EAU CLAIRE, Wis. -- The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire wrestling team overturned an early deficit to defeat UW-Whitewater 25-14 in a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) dual on Thursday at the McPhee Center. The third-ranked Blugolds fell behind by 11 points early, but ripped off five straight wins late in the dual to remain unbeaten in the WIAC.

A pair of back-to-back pins at 174 pounds and 184 pounds put the Blugolds in front and ignited a packed McPhee gym. The Warhawks couldn't recover, with a major decision clinching the win at 197 pounds. UW-Eau Claire moved to 8-3 this season and 2-0 in the WIAC with the victory.

The wrestling began at 125 pounds, where Carter Schulz (So. – Rice Lake, Wis.) took the mat for the Blugolds. The sophomore fell by 3-0 decision. The Warhawks earned a second consecutive victory at 133 pounds, where No. 9 Dominik Mallinder scored a 7-1 upset of top-ranked Tyler Fleetwood (Sr. – Fulton, Ill.). The 141-pound match saw Bo Niewiadomski (Jr. – Rosholt, Wis.) take a slim lead early in the third period, but a late takedown gave UW-Whitewater a 4-3 decision.

Fifth-ranked Zach Sato (Jr. – Oswego, Ill.) got the Blugolds on the board in the 149-pound match. He used a near fall and stalling points late in the match to earn a 7-0 victory. The Warhawks countered at 157, where Jan Hernandez-Soto (Jr. – Minneapolis, Minn./Patrick Henry) fell by 15-0 technical fall.

Seventh-ranked Tristan Massie (Sr. – Hillsdale, Wis./Barron) scored some much-needed points by winning a ranked clash at 165 pounds. He knocked off No. 15 Brayden Peet by 5-3 decision to cut the Warhawks' lead to 14-6.

Second-ranked Jared Stricker (Jr. – Ashland, Wis.) then gave the Blugolds a huge boost by picking up a second-period pin to take the 174-pound match, cutting the dual deficit to 14-12. Seventh-ranked Niall Schoenfelder (Jr. – Antioch, Ill.) made it a pin party with a second-period fall at 184 pounds, giving the Blugolds their first lead at 18-14.

Cole Matulenko (Fr. – Libertyville, Ill.) sealed the victory with a dominant showing at 197, earning a 15-2 major decision to put the score out of reach in the Blugolds' favor.

Sloan Welch (Fr. – Arpin, Wis./Auburndale) finished things off at 285 pounds, scoring a 7-5 decision.

UW-Eau Claire will be back in action with a top-five clash on Wednesday, December 13. The third-ranked Blugolds visit fourth-ranked UW-La Crosse, with wrestling beginning at 7 p.m.

Results:
125: Jonah Edwards (Wisconsin-Whitewater) over Carter Schulz (Wisconsin-Eau Claire) (Dec 3-0)
133: Dominik Mallinder (Wisconsin-Whitewater) over Tyler Fleetwood (Wisconsin-Eau Claire) (Dec 7-1)
141: Ethan Pogorzelski (Wisconsin-Whitewater) over Bo Niewiadomski (Wisconsin-Eau Claire) (Dec 4-3)
149: Zach Sato (Wisconsin-Eau Claire) over Scott Busse (Wisconsin-Whitewater) (Dec 7-0)
157: Jermaine Butler (Wisconsin-Whitewater) over Jan Hernandez-Soto (Wisconsin-Eau Claire) (TF 15-0 0:59)
165: Tristan Massie (Wisconsin-Eau Claire) over Brayden Peet (Wisconsin-Whitewater) (Dec 5-3)
174: Jared Stricker (Wisconsin-Eau Claire) over Tyler Haydon (Wisconsin-Whitewater) (Fall 4:45)
184: Niall Schoenfelder (Wisconsin-Eau Claire) over Ryan Riser (Wisconsin-Whitewater) (Fall 5:00)
197: Cole Matulenko (Wisconsin-Eau Claire) over Ryan Rambo (Wisconsin-Whitewater) (MD 15-2)
285: Sloan Welch (Wisconsin-Eau Claire) over Cadin Koeppel (Wisconsin-Whitewater) (Dec 7-5)