Final Brackets
PLATTEVILLE – Ben Engelland (Neenah/Neenah) successfully defended his Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title in the 184 pound weight class at the 2011 WIAC Wrestling Championships, hosted by UW-Platteville.
As a team the Pointers finished second at the six team event, collecting 123 team points. UW-La Crosse took home the WIAC championship, their 14th straight. UW-Whitewater finished third.
Engelland, who received a first round by as the top seed, needed just one victory over Andrew Pettit of UW-Whitewater to reach the championship match. There, he squared off against his brother, Sam, from UW-Oshkosh.
Sam took the early 2-0 lead with a takedown in the first period and Ben recorded an escape just four seconds later to make the score 2-1. In the second period Ben recorded another escape to tie the score at 2-2.
In the third Ben recorded a takedown with 16 seconds remaining to cap the dramatic victory and successfully defend his title and defeat his brother.
Elsewhere, Joe Mileski (Gladstone, MI/Gladstone) finished fourth at 125, Jordan Kust (Clintonville, WI/Shawano) finished fourth at 133, Shane Sweeney (Madison, WI/Edgewood) finished fifth at 141, Kris Magruder (Racine/Case) finished as the runner-up at 149 pounds, Ben Strobel (Neenah, WI/Neenah) finished second at 157 pounds, Jordan Schulte (Mosinee, WI/Mosinee) finished as runner-up at 165 pounds, Ryan Conat (New London, WI/New London) finished third at 174 pounds, Chad Gregory (Lawton, OK/Lawton) finished as runner-up at 197 pounds, falling 3-2 in the championship match and Steve Wozniak (Neillsville/Greenwood) finished third at heavyweight, winning his third place match by pin at 4:43.
An All-Sportsmanship Team was chosen for individuals that displayed exemplary sportsmanship throughout the season. It included one member from each school. Named to the squad were: UW-Eau Claire's Will Christ, UW-La Crosse's Adam Sheley, UW-Oshkosh's Alec Hakes, UW-Platteville's Mack Drees, UW-Stevens Point's Coulter Nyenhuis (Gladstone, MI/Gladstone) and UW-Whitewater's Reid Dickerson.
All 10 WIAC champions, along with eight at-large qualifiers, will participate in the NCAA Division III Championship in La Crosse, Wis. The national event will be hosted by UW-La Crosse at the La Crosse Center March 11-12.
Individuals securing at-large spots included: UW-La Crosse's Mitch Artist (184 pounds), UW-Oshkosh's Sam Engelland (184 pounds), UW-Platteville's Mack Drees (125 pounds), UW-Stevens Point's Kris Magruder (Racine/Case) (149 pounds), Chad Gregory (Lawton, OK/Lawton) (197 pounds) and Jordan Schulte (Mosinee, WI/Mosinee) (165 pounds), along with UW-Whitewater's Jake Fredrickson (133 pounds) and James Zarate (285 pounds).
