The Peacock wrestling team claimed second place at the Citrus Open in Florida after action on Friday and Saturday. The UIU wrestlers combined for a 66-25 win-loss record and seventeen wrestlers placed in the top eight of their brackets including two champions (Nick Baumler - 197 and Logan Hopp - 285) and three runner-ups (Josh Walker - 133, Brock Benitz - 157 and Jordan Gundrum - 174).
 
Hopp dominated his first three matches to reach the finals. The redshirt senior posted a 15-0 tech fall in his opening bout and then recorded an 8-3 decision over Ethan Hofacker of Augsburg. In the semifinals, Hopp pinned his opponent as the first period horn sounded. Hopp defeated Tyler Ortmann of Cornell College 5-3 in the finals to claim the heavyweight title.

Baumler scored three decisions and a major to win the title at 197 pounds. The sophomore picked up a 6-1 win over Wyatt Richardson of Augsburg in the first match and then grabbed a 14-3 major to reach the semis. Baumler scored 7-2 and 11-6 decisions in his final two matches to claim the title.

Walker reached the finals in quick fashion. The 133-pounder won his first three matches by fall in times of 5:24, 0:20 and 0:16. Walker lost a 10-6 decision to Sam Bennyhoff of Augsburg in the finals to place second.

Benitz went 4-1 in his time in the 157-pound brackets. Benitz won his first bout 6-0 and then pinned Troy Edwards of New York in 44 seconds to get to the quarterfinals. The redshirt-freshman claimed a 17-3 major over Tyler Makosky of UNC Pembroke and a 6-4 decision over Raymond Jazikoff of New York to move into the championship match. Ryan Epps of Augsburg outlasted Benitz in the finals by a 3-1 decision.

Gundrum cruised into the finals with four dominant victories including a 6-0 decision and three straight falls in times of 0:28, 3:58 and 2:18 over opponents from John Carroll, Cornell and UNC Pembroke. Tanner Vassar of Augsburg came out on top of Gundrum in the finals in a 13-7 shootout.

Maleek Williams placed third with a 4-1 record including three wins by fall and Damian Penichet placed third with a 5-1 record including four wins by fall. Triston Westerlund also placed third with a 5-1 record with a win by tech fall and one by fall.

Upper Iowa will now prepare for the NWCA National Duals in Fort Wayne, Ind. on Thursday and Friday, Jan. 4-5. The Peacocks have placed at the National Duals in nine of the last ten years.
 
Citrus Open Team Results

1	Augsburg	211
2	Upper Iowa	195
3	New York	120.5
4	Cornell	96.5
5	UNC-Pembroke	92.5
6	Rochester Institute of Tech.	60
7	Muhlenberg	55
8	Liberty	52
9	Williams	50.5
10	John Carroll	33.5
11	Ursinus	16.5

Augsburg (MN) is ranked fifth in NCAA Division III.
 
Maleek Williams - 3rd Place with a 4-1 record
125 Maleek Williams Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University) F John-luke Destefano New York, NY (New York University), 1:02
125 Andrew Flanagan Rochester, NY (Rochester Institute of Technology) F Maleek Williams Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University), 5:45
125 Maleek Williams Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University) F Keegan Smith Lynchburg, VA (Liberty University), 0:33
125 Maleek Williams Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University) DEF Ryan Schmalen Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University)
125 Maleek Williams Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University) F Andrew Flanagan Rochester, NY (Rochester Institute of Technology), 3:46

Ryan Schmalen - 5th Place with a 3-1 record
125 Ryan Schmalen Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University) MD Keegan Smith Lynchburg, VA (Liberty University), 9-1
125 Ryan Schmalen Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University) F Domenic Devine Cleveland, OH (John Carroll University), 3:11
125 Victor Gliva Minneapolis, MN (Augsburg) F Ryan Schmalen Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University), 1:26
125 Ryan Schmalen Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University) DEF Domenic Devine Cleveland, OH (John Carroll University)

Josh Walker - 2nd Place with a 3-1 record
133 Josh Walker Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University) F Derek Gulotta Collegeville, PA (Ursinus College), 5:24
133 Josh Walker Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University) F Jeremy Sorem Mount Vernon, IA (Cornell College), 0:20
133 Josh Walker Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University) F Austin Day New York, NY (New York University), 0:16
133 Sam Bennyhoff Minneapolis, MN (Augsburg) DEC Josh Walker Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University), 10-6

