The Upper Iowa wrestling program hosted their annual Legends Dinner and handed out their post-season awards on April 26 at Cabo Blue Sports Bar and Grill in downtown Fayette.  Over 100 attendees including Peacock wrestlers, parents, friends, family, alumni and administration came out for the event. 
 
The guest speaker was Jorge Borgen (pictured above), a 2002 NCAA DIII Runner-up at 165 pounds.  Borgen was a member of the Peacock wrestling squad that took second place in NCAA Division III in 2001-02.  Borgen shared his history in wrestling and implored the audience and his brothers in wrestling to believe in themselves.  He made it clear that anything is possible with belief and how wrestling has been the leading force in his life's journey.
 
After the event, Head Coach Heath Grimm said, "The Legends Dinner was a huge success again this year.  The amount of positive energy that was present was impressive.  The night has become a special event for all who attend and Jorge said that coming back to campus has "recharged his battery."  He's still fired up after speaking to the group.  I've had multiple conversations, phone calls and compliments regarding how much everyone enjoyed the evening.  We are blessed to have so many true supporters of Upper Iowa Wrestling."
 
The Peacock coaching staff presented awards highlighted by the following:
 
 

• Outstanding Wrestlers and Most Wins: Carl Broghammer (197) and Edwin Cooper (149) - Broghammer and Cooper finished the year with identical 42-4 records and claimed NCAA All-American status at the NCAA Championships in Cleveland, Ohio this past March.  Broghammer became Upper Iowa's all-time wins leader with 142 in his career on the way to becoming a three-time third-place finisher at the NCAA Division II level.  Cooper was just one period shy of becoming the NCAA DII Champion at 149 pounds finishing second in the nation at this year's championships as a sophomore.  Both were named to the All-NSIC First Team, while Broghammer was named the NSIC's Wrestler of the Year.

 
 

• Outstanding Freshman: Logan Hopp (285) - Hopp qualified for the NCAA Championships this past March as a redshirt freshman and went 1-2 in Cleveland.  He finished his first varsity season with a 31-16 record with an 18-10 mark against NCAA Division II opponents.  He earned 9 wins by fall and 6 by major decision to account for his bonus-point victories.  Hopp spent a few months in the national rankings reaching as high as #3 in the Feb. 25 poll.

 
 

• Highest GPA: Chris Paulus – Paulus led the Peacocks academically earning a selection to the National Wrestling Coaches Association Division II All-Academic Team. On the mat, he went 21-13 this season with five wins by fall, one technical fall and seven major decisions.

 
 

• Most Dedicated: Mitch Funk – Funk saw varsity action this season stepping up at 125 pounds for an injured Chris Paulus.  The redshirt sophomore went 17-11 on the mat including a major decision (8-0) against #18 Lake Erie College and a win by fall (2:16) against Minnesota State University Moorhead that led to big wins for Upper Iowa.  Funk is currently at boot camp in San Diego, California in basic training for the United States Marines.

 
 

• Most Inspirational:  Blake Sorensen – Sorensen suffered a knee injury during the 18-18 tie with the #4 Bronchos of the University of Central Oklahoma at this past year's National Duals.  The Denver, Iowa product did not take an injury default; he gutted it out in the final period to keep UCO's points gained to three and maintain the opportunity for Broghammer and Hopp to tie. By the time the redshirt junior returned, he had to come back at 174 pounds and wrestled in competition just once prior to the Super Central Regional in Edmond, Oklahoma.  He went 1-2 at the regional picking up his win by fall.

 
 

• Most Improved: Jordan Roths - Roths did a tremendous job in the classroom during the first semester to regain his eligibility and then completed a strong redshirt freshman season for the Peacocks.  Roths finished his first varsity season with a 26-15 record and a spot in Cleveland as a National Qualifier, where he went 1-2, after defeating Matt Nelson of St. Cloud State, ranked #5 nationally, with a takedown on the edge of the mat in a fifth-place match at the Super Central Regional.  Roths recorded seven wins by fall, a technical fall and three major decisions.

 
 

• Most Falls: Edwin Cooper – Cooper's 22 pins ranked as the 6th highest total in the nation among all divisions and the top mark in NCAA Division II this season.

 
The Peacocks closed the 2013-14 campaign with a fifteenth place finish at the NCAA DII Championships in Cleveland, Ohio. Both Edwin Cooper and Carl Broghammer earned NCAA All-American honors to lead Upper Iowa at the championships.  Cooper finished the year as the NCAA Runner Up at 149 pounds, while Broghammer claimed third place at 197 pounds for the third time in his storied career.
 
The National Wrestling Coaches Association cited seven Peacock student-athletes that earned individual academic honors for the year.  Broghammer was named to the first team, while Colbey Vance, as well as Chris and Matt Paulus, earned second team honors.  Three more Peacocks carved out a spot on the honorable mention list including Trevor Duke, Anthony Hable and Lincoln Monroe.
 
Broghammer is now a four-time members of the NWCA Division II All-Academic Team joining the likes of Tony Gehling, Mitch Schultz and Wade Gobin, while Duke has been named three times.  Broghammer, Duke, Hable, and both Paulus brothers were all named to the NSIC All-Academic Team as well.
 
The Peacocks placed seventh at the high-powered NCAA Central Super Regional to send five to the NCAA Champsionships.  Broghammer and Cooper placed second in their respective weight classes, while Matt Paulus, Jordan Roths and Logan Hopp grabbed fifth place to earn their tickets to Cleveland. 
 
Broghammer was named the Wrestler of the Year in the Northern Sun Conference after completing his final season with the Peacock wrestling program. He capped off one of the most successful wrestling careers in Peacock wrestling history this season with 42 wins (only 4 losses).  Upper Iowa's four-year starter at 197 pounds broke the program record for career wins this season ending his career with 142 wins including 82 bonus-point wins thanks to 53 wins by fall, 7 by tech fall and 22 by major decision. The Manchester, Iowa product completed his tenure in Peacock blue with a 14-3 record in his three NCAA Championship appearances.
 
Four Upper Iowa wrestlers earned NSIC All-Conference honors including three first team spots. Broghammer, Cooper (133) and Jordan Roths (141) all earned spots on the first team, while Matt Paulus (133) earned a place on the second team. Cooper ended his first season with UIU as the NCAA Runner-up after a 3-1 weekend at the championships completing his season with a 42-4 record. Roths went 1-2 in his first NCAA Championship appearance as a redshirt freshman turning in a 26-15 mark this season. Paulus qualified for his first NCAA Championships as well thanks to a fifth place finish at the regional; the New Hampton native closed out his season with a 22-18 mark.