By Travis Nyhus, UWEC Sports Information
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (Blugolds.com) - The University of Wisconsin Eau Claire wrestling team competed at the NCAA Division III regionals where they took 4th place as a team and two Blugolds punched their ticket to the national meet.
Nathaniel Behnke (Sr.- Bruce, WI) took second place in regionals at the 141 pound weight class with wins over Zachary Shuler of UW-Platteville by fall (1:50) and over Aaron Wilson of Augsburg with a 17-6 major decision to advance to the national meet. He will be joined by Roy Munroe (Sr.- Cadott, WI) who also finished second in his weight class, defeating Ben Reagan of Concordia (WI) by fall (0:48). He also got a win over Mark Choinski of UW-Oshkosh with a 6-0 decision.
Zackary Sirny (Jr.- Wild Rose, WI) earned a fourth place with a win in his first match against Kameron Bourgeois of Concordia (WI) by fall (1:24). Sirny also got a win with an 8-2 decision over Christian Guerra of Pacific (OR).
Justin Karkula (Jr.- Oshkosh, WI/West) was also able to finish the day in fourth place. He notched a win over John Hinson of Concordia (WI) by a 9-4 decision. Karkula also defeated Elijah Burdick of UW-Oshkosh with an 8-6 decision and Austin Bellile of Milwaukee School of Engineering by fall (1:13).
Behnke and Munroe will compete in the NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships on March 11 in Cedar Rapids, IA.