Pioneers earn first win vs. UWSP since 2002

The University of Wisconsin–Platteville wrestling team earned its first victory over UW-Stevens Point since December, 2002 with a 22-19 win Thursday night.

The Pioneers improved to 3-0 on the season while snapping a 13-match losing streak to the Pointers.

"We are proud our our student-athletes," head coach Mike DeRoehn said. "Making progress is fun! We always say 'win or lose, learn and improve' so we will use this as an opportunity to get better moving forward."

The Pioneers jumped out to a 16-0 lead then earned two key back-to-back wins to secure the match. Zachary Stenger won by forfeit at 125 to begin the evening, and Scott Arneson grabbed four points with a major decision. He won 17-3 at 133 over Michael Bannach for a 10-0 Pioneer advantage. Alex Costello earned six more points with a first period pin over Frank Lor at 141. Costello make quick work of the match with a pinfall in 1:47.

After UW-Stevens Point won three matches to narrow the deficit to 16-10, Jon Goetz (174) and Grant Wedepohl (184) each pitched shutouts in their matches for a 22-10 lead.

The Pioneers are now 3-0, with all three victories coming against Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference foes. They face another Saturday at noon, when UW-Whitewater rolls into town. The Warhawks are 3-2 overall and 2-0 against WIAC schools.

By Paul Erickson, Director UW-Platteville Communications, 608.342.1194, pr@uwplatt.edu