The No. 18 Wisconsin Badgers wrestling team opened the 2023-24 wrestling season with a dominating 41-4 display against Lindenwood University at the UW Field House on Sunday.
Lindenwood University is a new NCAA Division I school in wrestling with a well-coached and hard-working team. Yet it was Wisconsin who won nine straight bouts against Lindenwood.
The Badgers could not complete the full sweep due to a loss in the last match, but Badger fans in attendance certainly had much to get excited about as they witnessed an imposing match.
The first win of the day came from Eric Barnett at 125 pounds, who secured a win by fall at the 2:14 mark.
Next up was Zan Fugitt at 133 pounds, a newcomer to the Badgers. Head coach Chris Bono previously discussed the excitement around the newcomers to the team during his pre-match media conference, and Fugitt proved the excitement. He won by major decision with a final score of 17-3.
Badgers wrestlers Felix Lettini and Joseph Zargo took the next two matches at 141 pounds and 149 pounds, respectively. Lettini scored a 9-4 victory while Zargo won by technical fall, 17-2.
Other new additions included Luke Mechler at 157 pounds, who recently transferred from Oklahoma State. The Badgers were already leading by 18-0 headed into his match, and Mechler further extended the Badgers' dominance by securing a fall. The Badgers extended their lead over Lindenwood to 24-0.
The Badgers won the next four matches. Dean Hamiti won 19-3 by technical fall at 165 pounds, and Cale Anderson secured a 17-5 major decision at 174 pounds. Shane Liegel, a transfer from Loras College, beat his Lindenwood opponent 17-2 by technical fall at 184 pounds.
The penultimate match at 197 pounds was a 5-1 win for Micheal Talsahar. The Badgers were quickly taking down Lindenwood.
Unfortunately, the Badgers could not complete an entire sweep of their competitors on Sunday afternoon. The last match went to Lindenwood’s David Hernandez, who notched a 17-2 technical fall at 285 pounds.
Overall, the first open on Sunday has certainly built up the excitement surrounding the wrestling team for the upcoming season. It was a consistently commanding performance.
The newcomers will be ones to watch as the team turns their attention to the Michigan State Open on Nov. 11. The entire Wisconsin roster will be traveling to compete in what is predicted to be a tough set of matches. However, based on Sunday’s performance, the Badgers wrestling team will not be an easy team to face.
