The Peacock wrestling team dropped their Northern Sun Conference dual at Augustana University 19-16 in a battle of teams tied for 19
th in the latest NCAA Division II Coaches Poll. Each team won four matches heading into the final two bouts; the Vikings took the match thanks to a pair of 3-1 sudden victories. The loss drops UIU's record to 9-4 overall and 5-2 in the NSIC, while Augie improved to 11-5 overall and remained undefeated in the conference at 5-0.
Maleek Williams (125) and
Josh Walker (133) gave Upper Iowa a quick 10-0 lead thanks to a 14-5 major decision by Williams and a second-period pin (4:30) by Walker. The Vikings got on the scoreboard with an 8-5 decision at 141 pounds as Oscar Ramirez-Hernandez Jr. defeated UIU's
Jordan Roths.
Damian Penichet made it 13-3 in favor of the Peacocks with a 3-0 win at 149 pounds.
Augustana began to rally behind a 2-1 decision at 157 pounds by Tyler Nation over
Zak Benitz. The Vikings picked up a second straight win at 165 pounds as Mitchell Rechtzigel defeated
Colbey Vance 5-2 thanks to a pair of takedowns. The two wins pulled Augie within four 13-9.
Dalton Westerlund earned UIU's final points of the night with a 7-5 win over Lukas Poloncic at 174 pounds. Aero Amo (#5) earned a major decision at 184 pounds over
Nick Baumler 11-3 cutting the deficit to 16-13.
Ben Goodwin (197) and Michael Lowman (285) both outlasted their Peacock opponents with 3-1 sudden victories. In the 197 bout, Goodwin and
Ryan Parmely both scored an escape prior to overtime and Goodwin hit a takedown to tie the match at 16-16. In the heavyweight match, Lowman and
Logan Hopp each scored an escape and Lowman defended a shot from Hopp and countered to get the match-winning takedown.
Upper Iowa will host #1 St. Cloud State University on Thursday at 7 p.m. on Senior Night in Fayette. The dual will be the final action for the Peacocks until the NCAA Division II Super Region 3 Tournament in Moorhead, Minn. over the last weekend in February.
