Titans Win Three Of Four Matches At Border Brawl

Nazar Kulchytskyy (So. • Sosnivka, Ukraine) won all four of his 157-pound matches as the UW-Oshkosh wrestling team posted a 3-1 record at the UW-Whitewater Border Brawl held Saturday (Jan. 21) in Whitewater.

UW-Oshkosh, ranked 19th in the NCAA Division III by the National Wrestling Coaches Association, opened the event by marking wins of 35-12 over Trine University (Ind.) and 24-12 over 13th-ranked Elmhurst College (Ill.). Following a 28-8 loss to eighth-ranked Olivet College (Mich.), the Titans bounced back to defeat Simpson College (Iowa), 32-15.

Kulchytskyy received a forfeit in UW-Oshkosh's win over Trine University. He then pinned Tom Jung of Elmhurst College in 2:03 before counting 23-7 victories over both Steven Mena of Olivet College and Brian Haynes of Simpson College. The triumphs raised the fifth-ranked Kulchytskyy's season record to 31-1.

Jason LaPlante (Sr. • New Berlin) captured three of his bouts, including two via pin. He started by flattening Trine University’s Shane Hendrickson in 4:40. After a 6-1 defeat to Elmhurst College’s Brian Brooks, LaPlante topped Olivet College’s Jake Ceslick by a 7-4 count. LaPlante then needed just 3:40 to pin Simpson College’s Ryan Haworth.

Both Zachary Mueller (Sr. • Jackson) and Dan Schiferl (So. • Stoughton) compiled a 3-1 record with one pin. Mueller opened with a pin in 4:49 over Trine University's Brandon Preston before adding a 5-1 victory over Elmhurst College's Mark Johnson and a forfeit against Simpson College. Schiferl’s highlight was a 56-second pin over Simpson College’s Justin Bruce. Before that, Schiferl downed Trine University’s Jason Alber, 14-3, and Elmhurst College’s Danny Balderas, 6-4.

Carl DeLuca (Sr. • Wisconsin Rapids) was the only other Titan to compile at least two wins. He won on a forfeit against Trine University and then posted a 9-5 victory over Simpson College’s Devin Rausch.

UW-Oshkosh won 7-of-10 bouts against Trine University and 6-of-10 against Elmhurst College. Kulchytskyy and LaPlante were the only Titans to prevail during the match with Olivet College. Six UW-Oshkosh wrestlers were victorious against Simpson College, including Kyle McKearn (So. • Lodi) who registered a 2:13 pin over Taylor Witzel.

UW-Oshkosh competes at Wheaton College's Pete Willson Invitational next Friday and Saturday (Jan. 27-28) in Wheaton, Ill.