Wrestling

Six Capture NCAA Wrestling Regional Titles; 14 Headed To NCAA Championship

MINNEAPOLIS--Six Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) wrestlers that captured titles are among 14 league individuals that earned a spot in the national meet following competition at the NCAA Division III Upper Midwest Regional at Augsburg University (Minn.) Feb. 28-29.
 
The top-three finishers in each of the 10 weight classes from the regional advance to the NCAA Division III Championship that will held March 13-14 at US Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
 
UW-La Crosse’s Grant Zamin was selected the Regional Most Outstanding Wrestling after winning the 157-pound title with a 7-6 decision over Ryan Epps of Augsburg. The Eagles’ Mitchell Hertel claimed the 165-pound title with a 3-1 decision over UW-Whitewater’s Ryder Sigler. At 197 pounds, UW-La Crosse’s Isaac Lahr advanced to the national meet with a medical forfeit over Lance Benick of Augsburg.
 
UW-Oshkosh’s Jordan Lemcke won the 285-pound crown with a 3-1 tie-breaking decision over UW-Eau Claire’s Noah Carter, while UW-Stevens Point’s Matt Berlin secured the 133-pound title with a 6-5 decision over Noah Becker of Saint John’s University (Minn.).
 
UW-Whitewater’s Mike Tortorice secured his second straight regional crown at 125 pounds with a pin at 2:45 over Cole Kubesh of Concordia College-Moorhead (Minn.).
 
UW-La Crosse’s Dave Malecek was selected the Regional Coach of the Year, while UW-Whitewater assistant coach Adam Latella was recognized as a Regional co-Assistant Coach of the Year.
 
The WIAC has its six teams finish in the top 11 of the team standings. UW-La Crosse placed second with 157.50 points, while UW-Whitewater took third with 116, UW-Eau Claire fourth with 100, UW-Stevens Point tied for sixth with 82, UW-Platteville eighth with 79 and UW-Oshkosh 11th with 44. Augsburg won the 17-team event with 196.50 points.
 
Following are the WIAC wrestlers that earned a spot in the NCAA Division III Championship:
 
UW-Eau Claire:  Jake Drexler (149 pounds-Third); Evan Lawrence (174 pounds-Third); Noah Carter (285 pounds-Second)
 
UW-La Crosse:  Sawyer Sarbacker (125 pounds-Third); Grant Zamin (157 pounds-Champion); Mitchell Hertel (165 pounds-Champion); Sawyer Massie (184 pounds-Third); Isaac Lahr (197 pounds-Champion)
 
UW-Oshkosh:  Jordan Lemcke (285 pounds-Champion)

UW-Stevens Point:  Matt Berlin (133 pounds-Champion)
 
UW-Whitewater:  Mike Tortorice (125 pounds-Champion); Hazen Rice (141 pounds-Second); Ryder Sigler (165 pounds-Second); Jaritt Shinhoster (174 pounds-Second)
 
# # # # #