OSHKOSH, Wis. (blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire wrestling team competed at the 2022 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) championships on Saturday. The Blugolds had podium placements in nine of the ten weight classes with Zach Sato (Fr. – Oswego, IL) and Jared Stricker (Fr. – Ashland, WI) leading the way as champions at 141 and 174.
Sato and Stricker are just the 17th and 18th WIAC Champions in UWEC history after their terrific performances throughout the day.
Zach Sato started the day with a 16-0 tech fall win over Luke Hill (UWSP) and a pin againt Matthew Joyce (UWO) to slot himself into the quarterfinals. A competitive 8-6 decision victory over Dakarai Clay (UWW) added to Sato's momentum and gave him a chance to top the podium. A medical forfeit by Zach Light (UWSP) crowned Sato as the 141 WIAC Champion in just his first year with the Blugolds.
Jared Stricker waited awhile for his first match of the day as he received two byes in the opening two rounds to place him in the quarterfinals. In dominant fashion, Stricker earned a 10-5 decision win over Ryan Riser (UWW) and a 11-3 major decision victory over Isaac Gust (UWL) to earn himself a spot in the title match at 174. As he faced off against Nick Dado (UWP), Stricker finished with momentum with an 8-1 decision win, earning him the champion status.
Seven other Blugolds made their way to podium placements during the day. Tyler Fleetwood (So. – Fulton, IL/Wartburg) and Chase Schmidt (Sr. – Rice Lake, WI) both earned second place finishes in their respective weight classes. Fleetwood gathered a 15-0 tech fall win in the quarterfinals and a close 3-2 decision victory in the semifinals pushed him to the title match at 133. Fleetwood fell to Matt Berlin (UWSP) by a 12-3 major decision in the finals for his first WIAC Championship placement of his career.
Chase Schmidt also won his first match of the day with convincing form by a 11-3 major decision victory in the quarterfinals. A 4-2 decision victory in the semis placed Schmidt in the finals where he pinned by Seth Brossard (UWL). Schmidt earns his second podium placement during the WIAC Championships after placing 3rd in 2021.
Other Blugolds earning WIAC Champion placements included Jake Drexler (Sr. – Stratford, WI), Tristan Massie (So. – Hillsdale, WI/Baron), and Evan Lawrence (Sr. – Hugo, MN/Mahtomedi), who took placed third in their respective weight divisions. Jack Marley (Jr. – Trempealeau, WI/G-E-T) placed fourth at 125 and Sam Melton (So. – Shell Lake, WI/Spooner) placed fifth at 197.
As a team, UW-Eau Claire captured their second runner-up team title in program history, after placing second for the first time in 2021. The 138 points scored as a team ranks as the second highest point total in Blugold history.
The Blugolds will take the next week off and prepare for the 2022 NCAA Division III Upper Midwest Regional scheduled for Friday and Saturday, February 25th-26th. The regional meet consisting of 18 teams from around the Midwest will be hosted by UW-Eau Claire with opening round matches beginning on Friday at 11AM.
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