UW-L Finishes Second at NWCA National Duals

For Immediate Release: Sunday, January 13, 2008

Cedar Falls, Iowa - The UW-La Crosse wrestling team finished second at the National Wrestling Coaches Association/Cliff Keen National Duals Sunday afternoon at the University of Northern Iowa. The Eagles, ranked third in NCAA Division III, fell 25-8 to number-one ranked Wartburg College (Iowa) in the championship match.

UW-L, now 17-1 on the season, advanced to the title match after a 25-12 victory over second-ranked Augsburg College (Minn.) Sunday morning in the semifinals.

In the championship match against Wartburg, the Knights came away with eight wins out of the 10 matches with seven victories by decision. Robert Struthers won by decision (6-4) over UW-L's Brandon Music at 125-pounds and Jacob Helvey won by decision (4-0) over Jordan Kolinski at 133.

At 141-pounds, Zach McKray won by decision (6-4) against the Eagles' Dan Crone and Jacob Naig won by decision (8-3) over Matt Mauseth at 149. Aaron Wernimont won by decision (8-3) over Jay Milz at 157.

The Eagles earned their first win of the dual at 165-pounds as Tim Palmer won by major decision (19-7) over Adam Weber and UW-L's Josh Chelf followed with another win by major decision (15-1) over Craig Kreman at 174.

Wartburg then won the final three matches as Romeo Djoumessi won by decision (7-3) over Josh Zabel at 184; T.J. Miller won by major decision (11-2) over Andy Moore at 197 and Brian Borchers won by decision (5-1) over Dan Laurent at 285.

Against Augsburg in the semifinal, UW-L came away with six wins, including the final five. Music started the dual with a win by fall (2:58) over Seth Flodeen at 125 before Augsburg won the next four matches. Travis Lang defeated Kolinski by decision (11-6) at 133; Jason Adams won by decision (4-1) over Crone at 141; Willy Holst beat Mauseth by decision (8-4) at 149 and Beau Hansen defeated Jay Milz by decision (6-3) at 147.

UW-L came back to win the final five matches, starting with Palmer's win by major decision (12-4) over Brandon Klukow at 165. Chelf defeated George Lynaugh by fall (2:47) at 174 and Zabel beat Robbie Gotreau by decision (4-3) at 184. Moore won by decision (7-5) at 197 over Wally O'Connor and Laurent defeated Andy Witzel by major decision (10-1) at 285.

UW-L returns to action Wednesday, January 23 at UW-Stevens Point at 7 p.m.