Rinehart's HWT title highlights WIAC Championship

LA CROSSE, Wis. – The No. 22 University of Wisconsin-Platteville wrestling team finished fourth at the WIAC Championship presented by Culver's on Friday in UW-La Crosse's Mitchell Hall. Two Pioneers advanced to final bouts with junior Lucius Rinehart taking the HWT title while freshman Nathan Wynsma took second at 164 pounds.  

No. 13 UW-La Crosse (157 points) captured its fourth straight title followed by No. 15 UW-Whitewater (129.5 points), and No. 24 UW-Eau Claire (108 points). The Pioneers tallied 84.5 points and were followed by UW- Stevens Point (79 points) and UW-Oshkosh (78.5 points). 

No. 4 ranked Rinehart took first at 285 pounds and continued to keep the nation on notice as he pinned three of four opponents. The Pioneer started the day with two wins by pinfall over Ben Gunderson of UW-Stevens Point (Fall 5:51) and Guyon Cyprian of UW-Oshkosh (Fall 4:16). In the semifinal, Rinehart battled to the end against Noah Carter of UW-Eau Claire and won by a 3-0 decision. In the championship bout, Rinehart pinned Dylan Uzumecki of UW-Whitewater (Fall 5:18) and claimed his first career title at a WIAC Championship.  

At 165 pounds, Wynsma competed in his first WIAC Championship and is the first Pioneer freshman to advance to a first-place match at the conference championship since Scott Arneson's 2016 title at 133 pounds. Wynsma received a bye in the first round and pinned his first opponent, Ryder Sigler of UW-Whitewater (Fall 2:37). Advancing to the championship round after a 12-3 major decision in the semifinal over Nick Fetzner of UW-La Crosse, Wynsma took second place as Mitchell Hertel of UW-La Crosse claimed the title with a 6-2 decision. 

Two Pioneers took fourth place at the championship. Junior Luke Pradel took fourth at 133 pounds and advanced to the third-place match by outscoring his opponents 15-9 and finished the day with a 7-2 decision in favor of Thomas Severson of UW-Eau Claire.  Sophomore Alexander Strueder took fourth at 157 pounds and his one loss prior to a 5-2 decision loss in the third-place bout was by sudden victory in the semifinal to Nolan Hertel of UW-La Crosse. 

Two other Pioneers, sophomore Isaac Wiegel at 125 pounds and junior Nick Dado at 174 pounds, finished fifth. 

Sophomore Caleb Radtke at 133 pounds and Jacob Sklenar at 184 pounds each finished sixth in their weight classes while Sklenar was named to the All-Sportsmanship Team.  

Results

125: Isaac Wiegel (21-12) placed 5th and scored 10.5 team points.

133: Luke Pradel (24-14) placed 4th and scored 11.0 team points.

Caleb Radtke (12-15) placed 6th.

141: Chase Katzenmeyer (11-12) place is unknown.

149: Garrett Ruckdashel (10-11) place is unknown and scored 1.0 team points.

157: Alexander Strueder (20-8) placed 4th and scored 10.5 team points.

Coy Ruess (13-11) place is unknown.

165: Nathan Wynsma (21-3) placed 2nd and scored 16.0 team points.

Adam Beine (12-10) place is unknown.

174: Nick Dado (20-14) placed 5th and scored 9.5 team points.

Peter Driscoll (10-14) place is unknown.

184: Jacob Sklenar (12-14) placed 6th and scored 5.5 team points.

197: Max Schmitz (12-15) place is unknown and scored 0.0 team points.

285: Lucius Rinehart (21-1) placed 1st and scored 21.5 team points.

Up next, the Pioneers will compete at the NCAA Regional on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 28-29.