The UW-Eau Claire men’s wrestling team competed in the Yellow Jacket Open on Saturday, Nov. 5 in Rochester, Minnesota. 

This was the wrestling team’s first tournament of the season, following their season opener meet on Tuesday, Nov. 1 at UW-Stevens Point. 

There were several wrestlers in the open division, as well as the freshman/sophomore division. 23 wrestlers competed in total, according to blugolds.com.  

Alfred Daniel, a fourth-year student, reached the consolation semifinal in the open division. He received a score of 12-4 major decision, winning his opening match in the consolation bracket. 

Reid Lawrence, a third-year business marketing and management student competed in the freshman/sophomore division. He was the top finisher for the UW-Eau Claire team and took second place in the 165 weight class. 

“I made sure to focus when I was out wrestling and I performed my best,” Lawrence said. “I just made sure to have a good mindset and listen to my coaches.”

According to Brandon Carroll, the assistant coach, the team brought on a lot of new freshmen this year and this was many team members’ first college wrestling tournaments.

“We had a lot of guys that got their first college win this last weekend,” Carroll said. “The guys got a good introduction to what college wrestling looks like and they’re motivated to do what it takes to be competitive at this next level.” 

This is Carroll’s first season with the UW-Eau Claire wrestling team. He said he intends to learn more about this team and build on their recent successes. 

“We are really focused on controlling what we can control and wrestling hard,” Carroll said. “I loved seeing the fight and support from our guys.”

According to both Lawrence and Carroll, there is a lot of healthy competition on this year’s team. One of the challenges the team had to overcome at the last meet was having to wrestle other Blugolds, during the tournament. 

“We have talent at every weight class,” Lawrence said. “It’s a competition just to make the line-up. We have a really strong team this year.”

Carter Schulz, a first-year materials and science engineering student, said that he learned many valuable skills in his first college tournament. 

“Our team works as a whole,” Schulz said. “The upperclassmen get along with the freshmen and they treat us with the same respect they show other team members.” 

Maintaining an uplifting and encouraging environment during meets, practices and team events is a top priority for the team, according to Carroll. 

“It made me excited to see the kind of culture these guys have built on this team,” Carroll said. “We have a lot of hope and potential for this new season.” 

The team brought on ten new freshmen this year, according to blugolds.com.

“I am focused on learning as much as I can,” Schulz said. “These coaches know what they are talking about and they teach us new stuff every day.”

The Blugolds will compete next at 6 p.m. on Nov. 11 at Johnson and Wales, in Providence Rhode Island. 

Allessi can be reached at [email protected]