EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (blugolds.com) – The 2014-2015 Blugold Wrestling team competes Thursday night in their last home dual of the season. Seniors Mat Rieckhoff and Brandon Stradel will be recognized on Senior/Parents Night.
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Head coach Steve Wozniak applauded the two, recognizing Mat's leadership on and off the wrestling mat and Brandon's ability to transfer life lessons from wrestling and applying them to the classroom and real world.
Here's a look at our two seniors:
Mat Rieckhoff is an Elementary Education major from Wausau, Wisconsin. After an impressive athletic career at D.C. Everest High School, he chose to continue his wrestling journey at UW-Eau Claire because of the positive impact graduates of UWEC had on his life. That journey includes a trip to the NCAA National Championship in 2013, two All-American Scholar-Athlete awards, and a spot as a team captain among many other accolades. Rieckhoff notes he has two favorite wrestling moments, his qualifying for the national tournament and his very first college match.
That first match is unforgettable, says Rieckhoff, who beat a senior from Lakeland 6-5. Mat also had some kind words to say about his head coach and fellow senior, Brandon Stradel. "[Coach] came into a program that was in need of someone to take a risk and take the head coaching position when we really had no one," he stated. "…had he not done that I'm not sure we would still have a team. For that, I will be forever grateful."
Rieckhoff also acknowledged teammate Stradel as someone with incredible work ethic and a great friend. "This is a dude that would bring noise cancelling headphones and a flashlight on the bus so he could study. I am lucky to share my final year with him."
Upon graduation, Rieckhoff plans to join staff with a college campus ministry, Athletes in Action.
Brandon Stradel is studying Biology and hails from Denmark, Wisconsin. He was drawn to the beauty of the UW-Eau Claire campus and the opportunities afforded him in both athletics and academics. Stradel said some of his favorite things about campus were the professors and the Chippewa River. A university landmark, the Chippewa River is a place Stradel has fond memories of as it was a summer hotspot for him and his friends.
He also acknowledges his professors as a huge part of his life at UWEC. "The best part of being a Blugold is interacting and learning from the professors here," Stradel states. "I've had great instructors throughout college and an excellent experience working with them."
Stradel added that, like his professors, his favorite thing about Coach Wozniak is how he interacts with his athletes. "He spends time to learn about our lives and motivate us to be our best." Brandon also shared a few comments about fellow senior, Mat Rieckhoff, stating that he admires him because of the leadership he brings to the team and wrestling community.
After college, Stradel plans on attending medical school.
The Blugolds will take on UW-Platteville in McPhee on Thursday night. Action begins at 7 p.m.
-MRW-
