In the last contested match of the evening, UW-Platteville's Ryan Rozek won by pin, lifting the Pioneers to a dramatic 24-22 victory over UW-Eau Claire Friday in Williams Fieldhouse.
The Pioneers led 18-16 heading into the 285-pound match but also were forfeiting the final weight, 125. Thus, the pressure was on Rozek to deliver a five-point technical fall or pin for a Pioneer win. It took 6:27, but Rozek was able to turn Ryan Eckdahl and pin him for the victory.
The Pioneers improved to 3-2 overall and 3-1 in the WIAC, while the Blugolds slipped to 1-12, 0-3.
UWP won the first four matches to build an 18-0 lead. Dane Droessler won by a decision at 133; Zach Chambers via a pinfall at 141; Ryan Higgins by a technical fall at 149; and Carsten Carlson via a majority decision at 157.
The Blugolds stormed back to win the next four matches, cutting the lead to 18-16. Jon Neau, wrestling at 165, was able to extend the Blugolds' Derek Sikora for the full match before falling 16-5. Sikora is ranked second in the country at that weight but was only able to gain the four-point win, instead of a pin or technical fall.
Neau was one of three seniors saluted before the final home match. Jeremy Ascherl and Ben Witmer were also honored.
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UW-Platteville 24, UW-Eau Claire 22
133 - Dane Droessler (UWP) def. Andy Miller 3-1
141 - Zach Chambers (UWP) pinned Tony D'Antuono 3:48
149 - Ryan Higgins (UWP) def. Dustin Follen, tech. fall 21-5
157 - Carsten Carlsen (UWP) def. Josh Kasubowski 9-0
165 - Derek Sikora (UWEC) def. Jon Neau 16-5
174 - Lance Valiquette (UWEC) def. Mike Jackowski 11-4
184 - Joey Miller (UWEC) def. Justin Seichter 15-8
197 - Justin McAuly (UWEC) pinned Ron Runde 4:45
285 - Ryan Rozek (UWP) pinned Ryan Eckdahl 6:27
125 - Sean Zais (UWEC) wins by forfeit
Records: UW-Platteville (3-2, 3-1 WIAC); UW-Eau Claire (1-12, 0-3 WIAC)