Hunter Slifka - 4th Place with a 4-2 record
141 Hunter Slifka Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University) MD Levi Wade Mount Vernon, IA (Cornell College), 18-8
141 Will Crisco New York, NY (New York University) DEC Hunter Slifka Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University), 7-1
141 Hunter Slifka Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University) F Iain Whitis Cleveland, OH (John Carroll University), 6:59
141 Hunter Slifka Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University) MD Mike Hayes Minneapolis, MN (Augsburg), 12-4
141 Hunter Slifka Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University) MD Jarrod Brezovec Cleveland, OH (John Carroll University), 15-7
141 Will Crisco New York, NY (New York University) DEC Hunter Slifka Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University), 7-1

Damian Penichet - 3rd Place with a 5-1 record
149 Damian Penichet Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University) F Seth Winkle Cleveland, OH (John Carroll University), 1:56
149 Damian Penichet Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University) F Shawn Barth Minneapolis, MN (Augsburg), 1:00
149 Damian Penichet Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University) F Matthew Coppola New York, NY (New York University), 1:67
149 Aaron Wilson Minneapolis, MN (Augsburg) DEC Damian Penichet Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University), 8-6
149 Damian Penichet Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University) DEC Evan Drill New York, NY (New York University), 4-1
149 Damian Penichet Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University) F Matthew Coppola New York, NY (New York University), 2:36

Zach Bruns - Finished with a 4-3 record
149 Zach Bruns Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University) F Adam Plotkin Mount Vernon, IA (Cornell College), 2:35
149 Cruze Hurlburt Minneapolis, MN (Augsburg) F Zach Bruns Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University), 6:05
149 Zach Bruns Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University) DEC Brendan Kiernan Williamstown, MA (Williams), 8-5
149 Brendon Seyfried Williamstown, MA (Williams) F Zach Bruns Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University), 2:30
149 Z Bruns (Upper Iowa University) DEC B Young (Augsburg), 4-1
149 Z Bruns (Upper Iowa University) F S Winkle (John Carroll University), 6:55
149 C Hurlburt (Augsburg) F Z Bruns (Upper Iowa University), 1:28

Brock Benitz - 2nd Place with a 4-1 record
157 Brock Benitz Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University) DEC Ezekiel Thomas Rochester, NY (Rochester Institute of Technology), 6-0
157 Brock Benitz Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University) F Troy Edwards New York, NY (New York University), 0:44
157 Brock Benitz Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University) MD Tyler Makosy Lumberton, NC (UNC-Pembroke), 17-3
157 Brock Benitz Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University) DEC Raymond Jazikoff New York, NY (New York University), 6-4
157 Ryan Epps Minneapolis, MN (Augsburg) DEC Brock Benitz Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University), 3-1

Mac Spotts - 5th Place with a 5-2 record
157 Ryan Epps Minneapolis, MN (Augsburg) DEC Mac Spotts Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University), 8-1
157 Mac Spotts Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University) DEC Troy Edwards New York, NY (New York University), 11-4
157 Mac Spotts Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University) TF Christian Savino New York, NY (New York University), 16-0
157 Mac Spotts Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University) DEC Nic Jarvis Mount Vernon, IA (Cornell College), 4-2
157 Mac Spotts Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University) F Eric Milks New Bern, NC (UNC-Pembroke), 4:19
157 Raymond Jazikoff New York, NY (New York University) DEC Mac Spotts Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University), 5-1
157 Mac Spotts Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University) DEC Tyler Makosy Lumberton, NC (UNC-Pembroke), 11-10

Cody Nelson - 6th Place with a 2-3 record
165 Cody Nelson Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University) F Josh Watts Pembroke, NC (UNC-Pembroke), 1:54
165 Cody Nelson Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University) F Dylan Schwartz Allentown, PA (Muhlenberg), 4:26
165 Lucas Jeske Minneapolis, MN (Augsburg) F Cody Nelson Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University), 2:09
165 Tucker Black Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University) DEC Cody Nelson Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University), 8-5
165 Joe Scott Lynchburg, VA (Liberty University) MD Cody Nelson Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University), 19-6
 
Tucker Black - 4th Place with a 5-2 record
165 Tucker Black Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University) F Dylan Millson Williamstown, MA (Williams), 1:16
165 Tucker Black Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University) TF Brysen Thorpe Pembroke, NC (UNC-Pembroke), 18-2
165 Brady Mcfarland Minneapolis, MN (Augsburg) F Tucker Black Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University), 4:39
165 Tucker Black Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University) MD Yo Akiyama Williamstown, MA (Williams), 18-10
165 Tucker Black Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University) F James Murdoch New York, NY (New York University), 3:59
165 Tucker Black Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University) DEC Cody Nelson Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University), 8-5
165 Dylan Schwartz Allentown, PA (Muhlenberg) DEC Tucker Black Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University), 4-3
 
