Wrestling

UW-Eau Claire Wins Men’s Wrestling Title

EAU CLAIRE, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire emerged with the team title at the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Men’s Wrestling Championship (presented by Culver’s) at McPhee Physical Education Center on Feb. 14.
 
It is the second championship in program history for the Blugolds, who also won the title in 2024. UW-Eau Claire secured this year’s crown with 157.5 points, while nine-time defending champion UW-La Crosse was second with 153. The margin of victory is the closest in at the WIAC championship since 2009 when UW-La Crosse had 146 points compared to UW-Stevens Point’s 144.
 
UW-Whitewater took third this year with 115.5 points, while UW-Stevens Point was fourth with 87.5, UW-Platteville fifth with 60 and UW-Oshkosh sixth with 28.5.
 
UW-Eau Claire won three individual titles enroute to the team crown. Wyatt Unser claimed the 133-pound championship with a 15-0 technical fall over UW-La Crosse’s Wyatt Magolski, while Zak McPhee secured the 184-pound title with a 6-1 decision over UW-La Crosse’s Tate Flege. McPhee was named the John Peterson Wrestler of the Meet for his performance. It is the third straight year that UW-Eau Claire has had a wrestler secure the distinction.
 
The Blugolds’ Sloan Welch capped the championship with a first-place finish at 285 pounds with a 6-5 decision over teammate Cole Matulenko.
 
UW-La Crosse also had three first-place finishers at the championship. Noah Leisgang claimed his third conference title with a 6-3 decision over teammate Eddie Simes at 174 pounds. Leisgang won the 165-pound championship in 2023 and 2024.
 
The Eagles’ Tanner Gerber secured his second straight 165-pound title with a 5-1 decision over UW-Whitewater’s Brayden Peet, while Tyler Dormanen posted a 16-6 major decision over UW-Eau Claire’s Ian Pepple at 197 pounds.
 
UW-Whitewater matched UW-Eau Claire’s and UW-La Crosse’s Dominik Mallinder, who posted an 8-6 decision over UW-Eau Claire’s Landon Church. It is Mallinder’s third conference title after securing the 133-pound crown in 2024 and 2025.
 
The Warhawks’ Justin Fortugno was victorious at 141 pounds with a pin of UW-Eau Claire’s Ty Fink at 5:48, while Luke Swan was victorious at 157 pounds with a 10-4 decision over UW-La Crosse’s Joe Penchi.
 
UW-Stevens Point’s Luca Paladino won the 125-pound title with a 7-3 decision over UW-Eau Claire’s Izzy Balsiger.
 
UW-Eau Claire was selected the Mertz Mortorelli Coaching Staff of the Year for the first time in program history, while UW-La Crosse’s Noah Leisgang 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 Ryder Depies; UW-La Crosse’s Cole Gentsch; UW-Oshkosh’s Desmond Walker; UW-Platteville’s Jackson Kirsch; UW-Stevens Point’s Jack Callen; and UW-Whitewater’s Dominik Mallinder.
 
Championship Match Results:
125--Luca Paladino (UW-Stevens Point) dec. Izzy Balsiger (UW-Eau Claire), 7-3
133--Wyatt Unser (UW-Eau Claire) tech. fall Wyatt Magolski (UW-La Crosse), 15-0
141--Justin Fortugno (UW-Whitewater) pinned Ty Fink (UW-Eau Claire), 5:48
149--Dominik Mallinder (UW-Whitewater) dec. Landon Church (UW-Eau Claire), 8-6
157--Luke Swan (UW-Whitewater) dec. Joe Penchi (UW-La Crosse), 10-4
165--Tanner Gerber (UW-La Crosse) dec. Brayden Peet (UW-Whitewater), 5-1
174--Noah Leisgang (UW-La Crosse) dec. Eddie Simes (UW-La Crosse), 6-3
184--Zak McPhee (UW-Eau Claire) dec. Tate Flege (UW-La Crosse), 6-1
197--Tyler Dormanen (UW-La Crosse) major dec. Ian Pepple (UW-Eau Claire), 16-6
285--Sloan Welch (UW-Eau Claire) dec. Cole Matulenko (UW-Eau Claire), 6-5
 
# # # # #