La Crosse Gunning for Ninth Straight League Crown

UW-La Crosse is aiming for its ninth consecutive title in today’s 2006 Wisconsin
Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Wrestling Championships. The Eagles’ eight straight
crowns is the longest streak in league history.

La Crosse enters the 51st edition of the conference tournament ranked No. 5 nationally by
the National Wrestling Coaches Association. UW-Stevens Point is ranked No. 18 in the country
and has secured second-place finishes at the league meet five out of the last six seasons.

Seven out of 10 champions from last year’s conference championship return this season,
including five from La Crosse. The Eagles are led by Ryan Allen, who has won the 285-pound
title the last three seasons and boasts a record of 33-5 this year, along with a No. 2 national
ranking. He would become the third individual in league history to win four-straight 285-pound
championships, joining Stevens Point’s Perry Miller (1995-98) and UW-Whitewater’s Tim
Carmin (1979-82). The Pointers’ Mike Hayes has finished second to Allen the last two seasons
and enters the championships with a 20-2 record and No. 4 national placing.

Jake Larsen claimed the 149-pound title last year and carries a 5-3 record this season.
UW-Platteville’s Ryan Higgins is 28-6, while Stevens Point’s Jon Burdick is 15-14.

The Eagles’ Ross Needham won the 157-pound championship last season and owns a 28-
11 record this year. Stevens Point’s Chris Brown maintains a 15-15 mark, while Whitewater’s
Pat Nagel is 10-14.

Jim Swanson captured the 197-pound title a year ago and owns a 6-4 record this season.
UW-Eau Claire’s Justin Mc Auly is 18-8, Stevens Point’s Mitch Szwet is 19-11 and
Whitewater’s Karl Voeck is 29-11.

Stevens Point’s Joel Burdick secured the 141-pound championship and was named the
John Peterson Wrestler of the Meet in 2005 after placing second at the 2004 championships.
He carries a 25-6 mark into this year’s event. La Crosse’s Mike Rohowetz captured the 133-
pound crown last season, but will move up to the 141-pound division this year. He has
registered a 9-13 record, while Platteville’s Zach Chambers has compiled a 25-6 mark.

Lawrence’s Ben Dictus won the 184-pound title last season after finishing second in 2004.
He boasts a 20-3 mark this year, while Eau Claire’s Joey Miller is 20-11, La Crosse’s Jason
Lulloff is 35-5 and Whitewater’s Mike Schmidt is 22-7. Lulloff is ranked No. 2 nationally and
won the weight bracket during the 2004 league championship after claiming the 174-pound
crown in 2003.

Additional notables competing include Eau Claire’s Derek Sikora, who is the top-ranked
wrestler in the country at 165 pounds and sustains a 25-2 record. He finished second a year
ago after winning the crown in 2004 and finishing runner-up in 2003.

Whitewater’s Andrew Livingston leads the 125-pound bracket with a 21-9 record, while the
174-pound division features La Crosse’s Josh Chelf at 25-5 and Stevens Point’s Al
Stacilauskas at 8-2. Chelf is ranked No. 3 nationally and placed second a year ago, while
Stacilauskas is ranked seventh and finished second at 184 pounds last season.

Each league champion, along with eight at-large qualifiers will advance to the NCAA Division
III Championships in Ewing, New Jersey on March 3-4.

Prepared by Matt Stanek, WIAC Sports Information Director