No. 9 Upper Iowa lined up against the No. 23 University of Mary on Saturday afternoon in Bismarck, N.D. to open the Northern Sun Conference season. The highly anticipated dual didn't disappoint and was still up for grabs heading into the final bout. The Marauders and Peacocks both won five matches, but the home team scored a 3-1 advantage in major decisions to score two extra points and secure a 21-19 win. The victory marked UMary's first win over UIU in program history.
Nick Baumler got the dual started off on the right foot at 197 pounds with a 14-5 major decision thanks to six takedowns. Triston Westerlund made it 7-0 in favor of the Peacocks with a 7-4 win at heavyweight fueled by a reversal and a takedown in the final period. Maleek Williams followed with his first win of the season at 125 pounds; the redshirt junior has battled at 133 pounds so far in 2017. Williams used two first period takedowns to score a 5-3 win and put the Peacocks ahead 10-0.
The dual began to turn in the 133-pound match. Josh Walker, who also made his first appearance in a lighter weight class than previously this season. Walker led 3-0 heading into the final period where Tate Barnhardt was able to score an escape and two takedowns to rally for a 5-4 win over Walker.
The Marauders then posted a pair of major decision at 141 pounds thanks to a Hunter Eckert Jr. 9-1 win over Aaron Baker and a Rudy Guillen 19-7 victory over Damian Penichet. The bonus points allowed UMary to take an 11-10 lead.
Brock Benitz (157) recorded his team-high ninth win by fall (1:16) to halt the Marauder run and jump the Peacocks back out in front, 16-11. UMary answered with a fall of their own as Phillip Springsteen pinned Tucker Black at 165 pounds at the 4:39 point in the match. With two matches to go, the Marauders now had a one-point lead, 17-16. Austin Eichmann posted a 15-5 major decision at 174 pounds over Jordan Gundrum highlighted by five takedowns and four nearfall points. The third major decision for UMary gave the home squad a 21-16 lead heading into the final match.
Jamie Gehling scored a pair of takedowns in the 184 pound match and got the 6-2 win by decision, but the team came up short as UMary scored the big 21-19 dual victory.
Upper Iowa will be right back on the mat at 2 p.m .on Sunday. The Peacocks will challenge the Beavers of Minot State Uinversity in Minot, N.D. in another Northern Sun Conference dual.
#23 UMary 21 - #9 Upper Iowa 19
197: Nick Baumler (UIU) over Jacob Green (MARY) (MD 14-5)
285: Triston Westerlund (UIU) over Dominic Tudor (MARY) (Dec 7-4)
125: Maleek Williams (UIU) over Nate Humann (MARY) (Dec 5-3)
133: Tate Barnhardt (MARY) over Josh Walker (UIU) (Dec 5-4)
141: Hunter Eckert (MARY) over Aaron Baker Jr (UIU) (MD 9-1)
149: Rudy Guillen (MARY) over Damian Penichet (UIU) (MD 19-7)
157: Brock Benitz (UIU) over Jordan Hegel (MARY) (Fall 1:16)
165: Phillip Springsteen (MARY) over Tucker Black (UIU) (Fall 4:39)
174: Austin Eichmann (MARY) over Jordan Gundrum (UIU) (MD 15-5)
184: Jamie Gehling (UIU) over Jackson Schichel (MARY) (Dec 6-2)
