Three Pioneers punch their ticket to the NCAA National Championships
EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville wrestling team is sending three Pioneers to the National Championships for the first time since 2018. The Pioneers took fourth out of 18 teams after two days of competition at the Upper Midwest Regionals, hosted by UW-Eau Claire in the McPhee Physical Education Center. Tyler Hannah, Isaac Wiegel and Zach Thompson all qualified to wrestle at the NCAA DIII National Championships by finishing in the top three of their weight classes.
EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville wrestling team is sending three Pioneers to the National Championships for the first time since 2018. The Pioneers took fourth out of 18 teams after two days of competition at the Upper Midwest Regionals, hosted by UW-Eau Claire in the McPhee Physical Education Center.
UW-Platteville scored 113 team points and finished behind Regional Champion Augsburg University (163.5), UW-Eau Claire (143) and UW-La Crosse (133.5).
Tyler Hannah, Isaac Wiegel and Zach Thompson all qualified to wrestle at the NCAA Division III National Championships by finishing in the top three of their weight classes.
Hannah highlighted the Pioneers' performances with a semifinal upset over the No. 1 ranked Beau Yineman of UW-Oshkosh in overtime. The Pioneer then secured the 197-pound title after a medical forfeit win over Bentley Schwanebeck of Augsburg.
At 125 pounds, Wiegel secured his spot at Nationals with a third-place match win by fall (6:52) over UW-La Crosse's Brandon Murphy after having to wrestle back following an 8-4 decision loss in the semifinal Saturday morning.
Thompson was forced to wrestle back for a third-place finish after a narrow 4-3 decision loss to the eventual 133-pound champion one match shy of the title match. The Pioneer won by a 3-2 decision and then 6-3 decision in the third place match to secure a spot at the national meet.
Five other Pioneers placed on the podium with Brock Parker coming up just short of qualifying for nationals as he finished fourth at 149 pounds.
A trio of Pioneers finished in fifth place. Zach Licht at 141 pounds, Nick Dado at 174 pounds and Brett Schoenherr at 285 pounds won their fifth-place matches while Alexander Strueder finished seventh at 165 pounds.
The 2022 NCAA Division III National Championships, hosted by the American Rivers Conference, at the Alliant Energy Powerhouse in Cedar Rapids, Iowa will take place on Friday March 11 and Saturday March 12. Tickets are available here.
