The UW-Platteville Pioneer wrestling team hosted Loras College Feb. 6 at the Williams Fieldhouse. After having a slow start, the Pioneers made a valiant comeback, only to fall short against the Loras Duhawks.

After starting off on the wrong foot, the Pioneer wrestlers were facing a 21-0 deficit.

“We needed to generate more movement from the neutral position to the set up position, giving us more scoring opportunities,” head coach Chris Walter said.

Photograph by Connor McCarthy

In the sixth match, senior Ryan Higgins broke the barrier, tallying the Pioneers first win of the evening. Higgins seemed to set a trend with a follow up victories from senior Carsten Carlsen, junior Brad Zellner and freshman Matt Scott.

“We weren’t moving our feet like we should have,” Carlsen said. “We weren’t executing and taking scoring opportunities.”

Scott’s victory cut the Pioneers’ deficit to 21-18. In the end, the Pioneers fell short with a final score of 26-18.

“We need to keep practicing and work hard to keep momentum for this upcoming week,” Scott said.

Third ranked junior Jesse Milks was set to face fourth-ranked junior, Erik Hanson, during the home match but due to illness, Milks was unable to participate.

The UW-P wrestling team will look to improve their 3-4 record, hosting UW-Whitewater at the Williams Fieldhouse at 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 13.

“Whitewater is going to be tough and difficult to beat,” Carlsen said. “These next few weeks are very crucial and this is crunch time. We have to perform well from here on out if we want to go to nationals.”

“I want our guys to stay healthy and focus on the final stretch of the season,” Walter said.

The WIAC conference championship will be held Sunday, Feb. 22 in Oshkosh.