Wrestlers take fifth
Team sends one to nationals
Erick Horrmann
Issue date: 2/20/06 Section: Sports
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The Blugolds finished fifth out of the seven schools. The team fell behind UW-La Crosse, 159, UW-Stevens Point, 119, UW-Whitewater, 84, and UW-Platteville, 78. Scoring 72 points, the 'Golds defeated UW-Oshkosh, 60, and Lawrence University, 58.
Senior Derek Sikora was the only Blugold to place first in his weight class at the meet Sunday.
"I feel that I wrestled pretty well," Sikora said. "I feel pretty confident about Nationals. If I wrestle well, it should be my turn to come away with the win."
Sikora is ranked first nationally in the 165-pound weight class for Div. III.
"(Sikora's matches) went great," coach Don Parker said. "He wrestled another nationally ranked player (Dorn, No. 7 in Div. III) in the finals, and if he can keep the same intensity up, he could be the first Eau Claire national champion."
The team's goal for the meet was to place fourth or better. They came just shy of that goal by placing fifth, but the team is young and had plenty of growth through the season, Parker said.
"I think we did better as the year went on," he said. "We are very young, with only two seniors. It looks good for the future."
Junior Justin Mc Auly also wrestled an impressive match, placing second, and was the only Blugold besides Sikora to place in the top three within his weight class.
The team is excited not only for Sikora to end his season on a high note but for next season, because the team is only losing two seniors, Mc Auly said.
"From last year, we improved a lot," he said. "We filled up our bench, and there is only room for improvement. Our goal is to get within the top three (of the WIAC Conference Championships) next year."