EAU CLAIRE, Wis. - Four Warhawk wrestlers placed in the Blugold Open hosted by UW-Eau Claire Saturday. Taylor Hildenbrandt led the way finishing third in the 184 pound weight class followed by fourth place finishes by Andrew Pettit (Hoffman Estates, IL/Hoffman Estates) and Angel Botzoc (Marengo, IL/Marengo) at 174 and 184 pounds respectively and TJ Decker (Pewaukee/Pewaukee) was fifth at 174 pounds. 

Complete Results

Hildebrandt, one of three Warhawks wrestling at 184 pounds, opened the competition with a bye. He followed with a 6-3 decision over Luther's Matthew Chlebeck. Hildebrandt fell to Mike Kelly (unattached from UW-Parkside) 6-1 to move into the battle for third where he would face teammate Angel Botzoc (Marengo, IL/Marengo). Botzoc opened his first tournament as a Warhawk with a 10-0 major decision over St. Olaf's Hugh Ellerman. He followed with a 7-1 decision over James Nelson of the University of Minnesota-Mankato before falling to eventual 184 pound champion, Tom Teigen of Augsburg by 6-0 decision. In the third place match, Hildebrandt came out on top by 3-1 decision. George Gonzalez (Antioch, IL/Antioch) went 1-2 in the 184 pound bracket, falling in the consolation championship by 10-7 decision to Augsburg's Miles Hammerlund.

UW-Whitewater had four wrestlers compete in the 174 pound bracket. Mitchell Elmer (Stillwater, MN/Stillwater), Decker, Pettit and Jordan Newman (Blaine, MN/St. John's Military Academy) all won their first matches of the day to advance. Pettit won by sudden victory 7-5 over Nick Jazdzewski (Luther) in his second match of the day. He moved into the battle for third after falling by 7-6 decision to Jake Stilling (unattached-Wisconsin) in the semifinal. Pettit took fourth after losing a 5-2 decision to Luther's Eric Moreno. Decker and Elmer met in their third matches of the day with Decker winning by 7-0 decision to advance to the fifth place bout. Decker topped Jazdzewski by 3-2 decision to finish fifth. 

Five more Warhawks competed in the Blugold Open including Anthony Reyes (Fontana, CA/Etiwanda) (0-2 at 125 pounds), Corey Meyer (Cary, IL/Cary-Grove) (1-1 at 141 pounds), Conor Fussner (Helenville, IL/Lakeside Lutheran) (1-2 at 157 pounds) and Justin Birschbach (Fond du Lac/Fond du Lac) (1-2 at 197 pounds).

UW-W will wrap up the regular season by hosting UW-Parkside Thursday, February 13. Time has yet to be determined. The Warhawks will compete in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championships hosted by UW-La Crosse Saturday, February 15. 


AK/pmp