By: Jake Krier, UWEC Sports Information

MILWAUKEE, Wis. (blugolds.com) - The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire wrestling team took part in the MSOE Invitational on Saturday. Of the fifteen Blugold athletes who wrestled, seven of them placed at the tournament.

Leading the way for the Blugolds were Carter Focht (Jr.-Pine Springs, MN/Mahtomedi) and Justin Karkula (Sr.-Oshkosh, WI/West), who each earned third place finishes. Focht went 6-1 on the day at 149-pounds and avenged his only loss of the tournament to Chicago's Mason Williams in the third place match. After losing to Williams 7-3 earlier in the day, Focht answered back with a dominant 5-0 performance for third. At heavyweight, Karkula went 4-1, picking up three of those wins by pinfall. The three falls came in a combined time of only 2:56.

Earning fourth place finishes at the Invite were Scott Worlund (Sr.-Pittsville, WI) at 133-pounds and Tyler Vogt (Jr.-Owatonna, MN) at 174-pounds. Worlund picked up his first win on the season with a fall over St. Olaf's Luke Wallace. Vogt won three times on the day, including a major decision win over UW-Platteville's Jacob Carpenter.

Cecil Philson (Jr.-Thorp, WI) got fifth at 197-pounds, while Zackary Sirny (Sr.-Wild Rose, WI) and Hunter DeLeon (Fr.-Anoka, MN) got sixth place at 125- and 149-pounds respectively. Philson went 4-2 on the day; Sirny's day was cut short due to medical forfeit after dropping his first loss on the season; and DeLeon was victorious three times with two wins coming against UW-Platteville's Jeremy Peterson.

The Blugolds return to the McPhee Center on Thursday night for another conference match-up when they host UW-Whitewater at 7:00 pm.