MADISON, Wis. — The Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) announced its Kwik Trip Athletes of the Week for the week of Nov. 2 - 8, with UW-Eau Claire wrestler Sloan Welch earning Wrestler of the Week honors. The selection was determined by a vote of WIAC head coaches and sports information directors.

Welch recorded a 4-0 week to open the 2026-27 season with a pair of nationally ranked wins and winning the 285-pound weight class at the Messiah College (Pa.) Invitational. He began the week helping the Blugolds defeat UW-Platteville with a pin against Jackson Kirsch in 1:50. During UW-Eau Claire's trip out East, Welch went 3-0 with a pin in the round of 16 against Jeremy Smith of Arcadia University (Pa.) in 45 seconds. In the semifinals, Sloan defeated No. 8-ranked Carter Stack from Washington and Lee University (Va.) by a 4-1 decision. He then won the title against No. 5-ranked Mohamed Abdelatty from Ursinus College (Pa.) by an 8-6 decision and never trailed on his way to the top of the podium.

This is Sloan's first time being named WIAC Athlete of the Week.

The Blugolds will be back on the road on Saturday, November 14 when they travel to Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. Match is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m.

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