MADISON – UW-Eau Claire's Jared Stricker was named the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Wrestler of the Year for the 2024-25 season. The WIAC announced its postseason awards Friday.
Stricker, a senior from High Bridge, Wisconsin, is the recipient of the award for the second consecutive season. He was named the Co-Wrestler of the Year last season. Blugold wrestlers have now won the award three times, with Derek Sikora serving as the only other recipient in 2006.
Stricker tallied the most wins in NCAA Division III this season and went 43-0 en route to a 174-pound national championship. It was his second consecutive national title, making him the first two-time national champion in the wrestling program's history.
The senior is believed to rank in or near the top five in Division III history with 169 career victories. He became the WIAC's all-time leader in wins this season and also became UW-Eau Claire's all-time leader with 75 pins. He ended his Blugold career on a 71-match win streak, the longest in program history.
BASEBALL
Blugolds drops series finale at No. 1 Warhawks
WHITEWATER, Wis. — UW-Eau Claire dropped the final two contests of a four-game set at No. 1 UW-Whitewater on Friday, falling to the Warhawks 14-2 and 9-0.
The Blugolds (6-9, 0-4) fell behind early in both games and couldn't recover.
The Warhawks (13-0, 4-0) hit six home runs across the two games.
UW-Whitewater scored the first 14 runs in Game 1, with four-run frames in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings putting the game out of reach. The Blugolds' only offense came on a two-run home run by Austin Buck in the top of the seventh. It was his second homer of the season.
Draza Dupor took the loss on the mound after throwing three innings. He struck out five and allowed two earned runs.
The Warhawks used two runs each in the second, third and fourth innings of Game 2 to pull away. They tacked on two more runs in the eighth.
The Blugolds were held to three hits in the second contest. Will Johnson doubled for the Blugolds.
UWEC's Tapio Niemioja had an effective relief outing in Game 2. He worked four innings out of the bullpen and struck out five, holding the Warhawks to two runs.
SOFTBALL
Blue Devils earn sweep
UW-Stout secured a doubleheader sweep over St. Scholastica on Thursday at Alumni Field. The Blue Devils earned a 5-2 victory in the opener before closing the day with a 6-3 win in Game 2.
UW-Stout improved to 7-11 overall.
Down 2-0 in the opener, the Blue Devils responded with four runs in the bottom of the fourth. Emma Muehlenbeck led off with a double to left field. Donna D'Addabbo drove Muehlenbeck home with a single to center.
Stephanie Kuhn then singled to tie the game. Sammy Noreen singled up the middle and Liz Rohl drove in two runs with a single.
Anna Blanford allowed just three base runners the next three innings to close out the game. She gave up just three hits and struck out five.
The Blue Devils carried their momentum into Game 2.
UW-Stout struck for three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Kuhn sparked the rally with an RBI triple to right field. Kuhn then came home on a wild pitch, and Rayni Bresnahan added a sacrifice fly to make it 3-0.
Blanford earned her second complete-game win of the day, scattering 11 hits while striking out eight.
