Wedepohl and Rinehart’s runner-up finishes highlight WIAC Championship  

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville wrestling team competed Friday at the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championship in UW-Eau Claire's McPhee Center.

A pair of second-place finishes from senior Grant Wedepohl and sophomore Lucius Rinehart highlighted the day as the Pioneers finished sixth in a stacked pool of nationally ranked teams. Seven Pioneers placed Friday as UW-La Crosse claimed the championship title for the third year in a row. 

Wedepohl, last season's 184-pound WIAC Champion, advanced to the championship round and earned 14.0 team points as he fell in the final round to UW-Whitewater's Nick Stencel by an 8-1 decision.  Wedepohl found his way to the championship round for the third year in a row with a bye in the first round, 5-3 decision over UW-Eau Claire's Jordan Blanchard in the quarterfinal, and a 2-0 decision over UW-Oshkosh's Colten Cashmore in the semifinal.

Rinehart, who finished third last year at the WIAC Championship, advanced to the final round at 285-pounds and claimed second place in a 2-0 decision favoring UW-La Crosse's undefeated Konrad Ernst.  Rinehart received a bye in the first round, defeated UW-Whitewater's Nick Sundberg by a 4-0 decision in the quarterfinal, and topped UW-Eau Claire's Austin Hakes by a 6-1 decision before the championship round.

Other Pioneers who placed in their weight classes include a fifth place finish at 125-pounds by Dillon Gottschalk, sixth place finish at 133-pounds by Scott Arneson, fifth place finish at 141-pounds by Chase Katzenmeyer, fifth place finish at 149-pounds by Alexander Strueder, and fifth-place at 165-pounds by Garrett Passmore.

The Pioneers will return to action in two weeks at the NCAA Regional on February 22 and 23.