Pioneers take down Pointers, Headlocking Hunger secures over 4,000 pounds for local food pantry

PLATTEVILLE, WIS. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville wrestling team (2-1, 1-1 WIAC) defeated the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (5-2, 0-2 WIAC) Wednesday night in the fifth annual Headlocking Hunger dual in Williams Fieldhouse. The wrestling team won the Headlocking Hunger championship belt while the different Pioneer teams brought in a combined total 4,115.9 pounds of non-perishable food items to be donated to the Pioneer Provisions food pantry on campus.

"It started as a way to support a great cause and rally together while giving people an opportunity to come to a wrestling meet and see what it is all about," said head coach Mike DeRoehn. "Now, it's grown to be this huge competition between the teams which is awesome. The night in all was a great success."

While the Pioneers shined in Headlocking for Hunger off the mat, UW-Platteville dominated on the mat and tallied seven victories over the Pointers in the dual.

The dual started at 125 pounds and sophomore Isaac Wiegel won by forfeit to give the Pioneers an early 6-0 lead. A fall at 133 pounds evened out the score for the Pointers until junior Chase Katzenmeyer won by a 8-2 decision at 141 pounds to reclaim the lead, 9-6. Katzenmeyer was followed by three additional Pioneer decisions. Sophopmore Garrett Ruckdashel won 9-4 at 149 pounds, sophomore Alexander Strueder won 5-1 at 157 pounds, and freshman Nathan Wynsma won 9-4 at 165 pounds to extend the Pioneers' lead to 18-6.

The Pointers' Zack Moon claimed 174 pounds by a 9-3 decision to narrow UW-Platteville's lead to 18-9. Sophomore Jacob Sklenar won by a 6-4 decision at 184 pounds and gave the Pioneers a 21-9 lead as they entered the final two matches of the evening.

Junior Lucius Rinehart took to the mat in the final match of the night after UW-Stevens Point won by pin fall at 197 pounds. Rinehart defeated Noah Wieczorek 11-2 with a major decision and secured the 25-15 victory for the Pioneers.

 The Pioneers will return to action this weekend at the Milwaukee School of Engineering Invite on Saturday, Dec. 7 at 9 a.m.

Wrestling Results

125         Isaac Wiegel (UWP) over Unknown (For.)             

133         Matt Berlin (UWSP) over Luke Pradel (UWP) (Fall 4:07)

141         Chase Katzenmeyer (UWP) over Zane Strubler (UWSP) (Dec 8-2)

149         Garrett Ruckdashel (UWP) over Derek Marten (UWSP) (Dec 9-4)

157         Alexander Strueder (UWP) over Brandon Peckham (UWSP) (Dec 5-1)       

165         Nathan Wynsma (UWP) over Ben Kasten (UWSP) (Dec 9-4)           

174         Zack Moon (UWSP) over Nick Dado (UWP) (Dec 9-3)

184         Jacob Sklenar (UWP) over Austin Stebane (UWSP) (Dec 6-4)

197         Jerry Lipke (UWSP) over Max Schmitz (UWP) (Fall 5:15)  

285         Lucius Rinehart (UWP) over Noah Wieczorek (UWSP) (MD 11-2) 

Headlocking Hunger Results

The Pioneer wrestling team claimed the championship belt for the second year in a row. Each Pioneer team competes against each other to collect the most weight in non-perishable food per student-athlete.

Total weight of all food collected – 4,115.9 lbs.

First Place – Wrestling, 1,601.9 lbs., 51.9 lbs. per student-athlete

Second Place – Cheer and Stunt – 10.54 lbs. per student-athlete

Third Place -Men's Basketball – 10.38 lbs. per student-athlete

Learn more about Pioneer Provisions at: https://campus.uwplatt.edu/dining/pioneer-provisions