UW-Platteville wrestlers anxiously awaited their their last match of the season before entering the WIAC Championship.

“I’m looking forward to ending on a high note,” head coach Chris Walter said.

With the team ranked 29th nationally, Walter said he is happy with how the second half of the season turned out.

Individually, wrestler Jesse Milks, senior industrial technologies major, is ranked fourth nationally in the 157-pound weight class.

UW-P wrestlers defeated their rivals UW-Oshkosh 37-10 on senior night.

The four seniors, who were honored at the start of the match, included Andy Casper, Jesse Milks, Brad Zellner and Cory Zuberbier. Both Casper and Milks had pins Friday night.

Taking one tournament at a time, the team has adapted to changes and encountered ups and downs but overall has improved.

The Pioneers placed seventh at the Pete Willson Invite held in Wheaton, Ill. where they competed with 30 teams. As a team, they have posted 1,234 points and allowed only 885 points during the 2009-10 season.
UW-P ends the regular season with a record of 9-5.

“We’ve had a really great year,” Matt Scott, sophomore biology major, said. “We’re progressing toward next year.”

Heading to the WIAC Championship, the team has minor things to fine-tune, mainly particular aspects of technique. Walter intends to have short intense practices to keep his team motivated and in the right frame of mind to accomplish their goals.

Walter hopes to have three to four guys at nationals. The WIAC championships will take place on Sunday, Feb. 21 at UW-Stevens Point.