A fierce battle for first place is expected to erupt when UW-Oshkosh hosts the 54th edition of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Wrestling Championship on Sunday (Feb. 22) in Kolf Sports Center. The event, which was last hosted by UW-Oshkosh in 2000, begins at 10 a.m.

UW-La Crosse has captured the past 11 WIAC titles, but the Eagles' winning streak could be in jeopardy due to the heavy artillery of both UW-Stevens Point and UW-Whitewater. This year's meet also includes wrestlers from Lawrence University, UW-Eau Claire, UW-Oshkosh and UW-Platteville.

UW-La Crosse won last year's championship with 147.5 points, while UW-Stevens Point finished second for the sixth consecutive season with 131.5. UW-Whitewater placed third with 111.5 points, UW-Platteville fourth with 86, UW-Eau Claire fifth with 82.5, Lawrence University sixth with 43.5 and UW-Oshkosh seventh with 42.5.

UW-Whitewater, ranked fifth in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III by the National Wrestling Coaches Association, compiled a 5-0-1 dual meet record against its WIAC opponents during the regular season. The Warhawks' record includes a 28-13 victory over ninth-ranked UW-La Crosse and a 20-20 tie with 10th-ranked UW-Stevens Point.

UW-La Crosse posted a 5-1 dual meet record against its league rivals, including an 18-16 win over UW-Stevens Point. The Pointers finished third in the dual meet listings with a 4-1-1 record, while UW-Oshkosh placed fourth at 3-3, UW-Platteville fifth at 2-4, UW-Eau Claire sixth at 1-5 and Lawrence University sixth at 0-6.

This year's meet features six wrestlers who have combined to win a total of seven championships. The group is led by UW-La Crosse junior Dan Laurent, who has claimed the 285-pound title the past two years. Laurent is attempting to become the fifth wrestler in WIAC history to win the 285-pound weight class three consecutive seasons.

Also back to defend their titles are UW-Whitewater junior Austin Bautista at 141 pounds, UW-La Crosse sophomore Matt Mauseth at 149, UW-Platteville junior Jesse Milks at 157 and UW-La Crosse senior Josh Zabel at 184. Bautista finished second at 141 pounds and Milks second at 157 in 2007.

Another champion returning is UW-Platteville senior Ryan Higgins, who won the 149-pound weight class in 2006. Higgins also earned second-place medals at 149 pounds in both 2007 and 2008.

Other top-three finishers back are Lawrence University senior Tony Norton, who placed third at 149 pounds in 2008, UW-Eau Claire senior Josh Holforty, who placed third at 197 in both 2005 and 2008, and UW-Eau Claire senior Andy Miller, who placed third at 133 in both 2007 and 2008.

Additional top-three finishers returning are UW-Stevens Point senior Jered Kern, who placed second at 133 pounds in 2008 and third at 133 in both 2006 and 2007, UW-Stevens Point senior Chase DeCleene, who placed second at 141 in 2008, UW-Stevens Point senior Jake Wozniak, who placed third at 165 in 2008, UW-Stevens Point sophomore Ben Engelland, who placed second at 184 in 2008, and UW-Stevens Point junior Chad Gregory, who placed second at 285 in 2008.

Rounding out the top-three finishers returning are UW-Whitewater sophomore Max Oldenburg, who placed third at 125 pounds in 2008, UW-Whitewater senior Tom Trieloff, who placed third at 165 in 2007 and third at 157 in 2008, UW-Whitewater senior Pat Nagel, who placed second at 165 in 2008 and third at 157 in 2006, UW-Whitewater junior David Casper, who placed third at 184 in 2008, and UW-Whitewater senior Karl Voeck, who placed third at 184 in 2007.

Host UW-Oshkosh is expected to be led at the championship by junior James Dederich at 165 pounds, freshman Sam Engelland at 174, senior Eli Felts at 184 and freshman Jason Laplante at 285.

Each champion in the 10 weight classes, along with nine at-large performers, will advance to the NCAA Division III Wrestling Championship on March 6-7 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Last year, UW-La Crosse finished second at the national meet, UW-Stevens Point 10th, UW-Whitewater 27th and UW-Eau Claire and UW-Platteville 32nd.