UW-La Crosse Earns 14th Straight Wrestling Championship
PLATTEVILLE, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-La Crosse picked up its 14th straight Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) wrestling championship at UW-Platteville’s Williams Fieldhouse Feb. 27.
The Eagles secured the 15th crown in program history and extended their league-record title streak with 148.50 points. UW-Stevens Point finished second with 123 points, UW-Whitewater third with 121.50 points, UW-Oshkosh fourth with 93 points, UW-Platteville fifth with 82 points and UW-Eau Claire sixth with 55.50 points.
UW-La Crosse claimed seven first-place medals at this year’s championship. Bebeto Yewah was selected the John Peterson Wrestler of the Meet after beating UW-Whitewater’s Dylan Schroeder by technical fall 25-10 to claim the 141-pound crown.
Matt Mauseth won his fourth consecutive 149-pound championship with an 8-4 decision over UW-Stevens Point’s Kris Magruder, while Albie McKinney captured his third straight title at 125 pounds with an 11-2 major decision over UW-Oshkosh’s Carl DeLuca.
Mike Schmitz also became a three-time WIAC champion at 174 pounds with a 12-3 major decision over UW-Whitewater’s Reid Dickerson. Cory Ferguson won his second straight title at 165 pounds with a 6-3 decision over UW-Stevens Point’s Jordan Schulte.
The Eagles’ Adam Sheley claimed the 133-pound crown with a 4-2 decision over UW-Whitewater’s Jake Fredricksen, while Billy Mayer earned the 285-pound championship with a 6-0 decision over UW-Whitewater’s James Zarate.
UW-Whitewater had two individuals register first-place finishes. Cade Sarbacker won the 157-pound bracket with a 14-5 major decision over UW-Stevens Point’s Ben Strobel. Adam Latella was victorious at 197 pounds with a 3-2 decision over UW-Stevens Point’s Chad Gregory.
UW-Stevens Point’s Ben Engelland secured the 184-pound title for the second consecutive season with a 4-2 decision over UW-Oshkosh’s Sam Engelland (his brother).
UW-La Crosse head coach Dave Malecek was chosen the Mertz Mortorelli Coach of the Year for the fifth straight season, while the Eagles’ Matt Mauseth received the Max Sparger Scholar-Athlete Award.
An All-Sportsmanship Team was chosen for individuals that displayed exemplary sportsmanship throughout the season. It included one member from each school. Named to the squad were: UW-Eau Claire’s Will Christ, UW-La Crosse’s Adam Sheley, UW-Oshkosh’s Alec Hakes, UW-Platteville’s Mack Drees, UW-Stevens Point’s Coulter Nyenhuis and UW-Whitewater’s Reid Dickerson.
All 10 WIAC champions, along with eight at-large qualifiers, will participate in the NCAA Division III Championship in La Crosse, Wis. The national event will be hosted by UW-La Crosse at the La Crosse Center March 11-12. Individuals securing at-large spots included: UW-La Crosse’s Mitch Artist (184 pounds), UW-Oshkosh’s Sam Engelland (184 pounds), UW-Platteville’s Mack Drees (125 pounds), UW-Stevens Point’s Kris Magruder (149 pounds), Chad Gregory (197 pounds) and Jordan Schulte (165 pounds), along with UW-Whitewater’s Jake Fredrickson (133 pounds) and James Zarate (285 pounds).
Individual Champions
125-Albie McKinney (UW-La Crosse) major dec. Carl DeLuca (UW-Oshkosh)*, 11-2
133-Adam Sheley (UW-La Crosse) dec. Jake Fredricksen (UW-Whitewater), 4-2
141-Bebeto Yewah (UW-La Crosse) tech. fall Dylan Schroeder (UW-Whitewater), 25-10 (5:14)
149-Matt Mauseth (UW-La Crosse) dec. Kris Magruder (UW-Stevens Point), 8-4
157-Cade Sarbacker (UW-Whitewater) major dec. Ben Strobel (UW-Stevens Point), 14-5
165-Cory Ferguson (UW-La Crosse) dec. Jordan Schulte (UW-Stevens Point), 6-3
174-Mike Schmitz (UW-La Crosse) major dec. Reid Dickerson (UW-Whitewater), 12-3
184-Ben Engelland (UW-Stevens Point) dec. Sam Engelland (UW-Oshkosh), 4-2
197-Adam Latella (UW-Whitewater) dec. Chad Gregory (UW-Stevens Point), 3-2
285-Billy Mayer (UW-La Crosse) dec. James Zarate (UW-Whitewater), 6-0
*DeLuca finished third, UW-Platteville's Mack Drees placed second
John Peterson Wrestler of the Meet: Bebeto Yewah of UW-La Crosse
Mertz Mortorelli Coach of the Year: Dave Malecek of UW-La Crosse
Max Sparger Scholar-Athlete: Matt Mauseth of UW-La Crosse
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