Titans Overcome Early Deficit To Defeat Blugolds

The UW-Oshkosh wrestling team recorded two pins and won four other bouts to claim a 27-16 victory over UW-Eau Claire on Wednesday (Dec. 8) in Kolf Sports Center.

After falling behind 10-4 after three bouts, UW-Oshkosh (4-2/2-1 WIAC) won four consecutive weight classes to pull out to 22-10 advantage. UW-Eau Claire (0-6/0-1 WIAC) closed to within 22-16 after two straight decisions before Zachary Mueller (Jr. • Jackson) slammed the door with a 15-0 blanking of Neil Manns at 125 pounds.

Kyle Kleuskens (Sr. • Freedom) put the Titans ahead 4-0 after beating Steven Fisher, 9-1, at 133 pounds.

The Blugolds received a pin from Brian Reier over Mason McMullen (Fr. • New Berlin) in 1:35 at 141 pounds and Ryan Seider defeated Jose Quintana (Jr. • Burnsville, Minn.), 23-9 at 149 pounds.

Trevor Dyreson (Jr. • Deerfield) started the Titans’ rally with a 5-3 victory over Kyle Heise at 157 pounds. UW-Oshkosh scored 12 key points off two pins when Aaron Konitzer (Jr. • Abrams) stuck Ricky Gonzales to the mat in 5:47 at 174 pounds and Aaron Geiger (Jr. • Mishicot) flattened Nathan Bowe in 2:24 at 174 pounds.

Sam Engelland (Jr. • Neenah) remained undefeated (12-0) on the season with an 8-2 win over Matthew Rieckhoff at 184 pounds.

UW-Eau Claire recorded two close victories in its next two contests when Luke Ortscheid edged Ryan Heath (Jr. • Merrill), 5-2, at 197 pounds and Joe Pitsch slipped past Jason LaPlante (Jr. • New Berlin), 4-3, at 285 pounds.

UW-Eau Claire could not get the pin they needed in the last bout for the tie when Mueller closed out the contest.

UW-Oshkosh, ranked 17th in the NCAA Division III by the National Wrestling Coaches Association, returns to the mat when it hosts the UW-Oshkosh Duals on Jan. 8 at Albee Hall.