UW-Platteville Grapplers Place Fifth at Wabash Duals

CRAWFORDSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville wrestling team finished fifth at the Wabash Duals on Saturday. 

The Pioneers opened the day by losing to 26^th-ranked Dubuque, 31-9. The Pioneers only victories against the Spartans came from Cole Ferguson at 125-pounds, Abe Graziano at 197-pounds and Cody Soderstrom at heavyweight. Ferguson defeated Nick Rivern, 7-2 as Graziano beat Cody Ortman 9-2 and Soderstrom topped Kyle Fredette 5-1. 

In UW-Platteville's next dual, the Pioneers fell to 25^th-ranked Wabash, 34-15. Freguson pinned  Carter at 2:14. Austin Holland swept Drew Songer, 6-0 at 174-pounds, and Graziano ended his day with a win by forfeit. 

The Pioneers earned their first team victory of the day by manhandling Ohio Northern, 34-6. Ferguson started the dual with a win by forfeit and Tyler Henken earned his first victory of the day in a 7-5 decision over Cody Harting at 141-pounds. Randy Wade won is first match of the duals in a close 5-3 decision over Colt Lovejoy at 165-pounds. Holland continued his solid day by pinning Drandon Howes and LaQuan Hightower won by forfeit at 184-pounds. Sean Yaros received his chance to help out the Pioneers at 197-pounds and didn't let the team down by beating Kody Bellamy in a 7-5 decision. Soderstrom finished the dual by pinning Nathan Davis at 1:41. 

In the fifth-place dual, the Pioneers defeated the Wabash #2 team, 34-15. Ferguson wrapped up his day with a pin and Henken won by major decision, 8-0, over Pat Parham. Aaron Bonnell pinned Boren in his final match of the day at 149-pounds as Wade won by forfeit. Holland won by major decision, 11-3, over Albertson and Hightower finished 2-0 by beating Blake Marlott, 6-3. Yaros grabbed the Pioneers final victory in a 18-2 technical fall. 

The Pioneers return to conference competition on Friday at UW-Oshkosh at 7 p.m.