Upper Iowa claimed a 28-12 victory in their Northern Sun Conference opener Friday night in Dorman Gym. The Peacocks used three wins by fall and a major decision to fuel their victory in front of a large crowd on Blackout Night in Fayette.
The victory improved UIU's dual record to 9-1-1 on the season and 1-0 in the NSIC. Upper Iowa claimed a 15-7 advantage in takedowns and a 5-1 advantage in reversals. The Peacocks scored 53 points on the night, while allowing only 35 to the Dragons.
Mitch Funk took the mat for the opening match in the dual. The Elkader, Iowa native earned a win by fall (2:16) after a takedown with just over a minute to wrestle in the period. He worked hard along the edge to get the pin with 44 seconds to go.
The Dragons tied the dual at 6-6 with wins by decision at 133 and 141 pounds. MSU Moorhead's Shane Novak and Isaac Novacek picked up 3-0 and 13-7 decisions, respectively.
Upper Iowa jumped back on top by six with a win by fall at 149 pounds.
Edwin Cooper (#5 NWCA) earned his 17th fall of the season and improved to 29-2 with the victory. Cooper scored an early takedown and after a restart worked his position to put Garrett Hoffner on his back and earn the fall (1:18).
With a 12-6 lead, UIU sent sophomore
Zak Benitz to the mat at 157 pounds. The Mosinee, Wisconsin native registered an escape and a takedown early in the second period to open the scoring in the bout. In the final period, Benitz added takedown, a point for stalling on his opponent and a ride time point (1:44) to push the home team's lead to 15-6 thanks to the 7-1 decision.
Dalton Westerlund, the second of four redshirt freshman on the mat for UIU, claimed two takedowns in the first period and a reversal in the second period to pull out to a slim 6-5 advantage heading into the final two minutes. The Dragons' Shawn Porter escaped to tie the match, but a late takedown and ride time point (1:48) gave Westerlund the victory and the Peacocks an 18-6 lead.
In the 174 pound bout,
Colbey Vance toed the line against Conner Monk of MSUM. Monk scored an early takedown and built his ride time advantage in the first, but a penalty point and a reversal by Vance gave the Bettendorf, Iowa native a 3-2 lead. In the second, Vance got an escape and a stalling point moving ahead 5-2. Monk scored an escape and a takedown in the third to rally for a 6-5 decision after the ride time point (3:12) was awarded and MSU Moorhead climbed back within nine, 18-9.
MSUM's Matt Lewellen earned a 2-0 decision at 184 pounds to bring the Dragons within six, 18-12.
Carl Broghammer (#2 NWCA) returned the Peacocks to the win column at 197 pounds. The redshirt senior claimed a takedown just 11 seconds into the match. Broghammer rode on top for the remainder of the period building a huge ride time advantage. In the second, an escape and takedown gave the two-time NCAA All-American a 5-0 lead. A final takedown and ride time point (4:23) gave Broghammer an 8-0 major decision pushing UIU ahead 22-12.
In the final match of the night,
Logan Hopp (#7 NWCA) scored a trio of takedowns in the first period of the heavyweight match to take a 6-3 lead into the second frame. A reversal by Hopp led to three nearfall points and an 11-3 lead for the fourth and final redshirt freshman of the night for UIU. The New Hampton, Iowa product used one final throw to score a takedown and then forced his opponent's shoulders down for the pin (4:50). The fall was Hopp's eighth of the season and set the final score at 28-12.
Up Next
The Peacocks will head to Aberdeen, S.D. next Saturday, Jan. 25, for a NSIC dual against the Wolves of Northern State University. Upper Iowa will then head home quickly for a Sunday, Jan. 26, matinee against the Mustangs of Southwest Minnesota State University. Both duals are set for 2 p.m. starts. The home dual versus the Mustangs will be Military Appreciation Day at Upper Iowa. The team will wear their signature camouflage singlets for the dual.
Upper Iowa 28 - MSU Moorhead 12
