Pioneers Take Third at Jim Fox Invite

DUBUQUE, Iowa – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville wrestling team opened its 2023-24 season on Saturday with a third-place finish at the University of Dubuque's Jim Fox Invite. Junior David Cushman claimed the 157-pounds title while junior Ryan Pothoof captured the 184-pounds title. 

The Pioneers had seven wrestlers finish in the top three of their brackets. As a team, UW-Platteville totaled 102.5 points and was eight points from second place while Chicago University led the five competing teams with 143 points. 

Cushman started the day off with a 9-6 decision over Evan Atchley of Dubuque. The Pioneer then posted back-to-back major decisions (18-6, 18-9) in the semifinal and first place matches. 

Pothoof opened the invite with a 12-0 major decision and 8-3 decision in the first two rounds. After a bye, Pothoof dropped an 8-2 decision to Tyler Joseph of Chicago, but finished the day by pinning freshman teammate Garrett Waefler (0:49). Waefler finished the day in fifth place.  

Sophomore Carter Kruckeberg took home second place at 157 pounds. Kruckeberg pinned Kaidin Osland of Eureka (2:58) to start the day and defeated Garrett Johnson of Dubuque by 7-2 decision before falling to Cushman in the first-place match. 

Taking second at 197 pounds, sophomore Alex Ashauer stacked back-to-back major decision (14-0, 12-3) before falling by tech fall (17-1) in the final round to Cade Creighton of Chicago. 

Also at 197 pounds, sophomore Cal Ries overcame a 16-1 technical fall to Creighton in the opening round and then loss to Ashauer to finish third. Ries pinned Michael McCutcheon of Dubuque (4:55) in the final round. 

Freshman Chris Karbash made his collegiate debut with a third-place finish at 133 pounds. Karbash finished the day strong, after being pinned (3:26) in his first bout, by stacking back-to-back technical falls (16-0, 18-1) against Alexander Needham of Dubuque and Bernie Cox of Eureka. 

Sophomore Kyler Neuberger wrapped up the top-three finishes for the Pioneers in the 149-pounds bracket. Neuberger dropped a 15-11 decision to Brendan Connolly early on, but bounced back and pinned Darian Diax (2:23) in the third round. Ryan Fleck of Chicago took the next bout by 8-5 decision and Neuberger finished the day with a win by medical forfeit in the final round.  

Other wrestlers competing on Saturday include freshman JJ Poarch (6^th – 125), Eduardo Tostado (7^th – 125), freshman Trent DuMont (8^th – 141), freshman Cole Smith (5^th – 165), freshman Blake Delsman (4^th – 174) and freshman Jackson Kirsch (285). 

The Pioneers will return to action next Saturday, Nov. 11 when they travel to the Luther Open in Decorah, Iowa.