EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – Seven UW-Eau Claire Athletics teams will compete in postseason competitions this weekend in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Ohio. Additionally, the Blugold softball team will kick off the 2014 season at the Rochester Dome Tournament with four games, two Saturday and two Sunday.
Indoor Track & Field
The men’s and women’s indoor track & field teams will be at UW-Whitewater Friday and Saturday for the WIAC Championship. This is the 46th year of the men’s championship and the 38th year of the women’s championship. The Blugold men, who are currently ranked fourth in the nation, finished in third place a year ago while the women took fourth. Last year the men and women combined to win five WIAC individual titles.
Women’s Hockey
The women’s hockey team will be in River Falls to take on UW-River Falls Friday at 3:05 p.m. and Saturday at 2:05 p.m. in the WIAC Championship semifinals. A 20-minute mini game will be played immediately after the regulation game on Saturday if the series is tied. If the mini game ends in a tie, the teams will play 20 minute sudden death overtime periods until a winner is determined. The Blugolds enter the WIAC Championship as the No. 4 seed while the Falcons are the No. 1 seed and ranked fifth nationally. Eau Claire is 0-4 against the Falcons this season.
Men’s Hockey
The men’s hockey team will be in Stevens Point to take on UW-Stevens Point Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. in the WIAC Championship Semifinals. A 20-minute mini game will be played immediately after the regulation game on Saturday if the series is tied. If the mini game ends in a tie, the teams will play 20 minute sudden death overtime periods until a winner is determined. The Blugolds, who are ranked ninth in the nation, enter the championship as the No. 3 seed while the Pointers are the No. 2 seed and ranked third nationally. Eau Claire is 0-3 against Stevens Point this season.
Women’s Diving
Three Blugold women’s divers will compete in the NCAA Division III Diving Regional in Granville, Ohio to determine who advances to the NCAA Championship in Indianapolis, March 19-22. The three-meter dive will take place Friday evening while the one-meter dive will be contested Saturday afternoon.
Wrestling
The wrestling team will compete at the NCAA Division III West Regional at Augsburg College in Minneapolis, Minn. The top three wrestlers in each weight class will advance to the NCAA Championship in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, March 14-15. Last season, two Blugolds finished in the top three to earn their way to nationals.
Women’s Gymnastics
Sunday, the women’s gymnastics team will compete at the WIAC Championship/NCGA Regionals at UW-Whitewater, getting underway at 2 p.m. This will be the 41st year of the WIAC Championship and the top three teams from the WIAC event, along with qualified individual gymnasts, will advance to the NCGA Championship in Ithaca, N.Y., March 21-22.
Softball
The softball team is the only other team in action this weekend and the Blugolds are just starting their season. They will be at the Rochester Dome Tournament in Rochester, Minn., facing two teams Saturday and two more on Sunday.
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