MT. VERNON, Iowa – A group of University of Wisconsin-Platteville wrestlers competed at Cornell College's Cliff Keen-Mike Duroe Invite Saturday. As a team, the Pioneers finished 8-of-16 teams while four wrestlers placed as individuals.
Freshman Kasey Ross competed at 184 pounds and finished second overall. In the Pioneer's first match, Ross defeated Kaden Kaiser of Iowa Weslyan by technical fall (16-0). Ross won the next two by back-to-back decisions, defeating Wartburg's Zak Kozumplick 7-0 and then Cornell's Cael Mclaren 4-1 in the semifinal. Wrestling against No. 11 nationally ranked Tristin Westphal of Coe College, Ross suffered his only loss of the day by major decision (11-3) to finish runner up.
At 165 pounds, Matt Rogge took third place overall winning his first bout by technical fall over Loras' Andrew Herbst (18-0). Casey Allen of Cornell defeated Rogge by 3-0 decision in the semifinal, but the Pioneer bounced back with a big 18-0 technical fall victory in the third place match.
No. 10 nationally ranked Brett Schoenherr finished third overall at 285 pounds. The senior pinned his first two opponents, Hunter Gorecki of Augsburg (2:52) and Tomas Takeda of Augustana (4:26). The Pioneer battled to win in sudden victory over Simpson's Colton Kinnison (3-1) to advance to the semifinal. A 3-0 setback against Luther's Walter West placed Schoenherr in the third place bout where the Pioneer defeated Wartburg's Eli Pannell by 6-4 decision.
The final Pioneer to place was Justin Warmowski in the 165 pound bracket. After a 4-3 loss in the first round, Warmowski won by 4-0 decision over Patrick Chambers of Coe. Loras' Andrew Herbst forfeited the next bout and Warmowski pinned teammate Marty Koenig (1:40) in the following match. Carter Proffitt defeated Warmowski by 4-2 decision, but the Pioneer finished strong defeating Breden Hendel by 10-1 major decision to claim seventh place.
For a list of full results, click here.
The Pioneers return to action on Friday, Jan. 20 when they take on No. 3 ranked UW-La Crosse at La Crosse at 7 p.m.
