The Peacock wrestling team was in trouble heading into the final three matches of their Northern Sun Conference with Minnesota State University Moorhead Saturday afternoon. Upper Iowa, ranked #6 in the latest NWCA Top 20 Poll, trailed 18-6 following the 174-pound match, but two wins by fall around a decision at 197 pounds gave the visitors 15 straight points and the 21-18 comeback victory. With the win, UIU improved to 6-2 in duals on the year and 1-0 in the NSIC.
Garrett Wangsness got things started in the right direction for Upper Iowa at 125 pounds. The sophomore was able to post a 9-6 decision thanks to a pair of takedowns and four escapes as well as a ride time point.
In the 133-pound match,
Matt Paulus got in on a cradle right away and nearly ended the match with a pin, but settled for a 5-0 lead. His opponent, Blake Bosch (#6 NCAA) turned the tide though and earned the win with a pin 40 seconds into the second period.
The Dragons used the momentum of the fall to string together three more wins by decision at 141, 149 and 157 pounds to push out to a 15-3 lead midway through the dual. Upper Iowa broke back into the win column at 165 pounds as
Colbey Vance earned a 5-2 decision thanks to a pair of takedowns and an escape in the final frame.
MSU Moorhead reclaimed their 15-point advantage with a win at 174 pounds, but Upper Iowa still had two nationally-ranked wrestlers on their bench giving them hope of a comeback.
Blake Sorensen (#6 NCAA) gave life to that hope right away in the 184-pound match. The Peacock senior claimed a win by fall just over a minute into his match pulling UIU within six, 18-12.
Redshirt freshman
Ricky Briggs kept the rally going with a 7-5 decision at 197 pounds. Briggs led 3-1 heading into the final period, but had to scramble with a pair of escapes in the third before recording the match-winning takedown and pulling the team with three, 18-15, heading into the heavyweight bout.
Logan Hopp (#7 NCAA) completed the comeback and propelled Upper Iowa into the lead for the victory with a win by fall just 15 seconds into the second period.
The Peacocks will return home next Friday and Saturday nights, Jan. 23-24, for a pair of 7 p.m. duals against the University of Mary and Northern State University. Friday night will be Military Appreciation Night, while Saturday will be a BLACK OUT in Dorman Gymnasium.
