The regular season comes to a close and we have our last WIAC dual upon us. Stevens Point is hosting the best team in the conference the Lacrosse Eagles. If Lacrosse wins tonight they are the WIAC Dual Champions going 5-0. The Pointers are 1-3 in conference, beating Oshkosh. Lacrosse will have WIAC individual championships next. Stevens Point has another invitational in Dubuque.
Tomorrow’s probable and predictions:
125: Luca Paladino SP over Cole Gentsch LAX technical fall 5-0
- Luca is back and looking better than ever his senior year. I don’t know if it’s the old man strength or he’s seizing the opportunity, but the stock is up on Paladino right now. Wolbert is dangerous if he toes the line, but has been out of competition lately.
133: Wyatt Magalowski LAX over George Ahles SP pinfall 5-6
- These men have not met in competition before. Wyatt should have the skills to get 6 points for the Eagles here. George is a freshman from Mosinee that will get some good mat time and experience here.
141: #12 Talan Schutte LAX over Maddox Rye SP technical fall 5-11
- Talan is much improved this season and should be able to put up a lot of points against Maddox. Rye is hard to pin, he should be able to keep his shoulders off the mat and avoid giving up six.
149: #14 Riese Thornberry SP over Aidan Baum LAX decision 8-11
- These men wrestled at the Pete Wilson and Thornberry won via 7-4 decision. Although Thornberry’s best matchup against a wrestler is normally his first bout, I have faith he can repeat his performance a week later. Aidan is a freshman and Massachusetts prep.
157: Joe Penchi LAX over Deakin Trotzer SP decision 8-14
- These men wrestled at the Pete Wilson Invitational with Trotzer winning by decision. Penchi gets back in the lab, works with the Eagle coaching staff and makes the adjustments to pick up the win tonight. Looking forward to the rubber match at WIACs.
165: #3 Tanner Gerber LAX over Cayden Young SP pinfall 8-20
- Gerber pinned Young at the Pete Wilson with two seconds left in the first. Young has been in the national rankings this season, but is a level below Gerber’s tier. A win over Tanner would be a signature performance for Cayden.
174: #2 Noah Leisgag LAX over Carson Trotzer SP decision 8-23
- This is our matchup of the night! Carson had himself a day, winning the Pete Wilson from the six seed. Trotzer knocked off a number of ranked wrestlers along the way and beat Lacrosse’s Simes in the finals 2-1. Leisgang has been having an impressive season as well. There is no easy matchup here for Trotzer, but he is prepared to battle whoever toes the line.
184: #3 Robert Flege LAX over Easton Hull SP pinfall 8-29
- Hull has been wrestling well lately, winning the Al Hanke Invitational in January. Flege has been on another level and will continue his dominant season tonight. Two great wrestlers, currently on different tiers.
197: #4 Tyler Dormanen LAX over Logan Neitzel SP pinfall 8-35
- Tyler is having the best season of his career. His losses are close decisions to the top guys and he beats everyone he is supposed to. Logan has been having a hot and cold season. He has had some big time wins in conference, even beating an all American. He has also taken some head scratching losses including twice to said all American Pepple of Eau Claire.
285: #10 Markos Mihalopoulos LAX over Jack Callen SP pinfall 8-41
- In his first season as the starter Markos has been impressive. Jack and Markos have never wrestled before. Mihalopoulos will close out a dominant night for the Eagles with six big ones in the premier weight class.
Thank you for reading this far, I will leave you with some words from Dan Gable, “No one’s ever drowned in a puddle of sweat.”
