UW-L Wins Final Four Matches to Earn Victory over UW-Stevens Point

For Immediate Release: Friday, Jan. 16, 2009

La Crosse, Wis. – The seventh-ranked UW-La Crosse wrestling team won the final four matches to earn an 18-16 victory over 10th-ranked UW-Stevens Point Friday night in Mitchell Hall. The Eagles improve to 15-5 overall and 2-1 in the WIAC while the Pointers fall to 10-3 overall and 2-1 in the conference. It is UW-L's sixth straight win over UW-Stevens Point.

UW-L took a 3-0 lead as Jonny Brennan opened with a win by decision (6-3) over UW-Stevens Point's Joe Mileski at 125-pounds. The Pointers won the next three matches to lead 13-3. Jered Kern won by major decision (19-5) over Pat Parrillo at 133; Chase DeCleene earned a win by fall (6:15) over Alex Dahl at 141 and Kris Magruder won by decision (10-8) over Matt Mauseth at 149. Mauseth entered the dual ranked fifth in the country and suffered his third loss of the season, falling to 14-3.

The Eagles cut the deficit to 13-6 as Ryan Farwell won by decision (4-2) over Andrew Dilworth at 157-pounds. Jake Wozniak, ranked seventh in NCAA Division III for UW-Stevens Point, made it 16-6 with a win by decision (8-4) over Cory Ferguson at 165.

UW-L captured the final four matches by decision to earn the team victory. Eighth-ranked Mike Schmitz defeated Chris Karl (5-1) at 174-pounds while the 184-pound match featured two nationally-ranked wrestlers. Sixth-ranked Josh Zabel of UW-L defeated fifth-ranked Ben Engelland at 184-pounds (5-3). Zabel improved to 26-4 on the season.

Fifth-ranked Andy Moore won by decision (8-3) over Jeremy Fulk at 197-pounds for UW-L to make it 16-15. Dan Laurent then defeated Chad Gregory at 285-pounds (7-3) to give the Eagles an 18-16 victory. Laurent is ranked fifth in Division III and improved to 23-5 on the year with the win.

UW-L returns to action Tuesday, Jan. 22 at UW-Oshkosh with two matches. The Eagles face Lawrence University (Wis.) at 6 p.m. and the host Titans at 7 p.m.