Fifth-Ranked Eagles Soar To Win Over Titans

UW-La Crosse dominated UW-Oshkosh right from the start as the nationally ranked Eagles defeated the Titans, 44-3, in a wrestling match held Friday (Jan. 20) in La Crosse.

UW-La Crosse, ranked fifth in the NCAA Division III by the National Wrestling Coaches Association, recorded pins in the first three contests to build an 18-0 lead. The Eagles (8-0, 4-0 WIAC) followed their string of pins with a pair of victories by a technical fall to take a 28-0 advantage over the Titans halfway through the match.

UW-La Crosse extended its lead to 37-0 before UW-Oshkosh's Julius Smith registered a 9-8 win over returning All-American Austin Cook at 184 pounds. Cook compiled a 31-14 record last season and placed sixth at the NCAA Division III Championship.

UW-Oshkosh (2-12, 1-4 WIAC) suffered two narrow defeats as Clark Doyle edged Levi Smith, 5-4, at 165 pounds and Konrad Ernst slipped past Elijah Burdick, 4-2, at 285.

UW-La Crosse's strong start began with Nelson Baker's pin of Ethan Altabet in 2:03 at 125 pounds. Ryan Weinmann then pinned Jonathan Flores in 4:21 at 133 pounds before Dustin Weinmann stuck Reiss Bielski to the surface in 1:11 at 141.

The Eagles flew to a pair of convincing victories in their next two bouts as Mason Geary defeated Nate Arquinego, 18-0 (2:26), at 149 pounds and Jackson Schoen ousted Corey Knudsen, 18-1 (4:50), at 157.

UW-La Crosse's fourth pin of the match came at 174 pounds, where Sawyer Massie ended his bout with AJ Stengel in 1:40.

Michael Otomo earned UW-La Crosse's remaining victory with his 12-2 decision over Husam Alabed at 197 pounds.

UW-Oshkosh is off until it competes at the Loras College Duhawk Open on Jan. 28 in Dubuque, Iowa.