Upper Iowa University’s Athletics Department, along with the Peacock wrestling program, hosted a Wounded Warrior/Military Appreciation Day on Sunday, Jan. 20, in Dorman Gymnasium and raised $1100 to be given to the Wounded Warrior Project.
The Peacock wrestling team wore camouflage singlets and the military branch flags hung above the mat to honor the sacrifice of our former and active members of the military. UIU took on the Beavers of Minot State in a Northern Sun Conference Dual and free admission was given to all active and former military personnel and their families.
Three Wounded Warriors met with the wrestling team prior to the match and spoke to the group of student-athletes and coaches. Todd Eipperle, a 2006 graduate of Upper Iowa University, Adam Eilers and Kent Savage were the three Wounded Warriors that shared their stories with the team. A brief bio of each of the honored trio can be found below following the release.
Prior to the match, all the former and active military personnel in attendance were brought to the floor and introduced to the crowd individually. The Peacock wrestling squad then made their entrance into Dorman Gym and took time to shake the hands of each individual next to the mat.
During the pre-match announcements, the Athletics Department introduced Eipperle, Eilers and Savage to the fans and shared their stories with those in attendance. Each of the honored guests was welcomed with a rousing ovation from the home crowd.
David Miller, the Upper Iowa Director of Athletics and former Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Air Force, said, “Sunday was one of my prouder moments here at UIU. To pay respect to the veterans and the Wounded Warriors in the manner that we did was outstanding and at the same time humbling. Our student-athletes have certainly gained a better understanding and respect for our armed forces and veterans.”
The Peacock wrestling team took over the event following the
National Anthem winning eight of the ten matches and earning a 40-11 victory over their guests. The dual stopped briefly at the midway point for the singing of
God Bless America.
Pictured above: Adam Eilers (left), Todd Eipperle (center) and Kent Savage (right)
Todd Eipperle of Marshalltown, Iowa (Upper Iowa ’06)
First Sergeant Eipperle had two combat deployments, one in Operation Iraqi Freedom and the other in Operation enduring Freedom Afghanistan. With multiple awards and numerous commendations, Eipperle was awarded the Bronze Star with Valor from the Army for heroism in his most recent tour to Afghanistan. He was credited with saving the lives of members from his team when they were attacked by a rogue Afghan security officer. Eipperle was able to kill the attacker, despite being shot twice himself during the incident.
Adam Eilers of Guttenburg, Iowa
Eilers was a member of the National Guard for six years, when on February 21, 2011, the armored vehicle ran over a 250-pound improvised explosive device, or I-E-D. It took Adam a year and a half to recover from his injuries, which included two breaks in his left leg, a broken left elbow, having part of his skull being removed, two cracked vertebrae, a collapsed lung and undergoing two blood transfusions.
He spent nine months in hospitals in Germany, England, the Walter Reed Medical Center and Minneapolis. He is still currently an enlisted member of the National Guard.
Kent Savage of Wapello, Iowa
Savage was injured on May 22, 2004. He was a squad leader escorting a soldier who was suffereing from heat stroke. During transport, the vehicle had to swerve and Savage was thrown, breaking his neck and back in five different places, in addition to suffering a Traumatic Brain Injury. Savage served in desert storm, in addition to Operation Iraqi Freedom.
