The Peacocks and Huskies of St. Cloud State got together for a Northern Sun dual today in Fayette in a match up of two of the nation’s best Division II wrestling teams.  St. Cloud came in at #3, while Upper Iowa is currently ranked #11.  The Huskies claimed a 21-12 victory thanks to wins in six of the ten matches.  Upper Iowa won by decision at 125, 133, 174, and 184.  Four of the Husky wins came by decision, while the visitors added a major decision and technical fall for bonus points in their other two wins.

 

Trevor Franklin (#2 NCAA) scored a takedown just ten seconds into the opening match of the dual and took a 2-1 lead into the second period.  Franklin rode Dylan Wright for the entire second period pushing his ride time advantage to over three and a half minutes. The Peacock sophomore scored a reversal late in the final period and added a ride time point (2:17) for a 6-1 decision. The win pushes Franklin’s dual record to 8-0 this season and 24-0 in Upper Iowa duals in his career.

 

SCSU’s Eric Ellington toed the line against Kyle Pedretti (#1 NCAA) at 133. The pair moved through the opening period without a point scored. Each scored an escape as the match moved into the middle of the final period. The junior from Monona, Iowa took advantage of a shot by Ellington and worked into a takedown with 30 seconds to go for a 3-1 win. 

 

St. Cloud State rallied to take a 12-6 lead with a win by decision, 12-6, at 141 by Gabe Suarez (#8 NCAA), a major decision, 14-4, at 149 by Jacob Horn (#7 NCAA), and a technical fall victory, 15-0 (3:40), at 157 by John Sundgren (#2 NCAA).

 

Bryce Lumzy took the mat at 165 looking to upset Tad Merritt (#2 NCAA) and stop the Husky run. Merritt scored a takedown midway through the first period, but Lumzy reversed his opponent to tie the match at 2-2. Lumzy moved out to a 3-2 lead with an escape to open the second period, but a takedown by Merritt reversed the slim advantage in SCSU’s favor heading into the final period. A takedown and a ride time point (2:22) earned a 7-3 win for Merritt and pushed the visitor’s lead to 15-6.

 

Mark Mueller wrestled at 174 pounds for the first time this season and locked up with Shamus O’Grady (#8 NCAA). Mueller scored the first points of the match with a takedown and carried a 2-1 lead out of the opening period. O’Grady put the only point on the board in the second period with an escape, but Mueller scored an escape early in the third to retake a one-point lead, 3-2, and hold on for the upset win.

 

Wade Gobin scored an escape in the second period for the first points of his 184 pound match with Mic Berg. Berg chose the down position to open the third period and tied the match with an escape. Gobin almost ended the match in regulation with a takedown, but ran out of time. The Peacock sophomore ended the match just seven seconds into the sudden victory period to claim a 3-1 decision and pull Upper Iowa within three on the scoreboard, 15-12.

 

Carl Broghammer (#8 NCAA) and Luke Munkelwitz (#6 NCAA) hooked up in the 197 pound match. Munkelwitz scored a takedown in the first, but Broghammer tied the match 2-2 with a pair of escapes. Midway through the final period, Munkelwitz moved out to a 3-2 lead with an escape and withheld a wild fury by Broghammer to win 3-2 and give St. Cloud State an 18-12 advantage.

 

The heavyweight match was the highlight match of the afternoon as it pitted two of the nation’s top four wrestlers in SCSU’s Jake Kahnke (#1 NCAA) and UIU’s Zach Rosol (#4 NCAA). Both wrestlers fought off strong takedown attempts in a scoreless first period. The match moved to the final period without a score, but Kahnke put two minutes of ride time on the board. The Husky heavyweight scored a reversal and a takedown in the final period and claimed a 6-2 victory. With the win, St. Cloud State took the NSIC dual by a final score of 21-12.

Upper Iowa (5-5, 3-3 NSIC) will wrestle their final dual of the season next Thursday in Moorhead, Minn.  The Peacocks will face the #20 Dragons of MSU Moorhead at 7 p.m. on the the 17th.