CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire wrestling team finished their season strong during the 2022 NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships on Saturday as Chase Schmidt (Sr. – Rice Lake, WI) placed 3rd in the 165-weight division and earned All-American status with three wins on day two. As a team, UWEC placed 26th with 17 points, their highest finish as a team since 2016 when the team tied for 23rd and the highest point total since 2006 (20).
Schmidt guaranteed himself a podium placement with his victories during day one as he started with in the consolation quarterfinals with familiar foes awaiting him throughout the bracket. The first matchup of the day pitted two Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) opponents against each other as Schmidt faced off against the fourth seeded, Seth Brossard (UWL). Earlier in the season, Schmidt fell to Brossard at the WIAC Championships finals match to take second place. Schmidt's revenge tour began with an 8-4 decision victory over Brossard to push him to the consolation semifinals.
In the semis, Chase continued his dominant weekend with a 4-2 decision victory over Matt Lackman (ALV) to earn his spot in the third-place match.
In a battle for third, Schmidt's weekend came full circle as he faced Will Esmoli from Coe College. Esmoli gave Schmidt his only loss on day one in the second round in a victory by pin. Schmidt battled hard and got the best of Esmoli in a 9-6 decision victory to earn third place at the 165 division. Schmidt is the first top-3 finisher for the Blugolds since Nathan
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