Wrestling

UW-La Crosse Wins Wrestling Title

WHITEWATER, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-La Crosse emerged with the title at the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Wrestling Championship (presented by Culver’s) at Kachel Gymnasium on Feb. 15.
 
It is the ninth straight championship and 24th in the program history. UW-La Crosse compiled 158.5 points to surpass UW-Eau Claire’s second-place total of 147.5 points. UW-Whitewater took third with 132.5 points, UW-Stevens Point fourth with 64.5, UW-Platteville fifth with 25.5 and UW-Oshkosh sixth with 8.5.

UW-La Crosse won five individual titles enroute to the team crown. Michael Douglas claimed his second straight 285-pound championship with a 12-4 major decision over UW-Eau Claire’s Sloan Welch, and Tyler Goebel secured the 157-pound title with a 5-4 tiebreaker victory over UW-Whitewater’s Luke Swan. Goebel won the 149-pound division in 2024.
 
Tanner Gerber claimed the 165-pound bracket with a 2-0 decision over UW-Whitewater’s Brayden Peet, while Marcus Orlandoni was victorious at 184 pounds with a 4-1 sudden victory over UW-Eau Claire’s Niall Schoenfelder, and Talan Schutte emerged with a 141-pound title after an 8-3 decision over UW-Stevens Point’s Riese Thornberry.
 
UW-Eau Claire’s Jared Stricker won his fourth consecutive 174-pound crown with a 1-0 decision over UW-La Crosse’s Eddie Simes. Stricker is the second wrestler in conference history to win the weight class four straight years, joining UW-La Crosse’s Mike Schmitz (2009-12).
 
The Blugolds also received first-place performances from Izzy Balsiger, Zach Sato and Ian Pepple. Balsinger was victorious at 125 pounds for the second consecutive year with a 13-10 sudden victory over UW-Whitewater’s Jalen Dunson. Sato posted a 2-0 decision over UW-La Crosse’s Josh Cherba to win the 149-pound title. Pepple was tabbed the Kwik Trip John Peterson Wrestler of the Meet after an 11-3 major decision over UW-La Crosse’s Ben Kawczynski to win the 197-pound championship.
 
UW-Whitewater’s Dominik Mallinder won his third consecutive 133-pound title with a 19-5 major decision over UW-La Crosse’s Wyatt Magolski.
 
UW-La Crosse was selected the Kwik Trip Mertz Mortorelli Coaching Staff of the Year, while UW-La Crosse’s Marcus Orlandoni 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 Colton Sund; UW-La Crosse’s Wyatt Magolski; UW-Oshkosh’s Leonardo Ruggiero; UW-Platteville’s David Cushman; UW-Stevens Point’s Josh Heuss; and UW-Whitewater’s Luke Swan.
 
Championship Match Results:
125--Izzy Balsiger (UW-Eau Claire) won by sudden victory over Jalen Dunson (UW-Whitewater), 13-10
133--Dominik Mallinder (UW-Whitewater) major dec. Wyatt Magolski (UW-La Crosse), 19-5
141--Talan Schutte (UW-La Crosse) dec. Riese Thornberry (UW-Stevens Point), 8-3
149--Zach Sato (UW-Eau Claire) dec. Josh Cherba (UW-La Crosse), 2-0
157--Tyler Goebel (UW-La Crosse) won by tiebreaker over Luke Swan (UW-Whitewater), 5-4
165--Tanner Gerber (UW-La Crosse) dec. Brayden Peet (UW-Whitewater), 2-0
174--Jared Stricker (UW-Eau Claire) dec. Eddie Simes (UW-La Crosse), 1-0
184--Marcus Orlandoni (UW-La Crosse) won by sudden victory over Niall Schoenfelder (UW-Eau Claire), 4-1
197--Ian Pepple (UW-Eau Claire) major dec. Ben Kawczynski (UW-La Crosse), 11-3
285--Michael Douglas (UW-La Crosse) major dec. Sloan Welch (UW-Eau Claire), 12-4
 
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