By: Jake Krier, UWEC Sports Information
WILLIAMSPORT, Penn. (blugolds.com) - The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire wrestling team followed up last season's mid-January trip out east with yet another this year, as they take part in this weekend's Budd Whitehill Duals at Lycoming College. Following stops at Division I powerhouses Ohio State University and Penn State University on the drive out, the Blugolds got their chance to compete themselves on Friday.
UW-Eau Claire opened up the team tournament with a come-from-behind 21-20 win over No. 21-ranked The College of New Jersey (TCNJ). Zackary Sirny (Sr.-Wild Rose, WI) received a forfeit to start the dual up 6-0 in favor of the Blugolds. After the Lions picked up wins at 133- and 141-pounds, Carter Focht (Jr.-Pine Springs, MN/Mahtomedi) earned a 4-2 double overtime win at 149-pounds.
Eau Claire dropped another pair of matches to TCNJ, but at 174-pounds, Tyler Vogt (Jr.-Owatonna, MN) followed it up with a key pinfall victory. The Blugolds gave up a major decision at 184 to trail by five on the team score, setting up for two must-win matches to conclude the dual. Cecil Philson (Jr.-Thorp, WI) and Justin Karkula (Sr.-Oshkosh, WI/West) did just that, picking up close 8-7 and 5-3 decisions to secure the upset win.
In the team's second match of the day, the Blugolds were once again on the winning side, topping Rochester Institute of Technology by a score of 21-16. Sirny got the Blugolds out to a six-nil start with a twenty-nine second fall to kickoff the dual. Cody Vogel (Fr.-Elkhorn, WI/East Troy) and Focht nearly picked up major decisions, but each fell a point shy in their decision wins that had the Blugolds up 12-10 at the halfway point.
Toby Mosley (So.-Sparta, WI) bested his opponent for a 13-4 major, while Vogt continued his winning ways, edging out a 4-3 win. Philson closed the door on the Tigers, earning a 7-3 victory and securing the team's second win on the day.
The final match of the day was all Blugolds, as they completed a rare collegiate shutout, defeating Thiel College 51-0. Sirny, Vogt, Karkula, and Erik Swenson (So.-Turtle Lake, WI) all picked up pinfalls, while Focht, Jordan Meyer (Fr.-Evansville, WI), and Justin Giebel (So.-New Lisbon, WI) also added six points apiece with forfeit wins.
Also victorious in the big win were Vogel, Mosley, and Connor Hanson (Jr.-Harmony, MN/Fillmore Central) who each took home decision wins.
The Blugolds will wrestle in Saturday's Championship bracket after their unbeaten track record on Friday, with wrestling beginning at 10:30 a.m. EST. They will face No. 25-ranked York College in the semi-finals.
Follow all the action on Blugold Game Day.
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Day 1 Results
Match #1 Round 1: Wisconsin-Eau Claire defeated The College of New Jersey 21-20
125 - Zackary Sirny (Wisconsin-Eau Claire) over Unknown (Unattached) Forf
133 - Ryan Erwin (The College of New Jersey) over Cody Vogel (Wisconsin-Eau Claire) Dec 4-2
141 - Anthony Gagliano (The College of New Jersey) over Scott Worlund (Wisconsin-Eau Claire) Fall 3:23
149 - Carter Focht (Wisconsin-Eau Claire) over James Beirne (The College of New Jersey) TB-1 4-2
157 - Luke Balina (The College of New Jersey) over Connor Hanson (Wisconsin-Eau Claire) Maj 14-4
165 - Nick Herring (The College of New Jersey) over Toby Mosley (Wisconsin-Eau Claire) Dec 6-3
174 - Tyler Vogt (Wisconsin-Eau Claire) over Kellen Whitney (The College of New Jersey) Fall 3:45
184 - Dan Kilroy (The College of New Jersey) over Grant Balconi (Wisconsin-Eau Claire) Maj 11-3
197 - Cecil Philson (Wisconsin-Eau Claire) over Pat Schinder (The College of New Jersey) Dec 8-7
285 - Justin Karkula (Wisconsin-Eau Claire) over Sigala Fosam (The College of New Jersey) Dec 5-3
Match #2 Round 2: Wisconsin-Eau Claire defeated Rochester Institute of Technology 21-16
125 - Zackary Sirny (Wisconsin-Eau Claire) over Andrew Flanagan (Rochester Institute of Technology) Fall 0:29
133 - Cody Vogel (Wisconsin-Eau Claire) over Isaiah Ocasio (Rochester Institute of Technology) Dec 14-7
141 - Jake Sepor (Rochester Institute of Technology) over Scott Worlund (Wisconsin-Eau Claire) Maj 10-2
149 - Carter Focht (Wisconsin-Eau Claire) over Coty Lutz (Rochester Institute of Technology) Dec 9-2
157 - Dempsey King (Rochester Institute of Technology) over Scott Mattison (Wisconsin-Eau Claire) Fall 2:10
165 - Toby Mosley (Wisconsin-Eau Claire) over John Donohue (Rochester Institute of Technology) Maj 13-4
174 - Tyler Vogt (Wisconsin-Eau Claire) over Joe Lupisella (Rochester Institute of Technology) Dec 4-3
184 - Nicholas Greenquist (Rochester Institute of Technology) over Grant Balconi (Wisconsin-Eau Claire) Dec 6-3
197 - Cecil Philson (Wisconsin-Eau Claire) over Joe Messare (Rochester Institute of Technology) Dec 7-3
285 - Sam Weinger (Rochester Institute of Technology) over Justin Karkula (Wisconsin-Eau Claire) Dec 9-7
Wisconsin-Eau Claire's team score was adjusted by -1.000 for Misconduct (285)
Match #3 Round 3: Wisconsin-Eau Claire defeated Thiel 51-0
125 - Zackary Sirny (Wisconsin-Eau Claire) over Justin Walter (Thiel) Fall 2:15
133 - Cody Vogel (Wisconsin-Eau Claire) over Vincent Mion (Thiel) Dec 8-4
141 - Jordan Meyer (Wisconsin-Eau Claire) over Unknown (Unattached) Forf
149 - Carter Focht (Wisconsin-Eau Claire) over Unknown (Unattached) Forf
157 - Connor Hanson (Wisconsin-Eau Claire) over Brett Beltz (Thiel) Dec 11-10
165 - Toby Mosley (Wisconsin-Eau Claire) over Chris Nuss (Thiel) Dec 4-2
174 - Tyler Vogt (Wisconsin-Eau Claire) over John Sims (Thiel) Fall 4:17
184 - Justin Giebel (Wisconsin-Eau Claire) over Unknown (Unattached) Forf
197 - Erik Swenson (Wisconsin-Eau Claire) over Cody Ellis (Thiel) Fall 5:57
285 - Justin Karkula (Wisconsin-Eau Claire) over Gavin Colligan (Thiel) Fall 1:15
