Photograph by Jessica Vretenar


The wrestling team will have their first non-tournament meet of the season at UW-La Crosse on Dec. 3.

UW-Platteville’s wrestling team had their second tournament Nov. 21, at Concordia University, where 30 schools were represented. The UW-P team had 10 starters and six of them placed. Head coach Chris Walter’s main focus for the meet is to get the team healthy, because a few wrestlers received minor injuries.

“We need to work on being on top and scoring points on top, less time on the mat. We also need to work on driving opponents into the mat,” said head coach Walter. “The guys wrestled tougher competition, and they came and wrestled harder than the last match.”

“We wrestled well against tough competition, just to place in this tournament is pretty good and we had numerous guys place,” said senior Jesse Milks, wrestling at 157 pounds.

Both Walter and freshman Allen Fish, wrestling at 125 pounds, agree that the team needs to work on not falling to the opponent. The Pioneers need to bring the opponent to where they want to be wrestling, something they hope to work on for the upcoming meet versus UW-La Crosse.

According to the D-III National Wrestling Coaches Association, Platteville entered the rankings at 30 on Nov. 17. The team started out strong and is hoping to continue to move their way up in the rankings.

“Come out and support us, it’s nice to have people in the stands cheering us on,” Fish, building and construction management major, said.

The team’s first meet is against UW-L Dec. 3, and their next tournament is Saturday, Dec. 5. Their first home meet is on Thursday, Dec. 10.