Parker takes 149 title as Pioneers finish 9 of 35 teams at Wheaton Invite, three place at Duhawk Open

WHEATON, Ill. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville wrestling team placed ninth of 35 teams in the Pete Wilson Wheaton Invite. Junior Brock Parker claimed the 149 pounds title while three of the seven remaining Pioneers placed at the two-day tournament. 

On Friday, Parker received a bye in the first round and advanced to the quarterfinal by a technical fall (6:12 (19-3)). The Pioneer moved on to Saturday's wrestling after a 5-0 decision in the quarterfinal. A win by 9-4 decision in the semifinal punched a ticket to the first-place match. In a rematch of last week's dual at UW-Whitewater, the Pioneer went on to defeat no. 8 nationally ranked Jake Burford of UW-Whitewater by 5-2 decision.  

At 125 pounds, freshman Nolan McKittrick had a standout performance at the tournament which included three wins by technical fall plus a win by pin fall in four of the first five matches. McKittrick then defeated Tommy Russell of Milikin by a 10-8 decision. The Pioneer advanced to the third-place match by forfeit and was edged 2-1 in a battle against Mac Cafurello of Roanoke to take fourth place at the invite. 

Senior Nick Dado placed at 174 pounds and started the tournament by outscoring opponents 15-8 in the first two rounds before advancing to the semifinal by medical forfeit. Dado had a setback in the semifinal where no. 8 nationally ranked Demitreus Henry of Cortland State won by an 8-2 decision. The Pioneer wrestled back to the third-place match by a 4-1 decision and ultimately fell to WIAC rival Jared Stricker of UW-Eau Claire to take fourth place. 

The last Pioneer to place at Wheaton was junior Peter Driscoll at 165 pounds. The Pioneer took a bye to start the event and then advanced to the quarterfinal by a 6-4 decision. No. 5 nationally ranked Chase Schmidt of UW-Eau Claire won by fall (4:15) in the quarterfinal, but the Pioneer bounced back and won by technical fall (6:26 (18-3)) in the next match. Driscoll ultimately won the seventh-place match by a 7-2 decision. 

On Saturday, another group of Pioneers traveled over the river to Dubuque, Iowa for the Loras "Duhawk" Open where three wrestlers placed in the top six. 

Freshman Alex Witt took fourth at 184 pounds and advanced to the semifinal by outscoring opponents 14-2 in the first two matches and then pulling out a 4-2 win in overtime in the quarterfinal. Witt dropped the next two matches to finish fourth. 

Senior Jacob Sklenar took sixth, also at 184 pounds. The Pioneer suffered an early loss by an 8-6 decision to Dvonjae Hudson of Nothern Illinois, but bounced back pinning the next opponent (1:49) and winning the following match by technical fall (20-1). Sklenar kept the momentum going and following a win by medical forfeit, the Pioneer was matched up once again with Hudson. This time Sklenar won by a 12-7 decision before falling by medical forfeit in the fifth-place match.

Also taking sixth place was sophomore Coy Ruess at 165 pounds. The Pioneer started the day be defeating Buddy Evangelista of UW-Whitewater by technical fall (17-0) and won the next match by a 5-2 decision. Ruess dropped a 14-4 major decision to Upper Iowa's Scott Kellenberger, but bounced back and defeated a fellow teammate by a major 20-6 decision. The Pioneer advanced to the fifth-place match by a 10-9 decision where Ruess fell to Upper Iowa's Cameron Lopez.

The Pioneers will return to action on Tuesday, Feb. 1 when they host UW-La Crosse in the Headlocking Hunger dual in Williams Fieldhouse. The match starts at 6 p.m. and fans can receive free admission by donating two non-perishable items at the door to be donated to the Platteville food bank.