2025 WIAC Wrestling Championship Preview University of Wisconsin-Whitewater will host the 2025 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Wrestling Championship (presented by Culver’s) at Kachel Gymnasium on Feb. 15. This year’s championship will mark the 70th gathering of conference teams. UW-Eau Claire and UW-La Crosse shared last year’s title with 161.5 points – the first time in conference history that the wrestling crown has been split. It was the first championship in program history for the Blugolds, while the Eagles collected their eighth straight - and 24th overall. UW-Whitewater finished third with 121 points, UW-Stevens Point fourth with 70.5, UW-Platteville fifth with 29.5 and UW-Oshkosh sixth with 13. UW-Whitewater ranks second on the conference’s all-time list with 17 championships, while UW-Stevens Point has won eight and UW-Oshkosh one. Former programs to win titles include: UW-River Falls (11); UW-Superior (6); UW-Stout (2); and UW-Milwaukee (1). The National Wrestling Coaches Association NCAA Division III Tournament Team Rankings distributed on Feb. 7 include the following WIAC teams: UW-La Crosse is first, while UW-Eau Claire is sixth and UW-Whitewater 13th. At this year’s championship, 10 individual first-place finishers will be crowned, along with a team champion. Each school will be permitted to enter two wrestlers per weight class and only the highest finishing wrestler from each institution will factor into the team scoring. Competition will begin at 11:00 a.m. Returning individual champions consist of: UW-Eau Claire’s Izzy Balsiger (2024 - 125 pounds), Zach Sato (2022 - 141 pounds), and Jared Stricker (2022, 2023, 2024 - 174 pounds); UW-La Crosse’s Michael Douglas (2024 - 285 pounds), Tyler Goebel (2024 - 149 pounds) and Ben Kawczynski (2022 - 285 pounds, 2024 - 197 pounds); and UW-Whitewater’s Dominik Mallinder (2023, 2024 - 133 pounds). Stricker was tabbed the conference’s Wrestler of the Year last season and Newcomer of the Year in 2022, while Mallinder claimed John Peterson Wrestler of the Meet and Newcomer of the Year honors in 2023. Runner-up performances at previous championships include: UW-Eau Claire’s Niall Schoenfelder (2023 - 184 pounds) and Sloan Welch (2024 - 285 pounds); UW-La Crosse’s Michael Douglas (2023 - 285 pounds), Tate Flege (2024 - 165 pounds), Kasey Gish (2024 - 197 pounds), Tyler Goebel (2023 - 149 pounds), Cole Hansen (2023 - 157 pounds) and Marcus Orlandoni (2024 - 184 pounds); UW-Stevens Point’s Luca Paladino (2024 - 125 pounds); and UW-Whitewater’s Scott Busse (2024 - 149 pounds), Jermaine Butler (2024 - 157 pounds), Justin Fortugno (2024 - 141 pounds) and Ryan Riser (2024 - 174 pounds). Butler was selected the Newcomer of the Year last season. UW-Oshkosh’s top performers this season include Camden Harms and Andrew Schad, while UW-Platteville has been led by David Cushman and Kain Killmer. # # # # #