(WIAC) – University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire will host the 2026 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Men’s Wrestling Championship (presented by Culver’s) at McPhee Physical Education Center on Feb. 14. This year’s championship will mark the 71st gathering of conference teams.
UW-La Crosse secured the 24th conference title in program history a year ago with 158.5 points to surpass UW-Eau Claire’s second-place total of 147.5 points. UW-Whitewater took third with 132.5 points, UW-Stevens Point fourth with 64.5, UW-Platteville fifth with 25.5 and UW-Oshkosh sixth with 8.5.
UW-Whitewater ranks second on the conference’s all-time list with 17 championships, while UW-Stevens Point has won eight and UW-Eau Claire and UW-Oshkosh one each. Former programs to win titles include: UW-River Falls (11); UW-Superior (6); UW-Stout (2); and UW-Milwaukee (1).
The National Wrestling Coaches Association NCAA Division III Tournament Team Rankings distributed on Feb. 6 include the following WIAC teams: UW-La Crosse (fifth), UW-Whitewater (10th) and UW-Eau Claire (18th).
At this year’s championship, 10 individual first-place finishers will be crowned, along with a team champion. Each school will be permitted to enter two wrestlers per weight class and only the highest finishing wrestler from each institution will factor into the team scoring. Competition will begin at 11:00 a.m.
Returning individual champions consist of: UW-Eau Claire’s Izzy Balsiger (2024, 2025 – 125 pounds) and Ian Pepple (2025 – 197 pounds); UW-La Crosse’s Tanner Gerber (2025 – 165 pounds), Ashwaubenon alum Noah Leisgang (2023, 2024 – 165 pounds) and Talan Schutte (2025 – 141 pounds); and UW-Whitewater’s Dominik Mallinder (2023, 2024, 2025 – 133 pounds).
Pepple was tabbed the John Peterson Wrestler of the Meet a season ago, while Mallinder received the distinction in 2023. Mallinder added Newcomer of the Year honors in 2023.
Runner-up performances at previous championships include: UW-Eau Claire’s Sloan Welch (2024, 2025 – 285 pounds); UW-La Crosse’s Tate Flege (2024 – 165 pounds), Eddie Simes (2025 – 174 pounds) and New London’s Wyatt Magolski (2025 – 133 pounds); UW-Stevens Point’s Luca Paladino (2024 – 125 pounds) and Riese Thornberry (2025 – 141 pounds); and UW-Whitewater’s Jermaine Butler (2024 – 157 pounds), Jalen Dunson (2025 – 125 pounds), Justin Fortugno (2024 – 141 pounds), Brayden Peet (2025 – 165 pounds) and Luke Swan (2025 – 157 pounds). Magolski received Newcomer of the Year accolades a year ago, while Butler secured the honor in 2024.
UW-Oshkosh’s top performers this season include Ryan Hanson and Roman Martell, while UW-Platteville has been led by Owen Becker and Kain Killmer.
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