LEXINGTON, Va. — The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire wrestling team began the new year in fashion with a first place finish at the Jim Crytzer Invitational, hosted by Washington and Lee University. With 181 team points, five Blugolds being crowned champion, and 24 combined pins amongst the 26 UWEC competitors, Eau Claire registered their second tournament victory of the 2025-26 season. 

Of the five champions, Izzy Balsiger dominated the 125 weight class with one pin and three major decision victories. Balsiger outscored his opponents 47-15 in his run from the quarterfinals to the crown, where he defeated Marymount University's Ian Morales to earn the crown. Mason Dewing also earned a top spot on the podium in the 133 bracket. Dewing began his day with a pin over Elizabethtown College's Febian Dawit and would pick a major decision victory and a 15-12 decision victory before earning the championship by forfeit. Calvin Singewald recorded two pins, a 15-0 shutout tech fall, and a 10-4 decision victory to win the 141 lbs. bracket. Singewald's second pin of the day came in the finals over Roanoke College's Jake Yowell at 6:37.

Clayton Solberg was crowned the winner of the 157 bracket five different victories including, wins by tech fall, a pin, major decision, normal decision, and a medical forfeit. Solberg claimed his spot in the finals with a highly contested match in the semifinals against Jovanni Greco of Ohio Northern University, winning with a 4-2 decision. Ben Peterson was the final Blugold taking the top spot in his bracket as Peterson dominated the 174 division with three pins and a major decision victory. Peterson's three pins all came under six minutes and twenty-one seconds of his matches. His finals match ended with a 13-3 major decision over Roanoke College's Joe Zereini. 

Other Blugolds earning points towards the team's first place finish included Finn Bloomquist finishing third in the 149 class, Tristan Drier placing fifth in the 165 bracket, Ryder Depies earning second place in the 184 division, Jackson Peak placing fifth in the 197 class, and Cole Matulenko and Sloan Welch both finishing second in the 285 bracket.

The Blugolds will remain on the East Coast for a non-conference dual with Roanoke College on Sunday, January 4 at the Cregger Center in Salem, Va. First matches are set to begin at 2 p.m. CST.

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