EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire wrestling team competed at Day One of the 2026 NCAA Division III Wrestling Region 7 tournament on Friday. As the Blugolds hosted the tournament for the first time since 2022, a total of six Blugolds punched their tickets to the semifinals with three others in the consolation rounds.
 
Izzy Balsiger found his way to the semifinals with two wins on the day. In his opening match, Balsiger defeated Aurora's Zane Ely with a pin in 5:28. In the quarterfinals, Balsiger defeated Pacific's Thomas Turner by a 15-4 major decision. Izzy will face Carthage's Chris Kish in the 125 semifinals on Saturday.
 
Sloan Welch also made his way to the semifinals in the 285 division. Welch's day began with a 12-1 major decision victory over Linfield's Camden Roofner. In the quarterfinals, Sloan defeated UW-Stevens Point's Jack Callen with a 2:08 pin to reach the semis and will face UW-La Crosse's Markos Mihalopoulos in his first match on Saturday.
 
Wyatt Unser and Zak McPhee made their NCAA Regional debuts on Friday and earned themselves spots in their respective semifinals. After a first-round bye, Unser tallied a 13-3 major decision win over Aurora's Tyler Evitts and will face Augsburg's Chance Suddeth in the semifinals tomorrow at 133. McPhee captured two wins on the day with a 6:17 pin in the opening round against Carthage's London Kiser and a 15-0 tech fall over Aurora's Alton Mullinax. McPhee will face Augsburg's Brandt Bombard in the 184 semifinals on Saturday.
 
Ty Fink and Jon Harvey also entered their first NCAA Regional competitions at their respective divisions. Fink was victorious in the first round over UW-Stevens Point's Caleb Nobiling with a 6-2 decision win but fell in the second round to Concordia-Moorhead's Jack Major by an 11-4 decision. Fink will look to make his way through the wrestle backs to the third-place match on Saturday. Jon Harvey earned his spot in the semifinals with a pair of wins in the 165 bracket. After a 20-5 tech fall over Pacific's Matthew Gray in the first round, Harvey defeated Lakeland's Evan Haferkom in the quarterfinals to earn a spot in the semis. Jon will face Augsburg's Cooper Willis in his first match on Saturday.
 
Ian Pepple will wrestle in the semifinals for a second straight year at 197 after winning his lone match of the day. Following a first round bye, Pepple defeated UW-Platteville's Kain Killmer by a 16-6 major decision to earn his bid in the semis. Ian will face UW-La Crosse's Tyler Dormanen on Saturday for a spot in the finals.
 
Landon Church and Preston Carlisle will take the wrestle back routes on Saturday after each Blugold found first round wins but fell in the quarterfinals. Church wrapped up his Friday with a 3:27 pin over Concordia-Wisconsin's Benjamin Kaus and will face UW-Oshkosh's Jacob Ward in the consolation bracket on Saturday. Carlisle ended his first day with a 2-1 record, including a 58 second pin over Pacific's Spyre Nelson. Preston will face Lakeland's Will Ohman in his first match on Saturday.
 
Day Two of the NCAA Region VII tournament will begin on Saturday, February 28 at the McPhee Gymnasium on the campus of UW-Eau Claire. First matches of the day are scheduled to begin at 10 a.m.

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