WILLIAMSPORT, Penn. (Blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire wrestling team finished the Budd Whitehill National Duals on Saturday, falling to Wilkes University and No. 24 Messiah College.
Both matches were close, with the Blugolds narrowly falling to Wilkes, 22-20 and 23-19 to Messiah.
Against Wilkes, Grant Balconi (Jr. - Muskego, WI) tallied a pin (4:37) at 184 pounds while Evan Lawrence (So. Hugo, MN/Mahtomedi) earned a win at 174 with a tech fall (18-0). Jordan Blanchard (Fr. – Coleman, WI) won by decision at 197 (6-2) as did Thomas Severson (Fr. – Marathon, WI/D.C. Everest) at 133 (6-4). Austen Hakes (So. – River Falls, WI) also recorded a win at 285 (SV-1, 3-1).
In their final match against 24th-ranked Messiah, Brady Bastyr (So. – Prior Lake, MN/Lakeville South) and Hakes each tallied pins, Bastyr at 157 pounds and Hakes at 285. James Huntley (So. – Woodbury, MN/Stillwater) also won by major decision at 197 while Chase Schmidt (So. – Rice Lake, WI) won by decision at 165 pounds.
Next up for the Blugolds is a home dual with No. 1 Augsburg University on Saturday, Jan. 19 at 7 p.m. in the McPhee Center. Follow the action on Blugold Game Day or on the 'UWEC Blugolds' app on your mobile device.
