Wiegel and Strueder’s second place finishes highlight WIAC Championship

STEVENS POINT, Wis. – Runner-ups and juniors Isaac Wiegel and Alexander Strueder's second place finishes highlighted University of Wisconsin-Platteville wrestling's day at the 2021 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championship (presented by Culver's) hosted by UW-Stevens Point.

"After all the challenges we've been through this season, on and off the mat, it was nice to see some guys put things together and finish with some high placing, strong performances in one of the premier conferences in the nation," said head coach Mike DeRoehn.

Wiegel advanced to the 133 pounds championship match and finished in second place after #1 nationally ranked Matt Berlin of UW-Stevens Point pinned the Pioneer (5:22). Berlin was also named the WIAC Wrestler of the Meet at the conclusion of the championship. Prior to the first-place match, Wiegel received byes in round one and the quarterfinal before defeating Luc Valdez of UW-Oshkosh by 6-1 decision in the semifinal.

At 165 pounds, Strueder advanced to the championship match to face #3 nationally ranked Grant Zamin of UW-La Crosse where the Eagle won by a 5-0 decision. After receiving a bye in the first round, Strueder pinned Adib Korabi of UW-Oshkosh (4:25) in the quarterfinal and advanced to the first-place match after a 3-1 sudden victory decision over Kaleb O'Reilly of UW-La Crosse.

Senior Luke Pradel finished in the top three at 141 pounds to close out his collegiate career. Pradel had a full day after receiving a bye in the first round. The Pioneer won by an 8-0 major decision over Cooper Peterson of UW-Stevens Point in the quarterfinal, but fell in a narrow 4-3 decision in the semifinal to AJ Schoenfuss of UW-Oshkosh. Pradel wrestled his way back with a 6-0 decision over Tyler Hantsbarger of UW-Eau Claire to advance to the third-place match. Pradel defeated Colin Barker of UW-Stevens Point by a decisive 10-4 decision to take third place.

Senior Nick Dado at 174 pounds was the second Pioneer to advance to the third-place match in their class. Dado had a bye in the first round and won by an 8-5 decision over Nolan Paar of UW-La Crosse before falling to #6 nationally ranked Evan Lawrence of UW-Eau Claire in the Semifinal by an 8-4 decision. Dado wrestled back and defeated Ben Kasten of UW-Stevens Point with an 8-6 decision to advance to the third-place match. The Pioneer took fourth on the podium after Niall Schoenfelder of UW-Eau Claire pinned Dado (5:40).

Senior Max Schmitz ended the day with a victory in the 197 pounds fifth-place match when he pinned Jackson Schichel of UW-Eau Claire (1:54). Freshman Caden Fry also took home fifth place when the Pioneer pinned Reid Lawrence of UW-Eau Claire (3:35) wrestling at 157 pounds.

Overall, UW-Platteville scored 77.5 team points and finished fifth place. Number 5 nationally ranked UW-La Crosse took home the team title with 168 points scored while #14 UW-Eau Claire took second with 141.5 team points.

Click here to visit the WIAC Championship (presented by Culver's).