regional titles in their respective brackets.
• Sato had a bye in the first round of the 149-pound bracket. He won by technical fall in the quarterfinals to advance to the semis, where he will wrestle Concordia Moorhead's Aidan Ruddy on Saturday.
• Carlisle also had a first-round bye. He won his only match of the day by first-period pin to advance to Saturday's 165-pound semifinals, where he will take on UW-La Crosse's Tanner Gerber.
• Stricker used a pair of pins to reach the 174-pound semifinals. Both came in less than one minute and 20 seconds. He will take on UW-Stevens Point's Carson Trotzer in the semifinals on Saturday. He is seeking the third regional title of his career. In addition to becoming the WIAC's all-time wins leader, Stricker moved his career pins total to 74. He now sits in third place in the conference's all-time standings for pins and is within striking distance of the record of 78.
• Schoenfelder scored a pair of wins in the 184-pound bracket to move into the semifinals. He won his first-round match by 8-1 decision and won his quarterfinal by 10-0 major decision. He will wrestle Augsburg's Brandt Bombard in the semis on Saturday.
• Pepple reached the 197-pound semifinals with two wins on Friday. He took his opener by fall in two minutes, and added a 14-8 decision victory in the quarterfinals. He will take on Augsburg's Parker Venz in the semis on Saturday.
• Of the Blugolds who lost a match in the championship bracket, all are still in contention for a trip to nationals through wrestlebacks. Izzy Balsiger (Jr. – Chippewa Falls, Wis.), Travis Moelter (So. – River Falls, Wis.), Finn Bloomquist (Fr. – Prior Lake, Minn.), Landon Church (So. – Jordan, Minn./Scott West) and Sloan Welch (So. – Arpin, Wis./Auburndale) will all wrestle in the consolation quarterfinals on Saturday.

UP NEXT

The regional wraps up on Saturday, March 1. Wrestling begins at 11 a.m. at Si Melby Hall.

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