The UW-Platteville Pioneers returned to near full strength and then returned to the victory column twice Wednesday in WIAC duals at UW-Eau Claire.
The Pioneers, who suffered a series of injuries, illnesses and other setbacks during the first semester, beat Lawrence 51-3 and the host Blugolds 30-19. The two wins raised UWP's record to 3-3 overall and 2-3 in WIAC matches.
Coach Chris Walter had national qualifiers Jesse Milks and Ryan Higgins in the same lineup for the first time all year. Miks pinned Lawrence's Matt Meiselman in 2:04 and UWEC's Jon AMes in 1:14 at 157. Higgins was one of six Pioneers to receive forfeits from Lawrence and then pinned Eau Claire's Seth Hendricks in 3:16 at 165.
Carsten Carlsen, who also missed time in the first semester, won twice at 174, and as did Andy Casper at 141, and Brad Zellner at 184. J.J. Froelich won both his 125 matches by forfeit.
Matt Beschta (197) and Adam Mossner (285) each beat their Lawrence counterparts but lost to UWEC wrestlers.
The Pioneers are now off until the North Central Invitational Jan. 16-17.
Platteville 51, Lawrence 3
125 – J.J. Froelich (PL) won by forfeit
133 – Chris Spaude (PL) won by forfeit
141 – Andy Casper (PL) won by forfeit
149 – Tony Norton (LAW) def. Shawn Flom (PL), 5-0
157 – Jesse Milks (PL) pinned Matt Meiselman (LAW) in 2:04
165 – Ryan Higgins (PL) won by forfeit
174 – Carsten Carlsen (PL) won by forfeit
184 – Brad Zellner (PL) won by forfeit
197 – Matt Beschta (PL) def. John Buntrock (LAW), 8-6
HWT – Adam Mossner (PL) pinned Brad Hoh (LAW) in 4:10
UW-Platteville 30, UW-Eau Claire 19
125 – J.J. Froelich (PL) won by forfeit
133 – Andy Miller (EC) major dec. over Chris Spaude (PL), 10-0
141 – Andy Casper (PL) major dec. over Zach Weisenberger (EC), 12-3
149 – Andy Johnston (EC) pinned Shawn Flom (PL) in 3:33
157 – Jesse Milks (PL) pinned Jon Ames (EC) in 1:14
165 – Ryan Higgins (PL) pinned Seth Hendricks (EC) in 3:16
174 – Carsten Carlsen (PL) major dec. over Keith Dawson (EC), 10-2
184 – Brad Zellner (PL) major dec. over Jordan Davis (EC), 11-1
197 – Josh Holforty (EC) pinned Matt Beschta (PL) in 4:06
HWT – Joe Pitsch (EC) def. Adam Mossner (PL), 7-1