Pioneers sweep Pointers

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville wrestling team swept the UW-Stevens Point Pointers 40-0 Wednesday night in Williams Fieldhouse. Aiden Brosinski and Brett Schoenherr walked away with pins while Kasey Ross' tech fall and major decisions by Nolan McKittrick and Kyler Neuberger led the way for the dominant performance. 

Sophomore McKittrick opened the night for the Pioneers at 125 pounds and led 4-0 after two periods. A takedown took it to a 7-0 advantage and a stalling call in the final minute extended the lead to 8-0 for the major decision. 

Freshman Alec Schmact  won by 4-2 decision with a takedown in the first and reversal in the third at 133 pounds. Senior Zach Licht walked away from the 141 match with a 8-2 decision tallying up reversals in the first and second periods and a takedown in the third to take the UW-Platteville lead to 10-0. 

Neuberger added another Pioneer takedown to open scoring in the 149 pound bout and added a second in the final minute of the first period. Two near fall calls in the third period and riding time took the freshman's win to a 10-1 major decision. 

Freshman Aiden Brosinski pinned Alex Gundrum in 1:40 at 157 pounds to take the team score to 20-0 at the midway checkpoint. 

Junior Coy Ruess came back from a 2-0 deficit. Both wrestlers exchanged escapes and Ruess escaped again to close in 3-2. The Pioneer then fought to bring his Pointer opponent back into the mat and the work paid off as Ruess tallied a takedown to take a 4-3 lead and win the 165 pounds match.  

At 174 pounds,  Number 6 nationally ranked Nathan Wynsma kept the steam rolling for the Pioneers. Two in the first and another takedown in the second with a stalling call led to the Pioneer's 5-0 advantage going into the final period. An escape and riding time gave the veteran wrestler a win by 7-2 decision. 

Freshman Kasey Ross opened up the 184 pound bout with a quick takedown and added back-to-back four-point near falls to jump to a 10-0 lead after the first period. The Pioneer added four more at the 4:28 mark to win by tech fall and extend UW-Platteville's lead to 31-0 with two teammates left to wrestle. 

Number 14 ranked Tyler Hannah led 5-0 after the first two periods of the 197 pound bout, tallying two takedowns. The Pointer closed in to cut the sophomore's lead to 5-3 but a stalling call and riding time secured the 7-3 decision. 

With the sweep riding on the final match of the night, Number 8 nationally ranked Schoenherr and Karson Richardson opened the 285 pound bout with a fast-paced start, leaving the match tied 0-0 after one period.  The senior tallied an escape and takedown in the second period and ended the night with a pin at 4:28 to secure the shutout and 40-0 team win. 

The sweep is a first for the UW-Platteville wrestling program since 2008 when the Pioneers defeated Knox College 44-0. 

The Pioneers will take a break over the holidays and will return to action on Friday, January 6 when they head to the NWCA National Duals in Louisville, KY.