Pioneers finish fifth of 38 teams at Wheaton Invite

WHEATON, Ill. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville wrestling team finished fifth of 38 teams in the stacked two-day Pete Willson Wheaton Invite.

Making up the Pioneers' 84 team points were ten athletes led by sophomore Lucius Rinehart (19 team points) and senior Grant Wedepohl (18.5 points).

Rinehart (23-4) advanced to the championship round at 285 pounds and fell short to Otterbein University's undefeated Drew Kasper (24-0) by an 11-2 major decision.

Wedepohl (22-9) worked his way to the third place bout at 184 pounds and took fourth place after a 5-2 decision favoring North Central's Baldridge.

Also placing at the weekend's event was junior Chase Katzenmeyer at 141 pounds.  Katzenmeyer (21-11) earned 13 team points with a 7^th place finish over UW-Eau Claire's Drexler due to medical forfeit.

Also building to the Pioneer's fifth place finish were Dillon Gottschalk (8-10) at 125 pounds (5 team points), Beau Harrier (11-12) at 133 pounds (7.5 team points), Alexander Strueder (11-11) at 149 pounds (2.5 team points), Tony Bivens (9-8) at 157 pounds (5.5 team points), Garrett Passmore (7-9) at 165 pounds (4.5 team points), Peter Driscoll (8-9) at 174 pounds (3 team points), and Max Schmitz (10-11) at 197 pounds (5.5 team points).

With six WIAC schools in attendance and the conference championship in less than two weeks, UW-Platteville finished second of the six universities behind UW-Whitewater (91.5 team points). 

Overall, the University of Mount Union took took first place at the invitational with 135 team points, followed by North Central (Ill.) with 105.5 points, Baldwin Wallace University with 98 points, and UW-Whitewater and UW-Platteville rounding out the top-five teams.

The Pioneers return to action Tuesday night in Williams Fieldhouse with the final home dual of the year against Augustana College at 7 p.m.