Pioneers send three to wrestling nationals

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. —Three University of Wisconsin-Platteville wrestlers earned second place in their respective weight classes at the NCAA Division III West Regional Feb. 28, qualifying for a trip to the national championships.

Cole Ferguson (125 pounds), Mason Bohm (149) and Michael Cole (184) advanced to their championship matches in the regional at Augsburg College in Minneapolis, Minn. The Pioneer trio advances to nationals, March 13-14 in Hershey, Pa.

Ferguson won two preliminary matches before falling in the title match, raising his record to 27-7 on the year. Bohm won via pinfall followed by an 8-0 decision to reach the finals. He will take a 22-11 record into nationals. Cole, who entered regionals with an 11-11 mark, won his first two matches before being stopped in the championship. All three Pioneers lost to Augsburg wrestlers in the finals.

The Pioneers tied for third in the 11-team regional for first-year coach Mike DeRoehn.

Full statistics are available at http://athletics.augsburg.edu/documents/2015/2/28//2015_west_regional_brackets.pdf?id=1956

Written by: Paul Erickson, UW-Platteville University Information and Communications, (608) 342-1194, ericksop@uwplatt.edu