The Lawrence University Wrestling team wanted to make an impact in their first WIAC Conference Tournament. Unfortunately, they fell limp and took home last place in the seven-team tournament.
The Vikings finished with 45 points, and UW-La Crosse won the tournament with 133.5 points. The highest individual place the Vikings took home was fourth.
The Vikings ended their season with six wrestlers: Nick Morphew, fifth at 133; Noah Plavavsky, sixth at 141; Ric Scannel, fourth at 157; Greg Goska, fourth at 165; Ben Dictus, fourth at 174; and Mark Schmoll, sixth at 197.
The Vikings had no wrestlers qualify for the national meet to be held next weekend at Ohio Northern University.
It was the final meet for two Viking senior wrestlers. Both Schmoll and Adam Nickel finished their Lawrence wrestling careers on Sunday.
Schmoll finished with an individual record of 19-21 and recorded three pins. Nickel finished the season with an individual record of 10-25 and recorded one pin on the season.
The Vikings will return their two best wrestlers next year, as both Scannel and Morphew are juniors. Scannel went 33-12 on the season with five pins. Morphew went 27-14, but did not have a pin all season.
With a good recruiting class coming in, the Vikings will be looking to do better at next season’s WIAC Tournament.