MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (Blugolds.com) – The UW-Eau Claire wrestling team had a strong outing at the Auggie-Brute-Adidas Open today, competing as some of the 336 wrestlers attending the event hosted by Augsburg College (Minn.).

Mat Rieckhoff (So.-Wausau, Wis./D.C. Everest) scored the most points for the Blugolds today with a total of 10. Powered by 7-2 and 3-1 decision wins, Rieckhoff advanced to the semifinal round of the gold level 184 weight class. Rieckhoff finished in fourth place.
Brandon Stradel (Fr.-Denmark, Wis.) earned six points for Eau Claire through his efforts in the bronze 149 weight division. After losing his first round, Stradel advanced through the consolation bracket, picking up an 8-4 win and a grueling 12 minute pin. In the final round, Stradel picked up the consolation championship win by pinning his opponent in less than two minutes.

Other top Blugold performers included Jacob Hoffstatter (So.-Stanley, Wis./Stanley-Boyd) who picked up four points in the bronze 165 weight class after an opening-round pin. Ryan Seidler (Jr.-Adams, Wis./Adams-Friendship) in the gold 149 division, picked up twin 6-2 decisions in the consolation bracket for two points.

Tyler Kennedy (Jr.-Cottage Grove, Minn./Park) and Luke Ortscheid (So.-Wausau, Wis./West) both picked up round one decisions in their respective gold 174 and gold 197 weight classes. In the gold 165 division, Levi Polus (Sr.-Winona, Minn.) topped off the Eau Claire scoring with one point from a consolation round decision victory.

Next up, the Blugolds will compete at the UW-La Crosse Holiday Inn Express Duals on December 3. Events are set to begin at 9 a.m.

-AH-