EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (blugolds.com)-- It was a big day in the McPhee as the newly named Don Parker Open welcomed wrestlers from ten schools competing in the annual tournament. The Blugolds had three individuals finishing in the top ten today. 

Mat Rieckhoff (Sr.-Wausau, Wis./D.C. Everest), wrestling at 184, took the highest spot for the team with a 2nd place finish. After a first match bye, Rieckhoff won by a major decision (9-1) over Luther College's Matthew Chlebek. He then beat Sebastian Larson of Augsburg 2-1 in his second match of the day. In the championship match, Rieckhoff was defeated by Augburg's Tom Teigen, losing by a major decision of 12-0.

Ryan Behnke (So.-Bruce, Wis.) was next for the Blugolds. Behnke also received a first match bye and in what would be his first action packed match of the day, he won by fall over Hans Holkesvik from Luther. That would be the only win for Behnke today. He was taken down by decision (9-5) by Upper Iowa's Zak Benitz. In the 3rd place match, Upper Iowa once again gained the upper hand and Behnke fell 8-3. He grabbed a 4th place overall, wrestling in the 165 class. 

In the 285 weight class, Justin Karkula (So.-Oshkosh. Wis./West) finished 6th overall. Karkula took his first match to overtime and managed to beat Jake Anderson of UW-Whitewater by a 3-1 score. He lost his second match of the day to UW-LaCrosse wrestler Cody Endres with a close 4-3 decision. In the 3rd match, Karluka beat Jordan Reisinger of Augsburg by fall moving him into the 5th place match. However, Karkula couldn't keep his momentum going falling to Luther's Clayton Jennings in an 8-3 decision. 

Next up for the Blugolds is the WIAC Championship being held on February 15.

-MRW-