Tonight, #3 UW-La Crosse hosts #5 Luther in the top matchup of the young season. The teams finished 3rd and 4th respectively in the NCAA tournament last year, and both return considerable firepower augmented by tough freshmen. Barely 50 miles apart, a strong Luther contingent should make the trip to cheer on the Norse. All individual rankings listed are d3wrestle.com rankings.

UW-La Crosse (8-0) is led by returning national champion Josh Chelf, who rolled to the title last year at 174 and has accumulated an 11-1 record with four falls this season. Chelf is ranked #1 at 174, while teammate Tim Palmer is ranked #1 at 165. Palmer finished third at 165 a year ago and is the highest returning placewinner in Division III at his weight. He sits at 12-1 on the season. La Crosse has a third returning All-American in Jordan Kolinski at 133. Ranked 7th in the nation, he placed 6th in the NCAA in 2007 and is currently undefeated. At 285, Dan Laurent was a national qualifier in 2007. Freshman Matt Mauseth has stepped into the gap at 149 left by 2006 national champion Jake Larsen, and he is undefeated at 10-0.

Luther (2-0) lost national champions Nate Hansen and Matt Pyle from the 2006-2007 team, but 2007 All-Americans Alec Bonander and Travis Grawin return. Bonander is currently the 2nd ranked wrestler at 197, while Grawin is ranked 2nd at 141. Also back for the Norse is 285 lb. 2006 All-American (and 2007 qualifier) John Miller. Miller is ranked #3 at 285. In other weights, Freshman contributors include Kevin Bokoski, 8-2 at 133, Jason Pyle, 7-1 at 149.

Matchups of ranked wrestlers could occur at 141, 174, 197, and 285. Possible lineups below:

125:
SR Lee Meirick (Luth) vs. JR Pat Parillo (LX)
Parillo is a former National Qualifier, but he has struggled to a 3-4 record this year. Meirick has been patiently waiting behind a talented group of 125’s from Luther the past few years and is making the most of his chance to start. He has run his record to 8-3 with 5 falls.
Prediction:
Meirick with a surprise fall
Luther 6 W-Lacrosse 0

133:
JR Zach Bartlett (Luther) vs. SR #7 Jordan Kolinski (LX)
Bartlett has been wrestling tough and is a formidable opponent, but he may be overmatched here. Kolinski is very talented, a returning All American, and undefeated this year.
Prediction:
Kolinski by MD
Luther 6 W-Lacrosse 4

141:
SR #2 Travis Grawin (Luth) vs. FR #10 Dan Crone (LX)
Grawin has always had tons of potential and placed 7th at Nationals last year. He also has a knack for sticking his opponents shoulders to the mat with 4 falls this season. Crone is the newcomer with potential of his own and has run his record to 5-1. This could be an interesting match.
Prediction:
Grawin’s experience is too much with a secure decision.
Luther 9 W-Lacrosse 4

149:
JR Yonny Quist (Luther) vs. FR Matt Mauseth (LX)
What an interesting matchup between guys previously not on the national scene. Quist just beat D3 Contender Barber (Simpson) and Mauseth is undefeated with a win over D3 #10 Paramski (Cornell). The question is if Quist’s experience can overcome a very hot young wrestler.
Prediction:
Quist in a back and forth match
Luther 12 W-Lacrosse 4

157:
Fr Lance Serbausek or Dustin Balsley (Luther) vs. FR Jay Milz (LX)
Another important match that, along with 149, could ultimately decide this dual. This weight pairs two first year college wrestlers that have had some early success. Milz is currently 7-6 and has been right there with some of the better wrestlers in Division 3 while the pair from Luther both sport winning records.
Prediciton:
Milz by decision
Luther 12 W-Lacrosse 7

165:
SO Wes Gregg (Luther) vs. SR #1 Tim Palmer (LX)
Here is where the momentum could start to turn in Lacrosse’s favor and if the Norsemen aren’t careful, things could quickly get out of control. Palmer is an explosive wrestler from the feet and an All American. Gregg will have to work hard to keep things close, but Palmer does not pin a lot of people.
Prediction:
Palmer too much in a MD
Luther 12 W-Lacrosse 11

174
SR #9(184) AJ Gregg (Luther) vs. SR #1 Josh Chelf (LX)
Chelf is the defending National Champion and one of the best wrestlers in all of D.3. Gregg has been tough at 184 all season most notably winning the Stevens Point tournament. While he could make things interesting, Chelf has been tough to beat for quite some time.
Prediction:
In a bit of a surprise Gregg keeps it close, but Chelf wins
Luther 12 W-Lacrosse 14

184
JR Nic Barclay (Luther) vs. JR Contender Josh Zabel (LX)
Zabel, listed as a contender, will surely be moving up with some key wins over the likes of All American Jay Figgins (Loras). He’s been behind some studs the past two years and is making the most of his chance to start. This could be a critical outcome.
Prediction:
Zabel by fall
Luther 12 W-Lacrosse 20

197
JR #2 Alec Bonander (Luther) vs. SR Contender Tim Winker (LX)
Depending on the starting weight class, Luther may need to pull things together in the last two weights with momentum going steadily in Lacrosse’s favor. Bonander would be the right guy for the job. A returning All American, he hasn’t wrestled much at just 4-1; if he’s healthy Winker will have his hands full, although Winker is looking strong at 8-1.
Prediction
Can Bonander pick up a classic Luther fall…we don’t think so this time, Bonander by MD
Luther 16 W-Lacrosse 20

285
JR #3 John Miller (Luther) vs. SO #6 Dan Laurent (LX)
Going into the final match both teams should have a chance to win, and you couldn’t ask for a better matchup than these two national caliber wrestlers. Miller has always had the ability to put tough opponents on their backs, racking up 3 falls in the last two National tournaments. The question is can he do it again, or can Laurent take advantage of a Miller mistake?
Prediction:
Miller by fall
Luther 22 W-Lacrosse 20