Ferguson, Larson lead Pioneers to fifth place at WIAC Wrestling Championships

Written by Colten Bartholomew, UW-Platteville Sports Information Intern 

LA CROSSE, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville wrestling team earned fifth place at the 2014 WIAC Wrestling Championships, hosted by UW-La Crosse, on Saturday.

The Pioneers entered the tournament in the fifth-seed, facing off with UW-Stevens Point in the first round, which the Pointers won 33-12.

Cole Ferguson started the Pioneers off with an 8-2 win over the Pointers' Ryan Osse at 125 pounds. The Pointers swept the rest of the lighter weight classes before Trenton Larson won a 14-9 win over Jaden Boivin.

Nathan Schmitz picked up a pin-fall victory over the Pointers' Craig Brandvold early in the second period.

In their second round matchup, the Pioneers bested the Blugolds of UW-Eau Claire 31-18 to claim fifth place in the tournament.

It was the second time this year that the Pioneers defeated the Blugolds, as UW-Platteville won 29-16 in the teams' Dec. 5 meeting at Williams Fieldhouse.

Ferguson and Zach Stenger picked up forfeit victories at 125 and 133 pounds, respectively, to give the Pioneers a quick 12-0 lead in the dual.

The Blugolds were able to make up nine points in the next two matches before Mike Uliana won at 157 pounds with a third-round fall over UW-EC's Matt Koch.

Larson earned his second decision of the day, defeating Matthew Laugen 4-3. Larson stretched his win streak to five matches, and has won eight of his last 10 matches overall.

Dylan DeShane shook off a decision loss to the Pointers to earn a shutout, major decision victory (10-0) over the Blugolds' Jacob Hoffstatter at 174 pounds.

At 184 pounds, Devin Johnson sealed the Pioneers victory with a first-round pin of UW-EC's Josh Cormican.

The Pioneers will take next weekend off from competition before heading to Minneapolis on March 1 to wrestle in the West Regional, the qualifying meet for the NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships.