EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (blugolds.com) — The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire wrestling team hosted the annual Don Parker Open on Saturday at the McPhee Center. The Blugolds produced three placewinners on a day packed with wrestling in their home gym.
Jackson Schichel (Jr. - Hastings, Minn.) was the top finisher for the Blugolds, placing third at 285 pounds. Jan Hernandez-Soto (So. - Minneapolis, Minn./Patrick Henry) finished fourth at 157 pounds, and Jon Harvey (Fr. - Lake City, Minn./Lincoln) took fifth at 165 pounds.
Schichel won his first three matches of the day to advance to the 285-pound semifinals. He took the first with a fall in the first period, and followed with two wins via sudden victory. He was drawn against former teammate and Blugold alumnus Mason Hawkins in the semifinals, but submitted a medical forfeit. Schichel won the third-place match after his opponent forfeited for medical reasons. Hawkins, who is currently an assistant coach with the Blugolds, went on to win the 285-pound title.
Hernandez-Soto qualified for the 157-pound semifinals with three straight wins to open the tournament. He scored a 13-5 major decision in the opening round, moved into the quarterfinals with a 6-5 win and reached the semis with an 11-5 decision victory. He fell in a 9-4 decision in the semifinals before finishing fourth with a defeat in the third-place match.
Harvey won his first two matches and then became a placewinner after advancing through consolation matches. He opened with a 19-2 technical fall and earned a first-period fall in his second match. He fell in an 11-0 major decision in the quarterfinals, but bounced back with two victories to place fifth. He won his first wrestleback 6-2 and took the fifth-place match in a 10-2 major decision.
In all, the Blugolds had 18 entries in their home tournament. Lorenzo Diaz (So. - South St. Paul, Minn.), Colton Sund (So. - Prior Lake, Minn.), Preston Carlisle (Fr. - Red Wing, Minn./Cannon Falls), Carter Melton (Fr. - Spooner, Wis.) and Marcus Hankins (So. - Sauk City, Wis./Sauk Prairie) all won two matches each.
The Don Parker Open wrapped up the regular season for the Blugolds. They begin the postseason with the WIAC Championships on Saturday, Feb. 11, at UW-Stevens Point. Wrestling is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. with a conference championship on the line.
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