Pioneers Announce Recruits

By Vanessa Nemitz, UWP Sports Information Student Assistant

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville wrestling recruiting class is an extremely strong group, 11th-year Pioneer Coach Chris Walter announced today.

Among the newcomers for the 2007-08 school year are six state qualifiers and two state champions. They will join a Pioneer team that placed 13th in the NCAA Division III wrestling championships last season.

Coach Walter has compiled a 80-66-3 record in his previous ten campaigns, including 37-23-1 in the tough WIAC.

The recruits include:

*STATE QUALIFIERS (Team and Individuals) / STATE CHAMPIONS*

*Vincent Alber, Rock City, IL/Dakota High School*

3x state place winner … 3rd place sophomore & junior year … state champion senior year … 3x 1st team all conference winner … 165-20 career record … sectional qualifier freshman year … 133lbs … Mech./Electrical Engineering major … son of Pete and Linda Alber.

*Greg Burke, Mineral Point, WI*

2 x state champions, 3rd place career record of 161-14 … team state champions’ senior year … team state runner-ups sophomore year … 2x all conference and all area in football … 165lbs … Undeclared major… son of Tom and Jean Burke.

*Joe Hilby, Hazel Green, WI/Southwestern*

127-33 career record … 2nd place @ state junior year … 3rd place @ state senior year … conference champion senior year with 43-5 record … 186lbs … Undeclared major … son of Glen and Sara Hilby.

*Andrew Padley, Lodi, WI*

senior year sectional qualifier and conference champion … 2006 state team runner-ups … 2007 state team qualifiers … 135lbs … Engineering major … son of Ron and Linda Padley.

*Dillion Pontnack, Lena, IL*

state qualifier 2006 … state runner-up … 152lbs …

*Matt Scott, Monroe, WI*

2 x state qualifier … 4th place senior year … 197lbs … Chemistry … son of Mike and Lori Scott.

*Andrew Skog, Darlington, WI*

91-40 career record … 5th place @ state senior year … 40-9 season record senior year … 125lbs … Engineering major … son of Bill and Mary Skog.

*Chris Spaude, Hartland, WI/Arrowhead High School*

Most courageous wrestler … team state qualifiers 4 years … 142lbs …Engineering major … son of Mike and Cheryl Spaude.

*Cody Weber, Lodi, WI*

state runner-up … team state runner-ups in 2006 … team qualifiers 2007 …

*HIGH HONORS*

*Daron Fuglsang, Baldwin, IA/Maquoketa High School*

2x most dedicated wrestler at Maquoketa H.S. … 140lbs … Building Construction Management major … Kent and Sally Fuglsang.

*Wes Mathieu, Stillman Valley, IL*

over 100 career wins … 4 year starter … 155lbs … Criminal Justice major … son of Phil and Theresa Mathieu.

*Mike Murdaugh, Stratford, WI*

Honorable Mention all-conference … 186lbs … Civil Engineering major …son of Mike and Paula Murdaugh.

*Tim McGill, Lomira, WI*

*Tolga Ergun, Verona, WI*

*Ian McGregor, Wauwatosa, WI*

*Axel Hoogland, Catawba, WI*

*Austin Summers, Hingham, WI*