String Of Victories Lead Pioneers Past Titans

UW-Platteville won six straight contests to overcome an early deficit and defeat the UW-Oshkosh wrestling team, 32-11, on Friday (Jan. 8) in Platteville.

UW-Oshkosh (3-6, 0-2 WIAC) owned the winner in three weight classes, including Joe Pelkey at 157 pounds and Julius Smith at 174 who gave the Titans an 8-4 lead after three bouts.

Pelkey opened the match with a 13-2 win over Jeremy Peterson. UW-Oshkosh's Patrick Reilly then lost a 10-1 decision to the Pioneers' Gunnar Melstrand at 165 pounds before Smith ousted Michael Belanger by a 12-4 result.

UW-Platteville (3-2, 1-2 WIAC) started its string of victories with Cody Meyer's 13-3 win over John DePersia at 184 pounds. The Pioneers then broke their 8-8 tie with the Titans on Bryant Etherton's pin of Chris Yaros in 1:56 at 197 pounds.

De'Andre Johnson extended UW-Platteville's lead to 20-8 with his pin of Elijah Burdick in 4:57 at 285 pounds. The Pioneers' Zach Stenger received a forfeit at 125 pounds before Cole Ferguson increased the UW-Platteville lead to 29-8 with his 7-0 victory over Dellas Vandenberg at 133.

Scott Arneson scored the Pioneers' final team points with his 4-2 win over Levi Smith at 141 pounds.

UW-Oshkosh closed the match with Mark Choinski's 10-8 victory over Mason Bohm at 149 pounds.

The Titans are off until they visit four-time defending WIAC champion UW-Whitewater on Jan. 14.