GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - The UW-Stevens Point wrestling team notched three victories on their trip to Texas after the New Year, tallying victories against New Mexico Highlands, Colorado State-Pueblo and Oklahoma City University at the Lone Star Duals held at the South Grand Prairie High School.

In the Pointers first match-up of the day against Nebraska-Kearney, ranked No. 3 in Division II, Jered Kern (Mosinee/Mosinee) (Mosinee), Chase DeCleene (Ashwaubenon/Ashwaubenon) (Ashwaubenon) and Ben Engelland (Neenah/Neenah) (Neenah) tallied victories but it was not enough, as the Division II Lopers pulled away for the 33-12 victory.

Against Colorado State University - Pueblo, the Pointers gave the Thunderwolves, another NCAA Division II school, all they could handle, as Mileski, Kern, Wozniak, Engelland and Gregory all tallied victories in the Pointers 25-19 victory.  Mileski and Gregory both recorded pins in the match and Kern boasted a technical fall (17-0) at 5:24.

Against New Mexico Highlands University, the third DII opponent of the day for the Pointers, UWSP came out firing, notching victories in every weigh class except two en route to the 39-9 performance. Highlights included DeCleene notching his third victory of the tournament, a 23-7 victory over Tyler Davey and Jake Wozniak (Stanley/Stanley-Boyd)'s (Stanley) pin of Jarrod Purvis in :51 seconds. Kern and Engelland also recorded pins in the team victory.

Against the Bronchos of Central Oklahoma, ranked No. 6 in Division II, Joe Mileski (Gladstone, MI/Gladstone) (Gladstone, Mich.), Kern, Wozniak and Chad Gregory (Lawton, OK/Lawton) (Lawton, Ok.) all tallied wins but UWSP came out on the losing end, falling 25-16.

In their final match of the duals against Oklahoma City University, an NAIA opponent ranked No. 10 in the nation, the Pointers registered six victories including a pin at 2:00 by Engelland and an 8-6 victory by Gregory at 285 to secure the victory and the second win of the trip.

Overall, Kern finished a perfect 5-0, recording one pin. Mileski, Engelland and Wozniak all finished 4-1 on the day.  Kern also finished as the Non-Division I Outstanding Wrestler from the lower weights.

Head Coach Johnny Johnson also notched his 100th victory at UWSP on the trip, becoming just the second head coach in Pointer wrestling history with 100 victories. Marty Loy holds the Pointers all-time record with 125 career dual victories.

The Pointers return to action on Jan. 16 when they travel to UW-La Crosse for a match-up with the 11-time defending WIAC Champion Eagles at 7 p.m.

Nebraska-Kearney
Colorado State
New Mexico Highlands
Central Oklahoma
Oklahoma City

Corrected Colorado State-Pueblo Scoring
125- Mileski- win by fall 1:59
133- Kern- win by tech. fall (17-0) 5:24
141- DeCleene- lost by dec. 10-5
149- Magruder- lost by dec. 7-5
157- Nyenhuis- lost by fall 1:54
165- Wozniak- win by major dec. 17-5
174- Ison- lost by major dec. 11-0
184- Engelland- win by major dec. 14-0
197- Jochem- lost by dec. 6-2
285- Gregory- win by fall 3:50

UWSP 25 CS-Pueblo 19