Whitewater, Wis. - The UW-La Crosse wrestling team opened its 2009-10 dual season with a 33-6 victory over UW-Whitewater Wednesday night in Kachel Gym in Williams Center. The Eagles are ranked first in the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Division III Poll while the Warhawks are ranked 19th.

UW-L nine of 10 matches Wednesday night to earn its victory.

Adam Sheley opened the dual with a win by technical fall (19-2, 6:27) over the Warhawks' Matt Oliva at 125-pounds. Bebeto Yewah, ranked 10th in NCAA Division III at 133-pounds, earned a major decision (17-4) over Jake Fredricksen for a 9-0 Eagles' lead.

Second-ranked Austin Bautista of UW-Whitewater earned the Warhawks' only victory, defeating Justin Garcia by fall (1:23) at 141-pounds.

UW-L came back to win the final seven matches. Top-ranked and defending NCAA III champion Matt Mauseth won by major decision (16-7) over Matt Schuck at 149-pounds; Ryan Farwell also won by major decision (13-4) over Andy Dieringer at 157-pounds and 10th-ranked Cory Ferguson won by decision (10-5) over Corey Schmidt to give UW-L a 20-6 lead.

Mike Schmitz, second at 174-pounds, made it 24-6 with a major decision victory (9-1) over Jake D'Acquisto and Mitch Artist won by decision (8-3) over the Warhawks' David Casper at 184-pounds and 27-6 lead.

Third-ranked Andy Moore defeated UW-Whitewater's Adam Latella by decision (8-1) at 197-pounds and in a match featuring two ranked wrestlers at 285-pounds, UW-L's Dan Laurent won by decision (5-0) over Jon Schmidt. Laurent, the two-time defending national champion, is ranked first in NCAA Division III while Schmidt is ranked eighth.

UW-L returns to action Saturday, Nov. 21 at the Auggie Open in Minneapolis, Minnesota starting at 9 a.m.