UW-La Crosse Wins Second Straight Wrestling Championship
WHITEWATER, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-La Crosse secured its second straight title at the 2018 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Wrestling Championship (presented by Culver’s) at UW-Whitewater’s Kachel Gymnasium on Feb. 9.
The first-place finish for the Eagles is the 17th in program history and matches UW-Whitewater for the most in league archives. UW-La Crosse won this year’s championship with 143 points to top UW-Whitewater’s second-place total of 118 points. UW-Stevens Point finished third with 116.50 points, UW-Eau Claire and UW-Platteville tied for fourth with 100 and UW-Oshkosh placed sixth with 89.50.
UW-Oshkosh’s Mark Choinski claimed the 157-pound championship for the second straight year, while UW-Whitewater’s Jordan Newman became a three-time conference champion after winning the 197-pound championship. He secured the 184-pound crown in 2016 and 174-pound bracket in 2015.
UW-La Crosse’s Sawyer Massie was selected the John Peterson Wrestler of the Meet, while teammate Sean O’Neil received the Max Sparger Scholar-Athlete Award. UW-La Crosse was named the Mertz Mortorelli Coaching Staff of the Year.
An All-Sportsmanship Team was chosen for individuals that displayed exemplary sportsmanship throughout the season. It included one member from each school. Named to the squad were: UW-Eau Claire’s Abraham Dickenson; UW-La Crosse’s Michael Murnane; UW-Oshkosh’s Christian Quiles; UW-Platteville’s Michael Hyde; UW-Stevens Point’s Dominic Gunderson; and UW-Whitewater’s Austin Quartullo.
Championship Match Results:
125--Mike Tortorice (UW-Whitewater) dec. Ben Vosters (UW-Stevens Point), 7-5 (OT)
133--Hazen Rice (UW-Whitewater) dec. Josh Stenger (UW-La Crosse), 11-8
141--Hayden Schlough (UW-La Crosse) major dec. Reid Johnson (UW-La Crosse), 11-0
149--Austin Quartullo (UW-Whitewater) dec. Luke Smiley (UW-Stevens Point), 5-1
157--Mark Choinski (UW-Oshkosh) dec. Grant Zamin (UW-La Crosse), 4-0
165--Mitch Hertel (UW-La Crosse) dec. Logan Schlough (UW-La Crosse), 3-1
174--Sawyer Massie (UW-La Crosse) dec. Jon Goetz (UW-Platteville), 11-6
184--Grant Wedepohl (UW-Platteville) dec. Sean O’Neil (UW-La Crosse), 4-3 (OT)
197--Jordan Newman (UW-Whitewater) major dec. Wesley Schultz (UW-La Crosse), 14-2
285--Konrad Ernst (UW-La Crosse) pinned D’Andre Johnson (UW-Platteville), 8:22
John Peterson Wrestler of the Meet: Sawyer Massie of UW-La Crosse
Mertz Mortorelli Coaching Staff of the Year: UW-La Crosse
Max Sparger Scholar-Athlete: Sean O’Neil of UW-La Crosse
# # # # #