Chippewa Valley Times

The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire wrestling team secured a third-place finish at the Reno Tournament of Champions held at the Reno Events Center. Competing against 21 teams, the Blugolds showcased strong performances with standout achievements from several wrestlers.

Jared Stricker emerged as a key performer for the team by clinching the 174-pound title. Stricker, a senior from High Bridge, Wisconsin, went undefeated in five matches. His victories included two wins by fall, one by technical fall, and two by major decision. Notably, he defeated NCAA Division I opponents from the University of Wyoming in both the semifinals and finals.

Another significant performance came from Niall Schoenfelder in the 184-pound bracket. The senior from Antioch, Illinois finished second after winning three out of four matches. His day was highlighted by a pin against Jersey Robb of Oklahoma State during the quarterfinals and a victory over Eastern Oregon's Kyle Knudtson in the semifinals before losing to an unattached wrestler in the final round.

Zach Sato also contributed to the team's success with a third-place finish at 149 pounds. The senior from Oswego, Illinois won five out of six matches. He claimed victory over the No. 2 seed by major decision in his second match and won twice by fall before dropping his semifinal bout. Sato bounced back with a narrow 16-14 win against Cal Poly's Gavin Fernandez to secure third place.

Overall, fifteen Blugold wrestlers participated in the tournament.

Looking ahead, the Blugolds will compete next at the Budd Whitehill Duals on January 10-11 in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

For updates throughout their season, fans can follow UW-Eau Claire's wrestling team via their website or social media platforms.