GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (blugolds.com) — The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire wrestling team went 3-0 to win its pool on the opening day of the Blithe Memorial Duals on Friday at Cornerstone University. The Blugolds won each dual by 30 or more points.
The Blugolds opened the competition with a 38-8 victory over St. Ambrose University. Tyler Fleetwood (Jr. – Fulton, Ill.) and Jared Stricker (So. – Ashland, Wis.) both earned victories via fall in the dual. Zach Sato (So. – Oswego, Ill.) and Niall Schoenfelder (So. – Antioch, Ill.) each won by major decision — Sato 10-1 and Schoenfelder 12-4. Carter Schulz (Fr. – Rice Lake, Wis.) and Jackson Schichel (Jr. – Hastings, Minn.) both won by decision. The Blugolds also received a pair of forfeit victories to win the dual comfortably.
UW-Eau Claire followed its strong debut with another victory in its second dual of the day. The Blugolds won nine consecutive matches to defeat Albion College 35-3. The win featured a run of three straight victories by technical fall, with Fleetwood, Drew Kested (Fr. – Sterling, Ill.) and Sato all achieving the feat. Stricker and Chase Melton (Sr. – Spooner, Wis.) both won via major decisions, and Schulz, Jan Hernandez-Soto (So. – Minneapolis, Minn./Patrick Henry) and Schoenfelder all scored victories by decision. Schichel battled 10th-ranked Christopher Krum into overtime and a tiebreaker, but fell in the tiebreak 2-1.
The Blugolds clinched first place in Pool B by defeating Defiance College 52-3. Sato, Melton, Schichel and Zach Schneider (Jr. - Houston, Minn.) all were victorious with falls. Schoenfelder and Kested added victories by technical fall, and the Blugolds also received three forfeits.
UW-Eau Claire wraps up the competition with bracket action on Saturday, Dec. 3. The Blugolds face Cornerstone in their opening dual at 9 a.m. Eastern.
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