The #8 Peacock wrestling team edged the #15 Mavericks of Minnesota State University in Dorman Gym on Saturday night.  The Peacocks got out to a 15-6 lead and then held on for a one-point, 18-17, victory as Minnesota State claimed wins in three of the four final matches including a dominant technical fall at heavyweight.  With the win, Upper Iowa improved to 13-1 overall and 6-0 in the Northern Sun, while the Mavericks drop to 8-3 overall and 4-1 in the conference.  UIU is now one of only two teams in the NSIC with undefeated conference records; #2 St. Cloud State is currently 4-0 after a pair of wins by a combined score of 92-3 this weekend.
 
Maleek Williams (125) returned to the mat for the first time since the opening tournament of the season.  No matter the outcome; it was a huge win for the Peacocks to see Williams on the mat after a medical scare in November.  The redshirt freshman improved to 4-0 on the season with an 8-5 win thanks to a pair of takedowns and two nearfall points in the first period.  Matt Paulus (#8 NWCA) also made a return to the mat after missing the last two duals; the UIU senior dominated his match 133 pounds thanks to a pair of takedowns and two four-point nearfalls to claim a 12-1 major decision.
 
Minnesota State got on the board at 141 pounds with a 3-1 sudden victory.  Alphonso Vruno and Jordan Roths each scored an escape but no more as the match moved to extra time tied at 1-1.  Just a few seconds into the sudden victory period, Vruno got in on a shot and scored the winning takedown to pull MSU within four, 7-3.
 
Damian Penichet wrestled well at 149 pounds using two takedowns to fuel his controlled 6-2 decision.  Jordan Rinken and Matt Mincey, #2 NWCA, locked up in the featured match of the night at 157 pounds. 
 
Mincey entered the match without a loss on the season, while Rinken had only been on the losing end of one decision this year.  Rinken got an escape in the second period and Mincey equaled it in the third period.  With under a minute to go, Rinken came in hard on a double-leg, but couldn't finish the move as Mincey took advantage and scored a takedown, a four-point nearfall and a ride time point in the final forty seconds to take an 8-1 decision.

With Upper Iowa leading 10-6, Zak Benitz, #5 NWCA, put together a dominant performance claiming a 24-9 technical fall with 11 takedowns. 
 
Minnesota State began their comeback at 174 pounds with a tight 5-3 decision as Adam Cooling, #7 NWCA, outlasted Colbey Vance fueled by a pair of takedowns.  The Mavericks followed it with a 6-4 decision at 184 pounds; Scott VanDeLoo used a pair of takedowns to defeat Dalton Westerlund.  The two wins pulled MSU within three, 15-12, with two matches to go.
 
Ryan Parmely took a 3-0 lead with an escape and a takedown in the second period and held on for a 3-2 win giving Upper Iowa a six-point lead, 18-12, prior to the heavyweight match.
 
Malcolm Allen dominated the heavyweight match scoring six takedowns and a pair of four-point nearfalls on the way to a technical fall.  Allen nearly had a pin on the edge of the circle in the second period, but Avery Jacobs fought back to his stomach to avoid giving up the six-point win.  Allen's tech fall pulled the Mavericks within one, 18-17, on the final scoreboard.
 
The Peacocks claimed advantages in bonus-point wins, 2-1, and takedowns, 18-13, to win the dual by the slimmest of margins.
 
Upper Iowa will be back on the mat in Dorman Gym next Sunday, Feb. 7, at 2 p.m.
 
#8 Upper Iowa 18 - #15 Minnesota State 17
125: Maleek Williams (UIU) over Trevor Schultz (MSU) (Dec 8-5)
133: Matt Paulus (UIU) over Paul Selman (MSU) (MD 12-1)
141: Alphonso Vruno (MSU) over Jordan Roths (UIU) (SV-1 3-1)
149: Damian Penichet (UIU) over Dyan Herman (MSU) (Dec 6-2)
157: Matt Mincey (MSU) over Jordan Rinken (UIU) (Dec 8-1)
165: Zak Benitz (UIU) over Brad Maas (MSU) (TF 24-9 7:00)
174: Adam Cooling (MSU) over Colbey Vance (UIU) (Dec 5-3)
184: Scott VanDeLoo (MSU) over Dalton Westerlund (UIU) (Dec 6-4)
197: Ryan Parmely (UIU) over Darick Vancura (MSU) (Dec 3-2)
285: Malcolm Allen (MSU) over Avery Jacobs (UIU) (TF 22-4 5:30)