DECORAH, Iowa — The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire wrestling team was back on the road Saturday with competition at the Luther Open. With 37 teams from NCAA Division I, II, and III in attendance, the Blugolds saw seven student athletes earn podium placements in their respective brackets. Ian Pepple and Zak McPhee were the lone UWEC competitors to place in the Elite brackets as they both finished third in the divisions.

Ian Pepple went 3-1 on the day with a third place finish in the Elite 197 bracket. Pepple began his day with a pin over Dubuque's Isaac Rosas in 1:59. The quarterfinals saw Ian the fourth seed Tyler Hannah from Upper Iowa by a 7-3 decision with a pair of takedowns and an escape. In the semifinals, Pepple fell to the eventual runner-up Ethan Winkelman from Augsburg University by a 0-3 decision. Pepple earned his third place finish with a pin in 2:59 against the second seeded Geoffrey Freeman from Upper Iowa. 

Zak McPhee also placed third in the Elite division as he went 4-1 in the 184 bracket. McPhee began his day with a pair of pins against Harper College's Noah Brockie and Wartbug College's Willis Bronson in 2:03 and 3:58, respectively. In the quarterfinals, Zak the fifth seed, Matthew Marcum by a 9-3 decision with two reversals, a takedown and a nearfall. After falling in the semifinals, McPhee earned his third place finish with a 2-1 overtime win against the second seed, Brenden Heying. 

Gavin VerHeecke and AJ Noyes were Eau Claire's top finishers of the day as the duo each placed first in their respective Silver brackets. VerHeecke went 5-0 on the day in the 141 class and ended his afternoon with a 16-1 tech fall in 5:56 over Minnesota State-Mankato's Lucas Ryan. AJ Noyes also went 5-0 and won Silver 157 bracket with a 4-1 decision victory over Minnesota-State's Caden Borgan in the finals. 

Other Blugolds to reach the podium included Aidan Kranz who placed fourth in the Silver 184 division, Abram Anderson placing sixth in the Silver 149, and Clayton Solberg who placed seventh in the Elite 157 bracket. 

The Blugolds will return home and gear up for their annual rivalry match with UW-Oshkosh, the Chancellors' Cup. The WIAC dual is scheduled for Thursday, November 19 at 7 p.m. at the Sonnentag Event Center.

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