Eau Claire Defeats Pointers on the Road, 21-12

Posted: Jan 19, 2017

By: Jake Krier, UWEC Sports Information

STEVENS POINT, Wis. (blugolds.com) - For the first time in over a month, the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire wrestling team faced a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) opponent, as they traveled on the road to take on UW-Stevens Point. The Blugolds earned their first WIAC win on the season, topping the Pointers by a 21-12 score. This win was the first time the Blugolds defeated UWSP since 1986.

Typically used to closing out the dual with clutch wins, Cecil Philson (Jr.-Thorp, WI) got things started for the Eau Claire squad Thursday night with the match beginning at 197-pounds. Philson pushed the pace and forced his opponent to get called for stalling late in the third period on way to his 2-1 victory. At heavyweight, a stalling call did not play in the Blugolds' favor, as a late takedown chance for Justin Karkula (Sr.-Oshkosh, WI/West) was not enough to overcome a 2-1 deficit.

Zackary Sirny (Sr.-Wild Rose, WI) controlled most of his match on way to a 9-5 decision, and Cody Vogel (Fr.-Elkhorn, WI/East Troy) kept the momentum rolling with a 4-1 win of his own. Then, Jordan Meyer (Fr.-Evansville, WI) used a short carry to his opponent's back for a massive pinfall at the 1:17 mark, pushing the Blugold lead to 14-3 at the midway point.

Carter Focht (Jr.-Pine Springs, MN/Mahtomedi) improved his record on the season to 15-7 with an 8-4 victory at 149-pounds, and Hunter DeLeon (Fr.-Anoka, MN), who bumped up a weight class and stepped in at 157, absolutely dominated the opposition on way to a 13-3 major decision.

The Blugolds would drop the final three matches of the dual, but all were quite close. Toby Mosley (So.-Sparta, WI) hung in there against the defending national champion, Logan Hermsen, losing only by decision. Tyler Vogt (Jr.-Owatonna, MN) nearly sent his match into overtime, but fell 7-5, and then Grant Balconi (Fr.-Oswego, WI) actually did go to sudden death, but surrendered a takedown to drop an 11-9 decision to conclude the match.

Of other historical importance, one would have to go back to the 2008-09 season for the last time the Blugolds had a winning team record on the season. Thursday night's victory clinched just that with only one dual remaining on the schedule. Eau Claire returns to action at the Pete Willson Invitational at Wheaton College on January 27-28.

Follow the action all season long on Blugold Game Day.

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Full Results

125 – Zackary Sirny (UWEC) over Moziah Clark (UWSP) Dec. 9-5

133 – Cody Vogel (UWEC) over Michael Bannach (UWSP) Dec. 4-1

141 – Jordan Meyer (UWEC) over Frank Lor (UWSP) Fall 1:17

149 – Carter Focht (UWEC) over Tyler Hall (UWSP) Dec. 8-4

157 – Hunter DeLeon (UWEC) over Tanner Goddard (UWSP) Maj. Dec. 13-3

165 – Logan Hermsen (UWSP) over Toby Mosley (UWEC) Dec. 8-2

174 – Cody Nielsen (UWSP) over Tyler Vogt (UWEC) Dec. 7-5

184 – James Borgen (UWSP) over Grant Balconi (UWEC) SV 11-9

197 – Cecil Philson (UWEC) over Dylan Diebitz (UWSP) Dec. 2-1