Blugolds bounce back to close out NWCA National Duals

Photo by Shane Opatz, UWEC Photo

Posted: Jan 07, 2023

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (blugolds.com) — The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire wrestling team locked up 13^th place at the National Wrestling Coaches Association National Duals on Saturday. The eighth-ranked Blugolds went 2-0 on the second day of action, scoring wins over Rochester Institute of Technology and UW-Platteville.

Results

The Blugolds advanced to wrestle in the 13^th-place dual by getting past RIT in their first meeting of the day. UW-Eau Claire won seven of the 10 matches to score the victory. The Blugolds got a pair of victories by fall: first from Carter Schulz (Fr. – Rice Lake, Wis.) at 125 pounds and then again from Zach Schneider (Jr. – Houston, Minn.) at 157. Tyler Fleetwood (Jr. – Fulton, Ill.) added a victory by technical fall at 133. Zach Sato (So. – Oswego, Ill.), Tristan Massie (Jr. – Hillsdale, Wis./Barron), Jared Stricker (So. – Ashland, Wis.) and Niall Schoenfelder (So. – Antioch, Ill.) all won by decision for the Blugolds. Sato prevailed 6-2 at 149, Massie won 7-1 at 165, Stricker won 7-2 at 174 and Schoenfelder earned a 3-2 victory at 184. Two of UW-Eau Claire's defeats came by fall, and the other was a forfeit at 285 pounds. It all added up to a 29-18 victory for the Blugolds.

The win sent UW-Eau Claire to the 13^th-place dual against UW-Platteville, where they edged the Pioneers 19-17. The Blugolds won six of the 10 matches and forfeited one. Fleetwood continued his strong day with a 13-1 major decision at 133 pounds, and the team's other five wins came via decision. Sato won 6-3, Colton Sund (So. – Prior Lake, Minn.) was victorious 9-4 at 157, Massie won 4-2, Stricker prevailed 9-3 and Schoenfelder won 3-0. Schulz and Sam Melton (Jr. – Shell Lake, Wis./Spooner) both fell in decisions.

Stricker's win against the Pioneers came against Nathan Wynsma, who is ranked No. 7 in Division III. Stricker is ranked 13^th. It was the only match in either of the Blugolds' two duals to feature two nationally ranked wrestlers.

The Blugolds are back in action on January 13-14 at the Budd Whitehill Duals in Williamsport, Pa. Wrestling begins both days at 8 a.m. Central.

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