WHITEWATER, Wis. – The UW-Stevens Point men's wrestling team went toe-to-toe with UW-Whitewater, coming up just short in a 20-18 dual defeat to open the season on Friday.
 
Senior Matt Berlin (Oak Creek, Wis./Oak Creek) remained unbeaten in the past two seasons with an 8-3 decision victory at 133. Colin Barker (Davis, Ill./Dakota) put the Pointers in front with a 5-4 decision win at 141, picking up the victory with a riding-time point.
 
Luke Smiley (Plainfield, Ill./North) won a 9-4 decision at 157, the start of a three-match streak for the Pointers.  Brandon Peckham (Plainfield, Wis./Tri-County) picked up a 4-3 decision, also earning the victory with a point on riding time.
 
Ben Kasten (Reedsville, Wis./Brillion) picked up the Pointers' only win by fall on the night, pinning his opponent at 4:33, to give UWSP an 18-7 lead.  The Warhawks closed out the dual with three-straight wins to tip the tide in UWW's favor at the end.
 
The Pointers face UW-Platteville in conference dual action on Tuesday (Feb. 9).  Start time is set for 6:00 p.m. in the Multi-Activity Center.
 
UW-Stevens Point at UW-Whitewater
125: Alex Barbarise (UWW) d. Blaze Thurber (Nekoosa, Wis./Nekoosa) (UWSP) by decision, 7-1
133: Matt Berlin (Oak Creek, Wis./Oak Creek) (UWSP) d. Ethan Pogorzelski (UWW) by decision, 8-3
141: Colin Barker (Davis, Ill./Dakota) (UWSP) d. Josiah Lynden (UWW) by decision, 5-4
149: Jake Burford (UWW) d. Isaiah Baker (White Bear Lake, Minn./White Bear Lake) (UWSP) by major decision, 16-6
157: Luke Smiley (Plainfield, Ill./North) (UWSP) d. Isaiah Mohmed (UWW) by decision, 9-4
165: Brandon Peckham (Plainfield, Wis./Tri-County) (UWSP) d. Tommy Hoy (UWW) by decision, 4-3
174: Ben Kasten (Reedsville, Wis./Brillion) (UWSP) d. Chad Richards (UWW) by fall, 4:38
184: Jaritt Shinhoster (UWW) d. Taran Holland (Princeton, Wis./Princeton) (UWSP) by fall, 4:33
197: Ryan Vedner (UWW) d. Jerry Lipke (Milton, Wis./Milton) (UWSP) by decision, 5-1
285: Dylan Uzumecki (UWW) d. Ben Gunderson (Shiocton, Wis./Shiocton) (UWSP) by major decision, 11-1
Team Scores: UWW 20, UWSP 18