The Lawrence University wrestling team will host the seven-team WIAC Championship meet this Sunday at Alexander Gym. The Vikings will be competing with the rest of the UW-system schools to try and qualify wrestlers for the NCAA Division III Championships held March 4-5 at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn.
The winner of each weight class tournament will advance to the NCAA’s, as well as six wildcard wrestlers determined by the coaches at the event. The WIAC has several wrestlers who are ranked top ten in the nation, and who have NCAA championships under their belt already, so it will be a tough test for the Vikings to advance anyone to the NCAA meet.
LU’s best chances come in Ben Dictus and John Budi. Dictus is the top returnee in the 184-pound weight class. He took second in the meet a year ago, and was nationally ranked earlier this season. He will face a tough task from UW-Stevens Point’s Al Stacilauskas, who is undefeated since transferring in mid-season from Division I Central Michigan.
Budi also will have a shot in his 165-weight class, but has two tough contenders to deal with. Eau Claire’s Derek Sikora is the defending champion at 165 and an All-American after finishing third at the NCAA Championships a season ago. However he faces a new challenge from last year in the face of La Crosse’s Nick Ammerman, who transferred from southwestern Oregon and is currently ranked second in the country. Sikora himself is ranked sixth in the latest national rankings.
The rest of the Viking squad will be trying to pull an upset. It’s been a down year for LU. They did not win a dual meet in the WIAC this season but hope to rebuild next winter.
Vikings to host WIAC Championships Sunday -jcr -dlh
