UW-L Advances to Semifinals at NWCA National Duals

For Immediate Release: Saturday, January 12, 2008

Cedar Falls, Iowa - The UW-La Crosse wrestling team advanced to the semifinals of the National Wrestling Coaches Association/Cliff Keen National Duals Saturday afternoon at the University of Northern Iowa. The Eagles, ranked third in NCAA Division III, improved to 16-0 with two victories Saturday.

UW-L defeated Concordia College (Minn.) 31-7 in its first round dual before earning a 24-12 victory over Heidelberg College (Ohio) 24-12 in the quarterfinals. The Eagles will face second-ranked Augsburg College (Minn.) in the semifinals Sunday at 11 a.m.

Versus Concordia, the Eagles won eight of the 10 matches. The Cobbers took a 3-0 lead as Jason Brill won by decision (7-6) over Brandon Music, but the Eagles came back to win seven consecutive matches. Jordan Kolinski won by technical fall (16-0, 4:47) over Joe Leacox at 133-pounds and Dan Crone won by decision (7-1) over Ben Anderson at 141.

Matt Mauseth (149) and Cory Ferguson (157) then recorded wins by decision for UW-L. Mauseth defeated Justin Berns (11-7) while Ferguson beat Joe Mienert (8-4). Tim Palmer followed with a win by major decision (12-2) at 165-pounds over Lane Lunde before Josh Chelf won by fall (2:25) over Ross Dankers at 174. Josh Zabel won the Eagles' seventh straight victory, winning by decision (9-3) over Phil Moenkendick at 184.

The Eagles' Zach Strickland lost by major decision (14-1) to Tony Neumann before Dan Laurent finished the dual with a major decision (8-0) over Nick Nadeau at 285.

Against Heidelberg, ranked sixth in the country, UW-L came away with six victories. Music won by decision (8-3) over Jerrad Hoxie at 125 and Kolinski won by decision (5-3) over Boomer Fechko at 133.

Heidelberg's Nick Sanchez won by decision (8-4) over Crone at 141 before Mauseth won by fall (3:36) against Zach Mizer at 149. Joe Pflug of Heidelberg won by decision (10-3) over Jay Milz at 157, but Palmer, Chelf and Zabel all recorded victories. Palmer won by decision (6-2) over Ian Rammel at 165; Chelf earned a win by fall (1:55) over Mike Rando at 174 and Zabel won by decision (7-5) over Ed Bizorik at 184.

Ryan Fogliano defeated Andy Moore by decision (197) for Heidelberg and Ryan Bowers won by decision (4-3) over Laurent at 285.

UW-L returns to action Sunday, January 13 against Augsburg College (Minn.) in the tournament semifinals beginning at 11 a.m.