UW-Eau Claire wrestlers will challenge UW-Whitewater and UW-La Crosse Saturday at a triangular meet in La Crosse.

Eau Claire wrestlers will face Whitewater at noon and La Crosse at 2 p.m.

Holding a national title, La Crosse poses a threat to the Blugolds.

Junior Adam Kolo, a wrestler in the 184-pound weight class, will be facing last year’s national champion.

“It will be tough,” Kolo said.

In preparing to wrestle the championship team, Kolo said the Blugolds may want to reconsider their performance styles on Saturday.

“Other wrestlers and coaches within our conference know our wrestling styles,” Kolo said. “They may know that one move I do more will work well, so I have to switch up my moves.”

Coach Don Parker has confidence in his team and said La Crosse should have no reason to intimidate them.

“The best is to just mentally prepare them,” Parker said. “They know they’re going against the best, and they’ve gone against the best before.”

Parker’s optimistic attitude can easily encourage the wrestlers.

But some of his team may be timid about the match.

“The freshmen seem to be most easily intimidated,” Parker said. “They’ve never wrestled La Crosse before.”

Wrestlers such as sophomore Josh Frie seem to have it all under control.

“It’s just another meet,” Frie said. “Whatever comes up, comes up.”

Last Saturday, the Blugolds lost their match against UW-Platteville. The Blugolds left McPhee with a lagging score of 12-21.

The loss is a downfall for Eau Claire wrestlers, but they can use this Saturday’s meet to redeem themselves.

Parker said Whitewater should be an easy redemption.

Positive attitudes and thinking will determine if the Blugolds come out with a victory on Saturday.

Kolo said every win and match counts.