Carl Broghammer - the no. 2 ranked wrestler in the NCAA Division II - earned the 197-pound title at the 35th Annual Midwest Classic hosted by the University of Indianapolis this past weekend. Broghammer posted a perfect 5-0 record improving to 15-1 on the season with 11 bonus-point wins including 9 by fall and one each by technical fall and major decision. The Manchester, Iowa native is now just 17 wins shy of the UIU career wins leader, Hall of Famer Cliff Thompson. On Saturday, Broghammer won his three matches by major decision (11-0), by fall (4:22) and by decision (3-2) to move into the semifinals on Sunday. In the semis, the UIU senior won a 6-2 decision in the second tiebreaker over Sam Johnson from Cumberlands. Broghammer met Julian Smith of McKendree in the finals where the Peacock grappler won 3-1 in the first sudden victory period.
As a team, the #13 Peacocks placed fourth at the Midwest Classic. Newberry won the team title with 127 points, while second through fifth place was separated by just three and a half points. Indianapolis and McKendree each scored 107.5 points, UIU picked up 105 points and Ashalnd scored 104. UIU placed six of their ten wrestlers including Broghammer (1st), Edwin Cooper (149, 3rd), Blake Sorensen (184, 3rd), Dalton Westerlund (165, 4th), Colbey Vance (174, 4th), and Logan Hopp (285, 6th). The Peacocks have a busy week upcoming with a trip to Reno, Nevada for the Reno Tournament of Champions on Dec. 22.
