Upper Iowa (15-2-1, 7-1 NSIC) secured second place in the Northern Sun's final standings this season as they closed out the regular season with a 24-13 dual victory over Augustana (12-6, 5-3 NSIC). The Peacocks honored their three seniors, Carl Broghammer, Trevor Duke and Lucas Sharp, prior to the match and then used a pair of pins to fuel the dual victory. UIU won six matches on the day.

Augustana's T.J. North (#3 NCAA) controlled the opening match for the visitor's with a 9-1 major decision over Mitch Funk. North scored three takedowns, a reversal and a ride time point (4:17) to give the Vikings a 4-0 lead.

Matt Paulus took a 2-0 lead into the second period of his 133-pound match with Morgan Engbrecht. Engbrecht tied the match with a reversal, but Paulus retaliated with a reversal that led to a pin (3:57) by the sophomore from New Hampton, Iowa. The win put UIU on top 6-4.

The 141-pound bout went to the second period scoreless, but Jordan Roths got things started with an escape to scratch the scoreboard first. Jeremiah Peterson tied the match with an escape in the third, but not before Roths pushed his ride time to (1:30) and earned the 2-1 decision.

UIU kept the momentum rolling as Edwin Cooper (#2 NWCA) posted a 7-5 win giving the home team a 12-4 lead. Cooper picked up a pair of takedowns for a 4-2 lead heading into the final period. In the final frame, each wrestler scored a takedown and UIU's grappler from Chicago picked up a ride time point (2:51) for the two-point decision.

Zak Benitz trailed 2-1 heading into the second frame of his match with Augie's Bradyn Neises at 157. Trailing 3-1 in the final period, Benitz got a takedown to tie the match on the scoreboard, but Neises had a ride time point in his pocket. The UIU sophomore cut Neises loose, but extended trying to get the tying takedown, but exposed himself and the Viking took advantage with another takedown and final ride time point (1:50) for the 7-3 win.

Dalton Westerlund (#8 NWCA) toed the line for the 165 pound match against Tim Weber. Weber scored the first point in the match with an escape in the second period, but Westerlund tied it up at 1-1 with an escape of his own early in the third period. The match moved to sudden victory where Weber earned a takedown a 3-1 win by decision. The win pulled Augustana within two, 12-10.

At 174 pounds, Blake Sorensen (#5 NWCA) made his return to the mat for the first time since early January. Soresen scored a takedown near the end of the first period and carried the 2-0 lead into the next period. The junior from Denver, Iowa added an escape and a takedown and led 5-0 in the third period. Drake Fanslau picked up a reversal in the third, but had to cut Sorensen loose to continue his rally. Sorensen did not allow it though scoring a takedown to wrap up an 8-2 decision and give UIU a 15-10 lead.

Sean Derry held a 3-1 lead in the third period over Brock Gobin at 184 pounds. Gobin scored an escape early in the final period to pull within one, but Derry picked up a final takedown and a ride time point (1:38) to post the 6-2 win.

With UIU leading 15-13, Carl Broghammer (#2 NWCA) wasted little time in recording a takedown for an early 2-0 lead in the 197-pound match. The Manchester, Iowa product picked up another takedown in the first and opened the second with an escape for a 5-1 advantage. Broghammer added another takedown midway through the final period and added a ride-time point (1:10) for an 8-3 decision.

With the victory, Broghammer now has 135 career wins. He is now two wins shy of the all-time wins mark at Upper Iowa. He will pursue the record at the NCAA Super Region #3 Tournament on Feb. 28 and Mar. 1.

In the heavyweight match, Michael Lowman drove through UIU's Logan Hopp with a double leg and looked like he might put Augustana in the win column with a pin, but Hopp was able to roll through and land on top of his opponent for a win by fall that gave the Peacocks the 24-13 victory.

The win for UIU secured sole possession of second place in the final Northern Sun Conference standings.

Next Up

The Peacocks will now have two weeks to prepare for the NCAA Division II Super Regional #3 in Edmond, Oklahoma on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 28-Mar. 1.