Blugolds Triumph for the Third Consecutive Year at the Budd Whitehill National Duals!

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire wrestling squad secured the Budd Whitehill National Duals title for the third straight year with two wins over ranked foes on Saturday. The Blugolds triumphed over No. 19 Ithaca College in the semifinals and then overcame No. 9 Roanoke College in the championship.

HOW IT UNFOLDED

• The fifth-ranked Blugolds (11-1) bested No. 19 Ithaca 37-6 in the semifinals, later achieving a 31-16 win against No. 9 Roanoke in the final dual.
• UW-Eau Claire emerged victorious in all five duals during the tournament by margins exceeding 15 points.
• The Blugolds strung together six consecutive victories to conclude the Ithaca dual. They clinched every bout from 157 pounds and above, achieving three via pins. Preston Carlisle (Jr. – Red Wing, Minn./Cannon Falls), Ian Pepple (Jr. – Hastings, Minn.), and Sloan Welch (So. – Arpin, Wis./Auburndale) all recorded pins in the semifinal win. Top-ranked Jared Stricker (Sr. – High Bridge, Wis./Ashland) defeated 12th-ranked Jackson Gray by decision at 174 pounds, marking the only direct encounter of ranked wrestlers in the dual.
• The championship dual showcased eight nationally ranked competitors from both UW-Eau Claire and Roanoke. No. 6 Izzy Balsiger (Jr. – Chippewa Falls, Wis.) won the sole direct ranked matchup, defeating No. 10 Isaic Paulino by decision at 125 pounds.
• Carlisle produced a significant result at 165 pounds, pinning sixth-ranked David Reid in 2:10.
• Stricker equaled UW-Eau Claire’s all-time record for pins with the 64th of his career when he toppled Roanoke’s Kyle Lee by fall.
• The Blugolds tallied four pins in the championship dual.
• Balsiger (125 pounds), Carlisle (165), and Pepple (197) were all honored as part of the all-tournament team. Carlisle was also named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Wrestler.

UP NEXT

The Blugolds will return to Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) competition as they face UW-Stevens Point on Thursday, January 16. The wrestling match is set to start at 7 p.m.

Stay updated on the Blugolds throughout the season at Blugolds.com or through our app, Blugold Sports, and follow us on social media at Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.