OSHKOSH, Wis. -- Lawrence University standout Sam Laes took fourth place at 184 pounds on Sunday at the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championships, but it was good enough to earn the 184-pounder an at-large berth for the NCAA Division III Championships.
Laes, a junior from Ashwaubenon, Wis., is the first Lawrence wrestler since Ben Dictus in 2006 to qualify for the NCAA Championships, which will be held March 6-7 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Laes has a 24-7 record this season and is 10th in the latest National Wrestling Coaches Association rankings. Laes is the 17th Lawrence wrestler to qualify for the NCAA Championships in Dave Novickis' 16-year tenure as head coach.
Laes' day started with a 7-3 loss to UW-Stevens Point's Ben Engelland in the quarterfinals at UW-Oshkosh's Kolf Sports Center. Laes then downed Oshkosh's Eli Felts 8-2 to reach the third-place match. Despite an 8-7 loss to UW-Whitewater's David Casper in the third-place match, Laes received the at-large berth.
Senior Tony Norton placed fifth at 149 pounds. Norton lost a 6-5 overtime decision to UW-Eau Claire's Andy Johnston and was then pinned by Whitewater's Cade Sarbacker in 4:50. Norton moved to the fifth-place match, where he defeated Oshkosh's Jose Quintana 7-1.
Matt Meiselman wasn't able to win a match at 157. Ryan Farwell of UW-La Crosse won 15-0 by technical fall over Meiselman in the opening match. Meiselman was then eliminated when he was pinned by Stevens Point's Andrew Dilworth in 3:24.
John Buntrock was eliminated after three matches at 197. Stevens Point's Jeremy Fulk pinned Buntrock in 2:21 in his opening match, and Buntrock then lost 10-0 to Eau Claire's Josh Holforty. Fulk then pinned Buntrock in 4:22 in the fifth-place match.
John Fitzpatrick also was eliminated after a trio of matches at heavyweight. Whitewater's Sean Evans pinned Fitzpatrick in 1:55 in his opening match, and Fitzpatrick then lost with a 39-second pin by Stevens Point's Brett Oswald. Eau Claire's Joe Pitsch then pinned Fitzpatrick in 1:53 in the fifth-place match.
Fitzpatrick was named to the WIAC All-Sportsmanship Team.
La Crosse won the team title with 146 points, two better than second place Stevens Point. Lawrence finished seventh with 20 points.