EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (blugolds.com) - The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire wrestling team held their first home dual of the shortened Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) season on Thursday. The No. 14-ranked Blugolds took on the No. 5-ranked UW-La Crosse (NWCA poll). In a hard, long physical battle, the Blugolds were unable to overcome the Eagles as they dropped their first dual with a score of 36-0.
Teams in the WIAC will compete in a dual-meet schedule until February 19. The WIAC Championship, originally scheduled to be hosted by UW-Oshkosh on February 13, has been canceled. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III Upper Midwest Regional scheduled for February 26-27 at UW-Eau Claire and the NCAA Division III Championships scheduled for March 12-13 at the La Crosse Center and hosted by UWL were canceled February 3.
At 149, No. 8 Jake Drexler (Jr. - Stratford, WI) narrowly fell to La Crosse's Sam Wenzel (Dec. 5-4) while Mason Hawkins (Sr. - Farmington, MN) wrestled a tough match against No. 1-ranked Konrad Ernst at 285, coming up short by a 4-1 decision. James Huntley (Sr. - Woodbury, MN/Stillwater) also faced the a top-ranked Eagle, falling to Isaac Lahr at 197 by a 8-1 decision.
The Blugolds will head back to be back in McPhee on Tuesday, February 9th when they host UW-Whitewater in another WIAC dual. The meet is scheduled to begin at 6PM.
Follow all the action all season long at Blugold Gameday.
