WIAC Preview 2012

Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference – 16 qualifiers

Sunday, February 26, 2012 at UW-Whitewater
Returning Qualifiers/All-Americans:
Deluca (Oshkosh, 133), Mileski (Stevens Point, 133), Sheley (Lax, 5th, 133), Frederickson (Whitewater, 133), Yewah (Lax, 1st, 141), Sarbacker (Whitewater, 149), Schulte (Stevens Point, 165), Schmitz (Lax, 3rd, 174), Dickerson (Whitewater, 174), Engelland (Oshkosh, 184), Latella (Whitewater, 5th, 197), Mayer (Lax, 6th, 285)

While La Crosse is still the favorite, as they have been for years, Whitewater is starting to close the gap and has an upset on their minds. Each team brings back numerous qualifiers. La Crosse features four returning All-Americans including former champs Yewah and Schmitz. Both will be favored to return to the national finals in what amounts to a home tournament for the Eagles. Whitewater brings back just one All-American but three other qualifiers. They have augmented their lineup quite a bit since last year with the emergence of Sutter, Gibson, and the 3rd ranked Anderson at 285. In a six team tournament, the deepest team usually wins, as its it important to score points at all ten weights to have a chance. Oshkosh has a strong team with a few outstanding individuals and will likely lock down third place, while Platteville and Stevens point have some individuals who will do well.

125 lbs.
d3wrestle.com Ranked Wrestlers: Mueller (Oshkosh, 8th), Sutter (WW, 9th)
A pair of top ten wrestlers make this a weight where there is likely to be a wildcard. Mueller is back at his natural weight this year and has won 32 matches to earn his #8 ranking heading into the postseason. Right behind him, however, is a recent addition to the Whitewater lineup in Sutter. Sutter is just 7-0, but he has made his short time in the lineup count and could end up as the champ here. Fabry (SP) is the only other predicted entry with a winning record.

133 lbs.
d3wrestle.com Ranked Wrestlers: Wunnicke (Platteville, 2nd), Sheley (Lax, 4th), Frederickson (WW, 6th), Mileski (SP, HM)
This is one of the top weights in the conference with three top ten wrestlers. It may be a situation where some second place finishers stay home while the 3rd place finisher here gets to go. Wunnicke burst onto the scene this year and has led the Division in falls and the new dominance rankings. Sheley was an All-American last year, while Frederickson qualified. Mileski and Deluca (Oshkosh) also were at the tournament last year, but they migth be left behind by the three ranked wrestlers.

141 lbs.
d3wrestle.com Ranked Wrestlers: Yewah (Lax, 1st), Kust (SP, Contender)
After all that talent across the board at 133, it seems to be concentrated at the top at 141. Yewah has won a pair of NCAA titles and looks to be a pretty heavy favorite for a third. He has not been in any danger of losing to a DIII opponent this year and it will be a suprise if someone else is on top of the podium next month. Kust is the next best here, though Yewah beat him 22-8 in their last matchup. He did beat Keeter (Augsburg) recently, so that gives him some hope for a wildcard.

149 lbs.
d3wrestle.com Ranked Wrestlers: Sarbacker (WW, 6th), Dorn (Lax, Contender)
Sarback moved down to 149 this year, and it has paid off with a top ten ranking. He has not wrestled much, but when he has, he has beaten some good wrestlers like Strausbaugh (Wabash) and Quiros (Augustana). The next step for him will be getting on the podium after qualifying last year. Dorn and Schrupp have are both at 149 for La Crosse, so we will see who gets the nod. Either has the talent to pull an upset. Quintana (Oshkosh) has 22 wins but has not wrestled in a month, so put him down as a maybe. Seidler (EC) also has 20 wins.

157 lbs.
d3wrestle.com Ranked Wrestlers: Kulchytskyy (Oshkosh, 2nd), Strobel (SP, Contender), Lewis (Lax, Contender)
Kulchytskyy was cruising until a recent setback against Ponce (Augsburg), but he is still a likely #2 seed at the NCAA Championships and could take the whole thing with his varied arsenal of well-placed attacks. Strobel and Lewis have had nice seasons to this point, but it is a pretty big step down from Kulchytskyy to those two. Maertz (Platteville) and Schmidt (WW) could also be in the mix to place.

165 lbs.
d3wrestle.com Ranked Wrestlers: Gibson (WW, 8th)
Gibson has wrestled a full schedule, getting over 40 matches in already and winning the Wheaton tournament. He rides a 17 match winning streak into the tournament and seems likely to carry that streak into the NCAA championships. Schulte (SP) is a 2x qualifier who has had a subpar season and even has a losing record right now. He does, however, have postseason experience. Kontizer (Oshkosh) has wrestled a pair of close losses against Gibson and could be a finalist at this weight as well.

174 lbs.
d3wrestle.com Ranked Wrestlers: Schmitz (Lax, 2nd), Schiferl (Oshkosh, Contender), Conat (SP, HM)
Schimtz is 21-1 with his only loss coming to top-ranked Doliscar (Ithaca) at the National Duals. He has wrestled close wins with Schiferl and Conat, but he has the pedigree to win with 1st and 3rd place national finishes already to his name. Dickerson (Ww) was a qualifier last season but has had an up and down year. Schiferl split with Cross (Messiah) at Wheaton which could help build his case for a wildcard if Schmitz wins as expected.

184 lbs.
d3wrestle.com Ranked Wrestlers: Dwyer (WW, 6th), Engelland (Oshkosh, 7th), Miller (Lax, Contender), Rieckhoff (EC, HM)
This is another deep weight in the conference Engelland was a wildcard selection last season, but one of his two losses was to Dwyer. The other was to the #3 ranked Rau (Elmhurst). Dwyer has a couple more losses, but only to the wrestlers ranked 3rd, 4th, and 5th. His other losses are to non-DIII competition. Miller and Rieckhoff are a step down from the top two but will be competitive to place, though it seems like only the top two will qualify.

197 lbs.
d3wrestle.com Ranked Wrestlers: Latella (WW, 10th), Scott (Platteville, Contender), Wozniak (SP, Contender), Strickland (Lax, Contender)
Just like 184, it is a deep weight that could result in multiple qualifiers. All-American Latella is the only one in the top ten, but he only started wrestling this year in January, sot here could be some residual rust from the layoff. He did beat both Strickland and Wozniak, so he may be rounding into shape for another March run. Scott has a good record but was last seen medically forfeiting out at Wheaton and has not competed since. Wozniak beat Strickland in a dual, so this could be an interesting weight.

285 lbs.
d3wrestle.com Ranked Wrestlers: Anderson (WW, 3rd), Mayer (Lax, 7th), Cuadra (SP, HM)
Mayer was an All-american last year, but is a pretty clear #2 seed in the WIAC behind Anderson. Even though Mayer’s record isn’t stellar, he has wrestled a very tough schedule and seen a lot of top competition. Anderson, an NJCAA All-American, does have a great record, losing only the #2 Hesson (Mount Union) in Division III to earn his #3 ranking as he closes out his career. Both of those guys should make it to La Crosse. Cuadra or LaPlante (Oshkosh) could finish third, but are unlikely to push the top two.