PLATTEVILLE, Wis. — Zachary Thompson had plenty of success of the wrestling mat as a Perry Bluejay, and now, once again under his old head coach, he is ready to compete on a national stage.
Thompson, a 2018 Perry graduate, is now a junior at UW-Platteville, where his head coach, Trevor Kittleson, is a former Perry front man who instructed the 133-pound standout.
The NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament will be held today and Saturday at the Alliant Energy Powerhouse in Cedar Rapids. The top eight in each weight class will advance to Saturday’s rounds and will earn All-American status.
Thompson (15-7) was stopped by UW-Stevens Point’s Matt Barton, 4-3, in the regional semifinals. The Pioneer qualified by responding with a 3-2 win over Sawyer Sarbacker of UW-LaCrosse and a 6-3 victory against Concordia College’s Ty Brsek.
He will open national tourney action against Luis Hernandez of Ithaca (NY) College.
Thompson’s progress at the tourney can be followed online.
He was a four-time state medalist at Perry, and is believed to be the only Bluejay to earn four podium positions. Thompson was sixth at 106 pounds as a freshman, then placed sixth, fourth and fourth, all at 120 pounds, in his final three prep seasons.
Thompson is second on Perry’s all-time victory list with a career record of 174-30.
