MADISON, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – Two UW-Eau Claire student-athletes have been named Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Athletes of the Week, WIAC Assistant Commissioner for Media Relations Matt Stanek announced today.
Receiving the honor this week were women's track & field member Julia Baranek (Sr.-Port Washington, Wis.) and wrestler Joe Pitsch (Sr.-Oshkosh, Wis./North).
With the Blugolds tying for second place at the Pointer Invitational, Baranek won the high jump with a school-record height of 5-7 3/4. The previous school record was 5-7 1/4, set by Arlene Meinholz in 1996. Baranek's mark was also the third best in the nation so far this season.
Pitsch finished the week undefeated, posting a 4-0 record. At the Blugold Open on Feb. 4, he claimed the heavyweight title, winning three straight matches. He won with a pin in 3:42 to start the day and then followed with an 8-0 major decision victory to advance to the championship match. In the final match, he won 6-5 against Carroll University's (Wis.) Nick Grady to take home the title. On Feb. 3, he posted a win against UW-Oshkosh's Keith McLeod in a dual meet. Pitsch won that match with a pin in 1:32.
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