WIAC thriller against No. 7 Warhawks ends by tiebreaker

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville wrestling team opened its WIAC schedule Thursday night in Williams Fieldhouse against No. 7 ranked UW-Whitewater. The rivals tied 16-16 with each team winning five bouts, but the Warhawks slipped away with the one-point win be means of a 53-46 match point tiebreaker. 

UW-Platteville, ranked 18^th in the National Wrestling Coaches Association, moved its season record to 3-2 (0-1 WIAC) while the Warhawks improve to 2-0 (2-0 WIAC). The Warhawks maintained a narrow lead for most of the night, but the Pioneers tied the competition 13-13 after the 184 pounds match and just before the 197 pounds bout which featured two top-8 wrestlers. 

The 125 pounds bout opened the night's wrestling and UW-Whitewater was first on the board as an escape in the third period gave John Fortugno a slim 5-4 advantage over Nolan McKittrick. 

At 133 pounds, Zach Thompson bookended a pair of takedowns around a near fall in the first period. The No. 3 ranked Thompson added another takedown late in the third to win by an 11-2 major decision for the Pioneers to take a 4-3 lead in the dual. 

The Warhawks responded and tacked on back to back victories  with an 11-5 decision  and 11-3 major decision in favor of  No. 8 ranked Jake Burford to  lead 10-6 after four bouts. 

At 157 pounds, Aiden Brosinski gave the Pioneers exactly what they needed going into an intermission. Brosinski defeated Hunter Rudzinski and tallied takedowns in the first period and second periods to defeat Rudzinski. 

UW-Whitewater took the next one at 165 pounds by a 10-3 decision to extend their lead to 13-7. 

With pressure mounting, Nathan Wynsma tallied a first period  takedown to break out to an early lead at 174 pounds. With Wynsma's 6-3 decision, the Pioneers drew within three points of the Warhawks with three weights remaining. 

Evan Frisque's 5-3 advantage added three more team points for the Pioneers to tie the dual for the first time of the night 13-13. 

No. 1 ranked  Jarritt Shinhoster made his way to the circle to face No. 8 Tyler Hannah at 197 pounds. Hannah battled, but fell 5-0 to Shinhoster for UW-Whitewater to reclaim a narrow 16-13 lead, leaving the pressure on 285 pounder and No. 14 ranked  Brett Schoenherr. 

Both Schoenherr and Shelby Jones registered just one escape in the first three periods. It took until a late escape in the third overtime for UW-Platteville to emerge with the final three team points to tie the match 16-16. 

The Pioneers will return to action on Saturday, Dec. 3 at the MSOE Invite. Wrestling stats at 9 a.m.