Jordan Gundrum - 2nd Place with a 4-1 record
174 Jordan Gundrum Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University) DEC Solomon Nielsen Minneapolis, MN (Augsburg), 6-0
174 Jordan Gundrum Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University) F Matt Ferraro Cleveland, OH (John Carroll University), 0:28
174 Jordan Gundrum Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University) F Wylie Allen Mount Vernon, IA (Cornell College), 3:58
174 Jordan Gundrum Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University) F Brandon Sloop Pembroke, NC (UNC-Pembroke), 2:18
174 Tanner Vassar Minneapolis, MN (Augsburg) DEC Jordan Gundrum Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University), 13-7

Nick Georgean - 6th Place with a 3-3 record
174  Tanner Vassar Minneapolis, MN (Augsburg) TF Nick Georgean Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University), 16-0
174 Nick Georgean Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University) F Valentin Bogachev Collegeville, PA (Ursinus College), 1:23
174 Nick Georgean Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University) F Maykel Dolorit New York, NY (New York University), 1:49
174 Nick Georgean Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University) DEC Joey Dimartino Pembroke, NC (UNC-Pembroke), 6-4 SV
174 Brandon Sloop Pembroke, NC (UNC-Pembroke) DEC Nick Georgean Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University), 9-3
174 Tone Fuenffinger Minneapolis, MN (Augsburg) DEC Nick Georgean Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University), 6-0

Dalton Hahn - 6th Place with a 3-3 record
184 Dalton Hahn Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University) DEC Jimmy Suhayda Cleveland, OH (John Carroll University), 6-1
184 Dalton Hahn Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University) MD Carl Sangree Williamstown, MA (Williams), 11-1
184 Dalton Hahn Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University) MD Jackson Kligerman New York, NY (New York University), 11-3
184 Sebatian Larson Minneapolis, MN (Augsburg) DEC Dalton Hahn Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University), 4-3 SV
184 Faris Teia Pembroke, NC (UNC-Pembroke) DEC Dalton Hahn Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University), 2-0
184 Joe Cutugno Rochester, NY (Rochester Institute of Technology) DEC Dalton Hahn Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University), 4-1

Jamie Gehling - 7th Place with a 4-2 record
184 Jamie Gehling Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University) DEC Johnny Zarnke Minneapolis, MN (Augsburg), 2-1
184 Jamie Gehling Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University) MD Tommy Desisto Allentown, PA (Muhlenberg), 11-0
184 Darian Edwards Pembroke, NC (UNC-Pembroke) DEC Jamie Gehling Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University), 11-9 SV
184 Jamie Gehling Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University) F Joe Keller Mount Vernon, IA (Cornell College), 2:45
184 Faris Teia Pembroke, NC (UNC-Pembroke) DEC Jamie Gehling Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University), 3-1 SV
184 Jamie Gehling Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University) DEC Ben Maack Collegeville, PA (Ursinus College), 3-1
 
Nick Baumler - Champion with a 4-0 record
197 Nick Baumler Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University) DEC Wyatt Richardson Minneapolis, MN (Augsburg), 6-1
197 Nick Baumler Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University) MD Sebastian Dziadkiewicz Williamstown, MA (Williams), 14-3
197 Nick Baumler Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University) DEC Jack La corte New York, NY (New York University), 7-2
197 Nick Baumler Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University) DEC Gennaro Cerminara Allentown, PA (Muhlenberg), 11-6

Logan Hopp - Champion with a 4-0 record
285 Logan Hopp Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University) TF Owen Albanese Rochester, NY (Rochester Institute of Technology), 15-0
285 Logan Hopp Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University) DEC Ethan Hofacker Minneapolis, MN (Augsburg), 8-3
285 Logan Hopp Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University) F Santino Pelusi New York, NY (New York University), 3:00
285 Logan Hopp Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University) DEC Tyler Ortmann Mount Vernon, IA (Cornell College), 5-3

Triston Westerlund - 3rd Place with a 5-1 record
285 Triston Westerlund Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University) TF Andrew Colborn Lumberton, NC (UNC-Pembroke), 17-2
285 Austin Amos Lynchburg, VA (Liberty University) DEC Triston Westerlund Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University), 4-3 TB2
285 Triston Westerlund Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University) F Sam Rothstein Allentown, PA (Muhlenberg), 1:45
285 Triston Westerlund Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University) DEC Tim Mandyck Minneapolis, MN (Augsburg), 7-0
285 Triston Westerlund Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University) M FOR Santino Pelusi New York, NY (New York University)
285 Triston Westerlund Fayette, IA (Upper Iowa University) DQ Jacob Lill New York, NY (New York University)