By: Jake Krier, UWEC Sports Information
WHITEWATER, Wis. (blugolds.com) - The 2018 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Wrestling Championship took place on Friday, and the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire finished tied for fourth with 100 team points. The Blugolds had eleven wrestlers finish the day on the podium, leading to that fourth place finish.
No Eau Claire wrestlers qualified for the finals this year, but a strong consolation semifinal round set up for seven Blugolds wrestling in third place matches. Unfortunately, only one of them was victorious and able to take third. Tyler Demo (Fr.-Loves Park/Belvidere North) was the highest finishing Eau Claire wrestler as the freshman went 3-1 with a pair of major decisions in the 133-pound bracket.
The following wrestlers finished in fourth place at the WIAC Championship: Abe Dickenson (Fr.-Slinger, WI) at 125-pounds, Hunter Pierce (Fr.-Tomah, WI) at 141-pounds, David Dudych (Fr.-West Dundee, IL/Harry D. Jacobs) at 149-pounds, Tyler Vogt (Sr.-Owatonna, MN) at 174-pounds, Ramsey Bloy (Jr.-Freedom, WI) at 197-pounds, and Tyler Burt (Fr.-Beloit, WI/Beloit Turner) at 285-pounds.
Placing fifth were Chase Schmidt (Fr.-Rice Lake, WI) at 165-pounds and Evan Lawrence (Fr.-Hugo, MN/Mahtomedi) at 174-pounds. Toby Mosley (Jr.-Sparta, WI) and James Huntley (Fr.-Woodbury, MN/Stillwater) took sixth at 165- and 184-pounds, respectively.
A two-week hiatus from competition is next for the Blugolds before the wrestlers attempt to punch their tickets to the NCAA Championships at this season's regional tournament. The NCAA Upper Midwest Regional takes place on February 23-24 from Si Melby Hall at Augsburg University. The top three wrestlers in each weight class will qualify for the national tournament.
Follow the action for all sports this season on Blugold Game Day.
