DECORAH, Iowa (blugolds.com) — The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire wrestling team competed at the Luther College Open on Saturday. The Blugolds had several wrestlers place, led by a runner-up finish by Preston Carlisle (Fr. - Red Wing, Minn./Cannon Falls) in the Silver Division at 174 pounds.
Carlisle won his first two matches by fall to advance to the semifinals of his weight class. He defeated UW-Platteville's Kasey Ross by sudden victory to book his place in the championship match, where he fell in a narrow 7-5 decision to Coe's Chris Olah.
Carter Melton (Fr. - Spooner, Wis.) and Jon Harvey (Fr. - Lake City, Minn./Lincoln) both placed fourth in their respective weight classes in the Silver Division. Melton scored a 9-0 major decision in his opening match at 184 pounds and advanced to the semifinals with a victory over Wartburg's Josh Bean in the quarterfinals. He fell by tech fall in the semis before falling in a 6-1 decision in the third-place match. Harvey, wrestling at 165 pounds, won by fall and major decision in his first two matches to qualify for the semifinals. After dropping his semifinal, he won a consolation match by 3-1 decision before dropping a narrow 5-3 decision in the third-place bout.
Carter Friend (Fr. - Whitewater, Wis.) finished sixth at 165 pounds in the Silver Division. He dropped his opening match, but won three straight times in the consolation bracket — all by decision. It helped him earn a sixth-place finish.
Yoshi Sesoko (So. - Elkhart, Wis.) placed eighth at 165 pounds in the Silver Division. He earned a victory by fall in his first consolation match.
In all, the Blugolds had 14 wrestlers compete at the tournament. Along with the placewinners, Ty Peterson (So. - Delavan, Minn./Blue Earth), Luke Krier (So. - Mazeppa, Minn./Zumbrota-Mazeppa) and Terry Smith (Fr. - Tacoma, Wash./Curtis) all won a match.
The Blugolds are back in action on Thursday, Nov. 17, when they host UW-Oshkosh for their first home dual of the season. The Chancellor's Cup is set to begin at 7 p.m. at the McPhee Center.
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