By: Jake Krier, UWEC Sports Information
LA CROSSE, Wis. (blugolds.com) - Following Tuesday night's heartbreaker in Oshkosh, the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire wrestling team made the quick turnaround and headed to this year's destination for the NCAA Championships. Taking on perennial powerhouse UW-La Crosse in their first dual of their season, the Blugolds had a tough task ahead of them Thursday evening, with the Eagles ranked as high as No. 4 in some national polls.
That said, Eau Claire's Zackary Sirny (Sr.-Wild Rose, WI) continued his tear on the competition with a second period pinfall to start the match and put the Blugolds up six.
However, La Crosse bounced back with five straight victories. The first of the Eagles' Weinmann twins, Ryan, pinned Cody Vogel (Fr.-Elkhorn, WI/East Troy) to tie up the team score. Jordan Meyer (Fr.-Evansville, WI) then had Dustin Weinmann, an All-American last season who is ranked No. 1 at 133-pounds in some rankings, on the ropes with the match tied heading to the third period. Weinmann put on the pressure, though, and picked up a major decision win. Mason Geary followed that up with another major decision over Hunter DeLeon (Fr.-Anoka, MN), who was making his dual match debut with the team. Connor Hanson (Jr.-Harmony, MN/Filmore Central) then dropped a 17-5 major decision.
Eau Claire returned to the score column when Toby Mosley (So.-Sparta, WI) earned the first win of his Blugolds career at 165-pounds. After trailing 3-2 following the opening period, Mosley fought back to earn an 8-5 decision.
UW-La Crosse finished out the match with four consecutive wins. Tyler Vogt (Jr.-Owatonna, MN) and Travis Cripe (Sr.-Eden Prairie, MN) each dropped decision losses. Then, to conclude the match, Cecil Philson (Jr.-Thorp, WI) lost 20-4, and Justin Karkula (Sr.-Oshkosh, WI/West) was shutout 6-0.
The final team score ended up 32-9 in favor of the Eagles in this Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) match-up. The entire Blugolds roster will be in action on Saturday from Minneapolis, Minn. as they take part in the Auggie Open.
Follow all the action this season on Blugold Game Day.
