The UW-Platteville wrestling team hosted Knox College in their home opener with a shutout victory, 44-0, Dec. 2 in the Williams Fieldhouse.

This meet allowed the younger wrestlers to have the chance to shine and develop their skills as nine of the 10 wrestlers made their Pioneer debut.

According to the Sports Information Web site, this was the team’s first shutout since the 41-0 win over Concordia on Jan. 22, 2000.

Photograph by Kate Olsen
Pioneer wrestler Chris Spaude grapples during warm-ups on the mats of Williams Fieldhouse Dec. 2.

The Pioneers prevailed over the Prairie Fire in every weight class making their record 1-1 while Knox College fell to 0-2.

UW-P then wrestled the UW-La Crosse Eagles Dec. 4 in the Williams Fieldhouse. The Eagles came to UW-P ranked fifth in NCAA Division III wrestling, and they proved their skills by defeating the Pioneers in a shutout dual 46-0, making UW-P 1-2 overall.

The Pioneers traveled to MSOE for a tournament Dec. 6 taking third place, losing only to Lakeland College and UW-Oshkosh.

Head wrestling coach Chris Walter believed the Pioneers could have placed higher if some matches went in UW-P’s favor. Having sophomore Cody Weber make his season debut at second place after coming back from the football season helped as well.

“Experience is the best teacher, and the younger wrestlers got the opportunity to show what they have and take pointers from the skills opponents have,” Walter said.

Once again, junior Brad Zellner came away with second place in the 184 pound weight class while Weber also took a second place finish in the 285 pound weight class. Taking fourth in their weight classes were freshman Matt Scott (197), freshman Shaun Flom (149) and sophomore Chris Spaude (133), helping the Pioneers secure their third place finish.

Freshman Alex LeRoy said that all the matches so far have been a learning experience for him and the team is doing as well as possible considering all the people that have been injured so far this season.

The Pioneers are set to dual the UW-Stevens Point Pointers at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 11.