The Upper Iowa wrestling, ranked 24th in the latest D2WCA Top 25 poll, dominated their dual against Northern State University, ranked 14th in the same poll, on Sunday afternoon. The Peacocks claimed nine of the ten matches including six with bonus points to fuel their 43-3 victory. UIU improved to 9-2 overall and 5-0 in the Northern Sun, while NSU dropped to 4-7 overall and 0-3 in the conference.
 
The Peacocks celebrated Mike Olson Alumni Day recognizing all the Peacock wrestling alums in attendance. In addition to remembering former head coach and UIU Hall of Famer Mike Olson and the other alums, the Peacocks took time to remember an alum and dear friend of the University and wrestling program. Greg Erenberger, 59, passed away on Friday, Aug. 5, 2016. Greg was born Oct. 14, 1956, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and graduated from Prairie High School in 1974 before coming to Upper Iowa. He graduated in 1978 and was a four-year wrestling letter winner with the Peacock wrestling program and had been an avid wrestling supporter since graduation.
 
Upper Iowa scored three wins by fall at 157, 165 and 184 pounds.  Zak Benitz (:59), Colbey Vance (1:09) and Nick Baumler (:44) all secured six points for the Peacocks thanks to first-period pins.
 
Logan Hopp (#5, 285) ended the dual with an impressive 23-8 technical fall. The redshirt junior scored 10 takedowns and added a two-point nearfall and an escape to earn five points for the home team.
 
Damian Penichet (#11) and NSU's Tyler Stenberg (#2), the reigning NSIC Wrestler of the Week, locked up in a heavily anticipated bout at 149 pounds. Penichet carried a 4-1 lead into the final period thanks to a takedown in each of the first two periods. The Peacock redshirt sophomore put the match out of reach in the third with four takedowns and a ride time point to by major decision 13-3.
 
Dalton Westerlund controlled the 174 pound match against Tanner Olson winning 9-1 fueled by three takedowns, a two-point nearfall and a ride time point giving the Peacocks a second major decision.
 
Maleek Williams scored two late takedowns at 125 pounds to secure his 8-3 decision, while Jordan Roths had to fight off a near-pin by C.J. Voegeli in the 141-pound bout to outlast his opponent 7-5. The Voegeli cradle and four nearfall points came in the early seconds of the third period and tied the match at 4-4, but Roths stayed alive and worked out of the jam with a reversal.
 
Josh Walker picked up a forfeit win at 133 pounds, while Northern State's Joe Gomez (#11) earned the only win for the Wolves with a 3-2 win over Ryan Parmely.  Each grappler scored an escape and the difference came on a takedown by the NSU nationally-ranked wrestler with less than six seconds to go in the match. Parmely escaped, but there was no time left to score a takedown of his own.
 
The Peacocks claimed a 29-2 advantage in takedowns on the day leading to their dominant win at home.
 
Upper Iowa will be on the road for their only action next week. The Peacocks will travel to Mankato, Minn. to face the Mavericks of Minnesota State University, Mankato on Thursday, Jan. 26, at 7 p.m.
 
#24 Upper Iowa 43 – #14 Northern State 3
125: Maleek Williams (UIU) over Matthew Leier (NSU) (Dec 8-3)
133: Joshua Walker (UIU) over (NSU) (For.)
141: Jordan Roths (UIU) over CJ Voegeli (NSU) (Dec 7-5)
149: Damian Penichet (UIU) over Tyler Stenberg (NSU) (MD 13-3)
157: Zak Benitz (UIU) over Blake Perryman (NSU) (Fall 0:59)
165: Colbey Vance (UIU) over Ben Fichter (NSU) (Fall 1:09)
174: Dalton Westerlund (UIU) over Tanner Olson (NSU) (MD 9-1)
184: Nick Baumler (UIU) over David Murphy (NSU) (Fall 0:44)
197: Joe Gomez (NSU) over Ryan Parmely (UIU) (Dec 3-2)
285: Logan Hopp (UIU) over Harrison Townsend (NSU) (TF 23-8 4:56)