CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – Session I of the 2018 NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships at the U.S. Cellular Center came to a close on Friday afternoon, and the Peacocks picked up four opening-round wins to advance to the championship side of the bracket. Maleek Williams (125), Josh Walker (133), Damian Penichet (149), and Nick Baumler (197) each advanced with wins, while Dalton Hahn (184) and Logan Hopp (285) moved to the consolation side with defeats.
 
Upper Iowa as a team tallied eight points to position themselves into second place behind the defending national champion Falcons of Notre Dame College (Ohio) (13 points). California Baptist and St. Cloud State are tied for third place with 7.5 points, while McKendree and Nebraska-Kearney are tied for fifth with 7 points apiece.
 
The Grand March will take place inside the U.S. Cellular Center at 5:15 p.m. Friday night, and Session II will get underway at 6 p.m.
 
For everything involving the NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships, click HERE.
 
Maleek Williams put on a show in the opening round at 125 lbs against Blake Glogouski from Lake Erie College. Williams tallied 20 points with a plethora of takedowns and nearfall points to earn a 20-8 major decision win. The redshirt junior, now 28-9 on the season, will advance to take on Vincent Distefanis of Seton Hill (21-8), who earned a 7-5 decision in the opening session.

At 133 lbs, Josh Walker, the Central Region champion, put on a quick show against Noah Au-yeung of Colorado School of Mines. The redshirt-senior picked up a pin just 1:20 into the bout to score the only win by fall for Upper Iowa in the session. Walker (33-6) advances to match up with Kelan McKenna of Notre Dame (Ohio) (18-7), who earned a 2-0 decision in the opener.

Damian Penichet trailed in the opening moments of the session at 149, but put together an outstanding three periods with a 12-2 major decision over the University of Findlay's Josh Wimer. Penichet accumulated near-fall points late in the first, and kept adding to his total to round out the second major for the Peacocks. Penichet (27-10) moves on to battle the No. 1 ranked Taylor Misuna of Notre Dame (Ohio) (25-1), who won by fall (7:36) in the first round.

Dalton Hahn (184 lbs) suffered the first Upper Iowa defeat on Friday, dropping a 9-1 decision to Javaughn Perkins of Colorado State-Pueblo. Hahn trailed early on, and could not find enough points to comeback, and falls to the consolation side of the bracket. Hahn (25-16) will face Tony Vezzetti of Notre Dame (Ohio) (15-6), who lost 10-0 in the opener.

Nick Baumler (197 lbs) battled in the first round Friday to earn a hard-fought 3-1 victory over Jake Temple of Seton Hill. The two were scoreless the majority of the time, but Baumler battled back with a takedown late to secure the win. The sophomore is now 31-9, and will move on to battle Ashland's Luke Cramer (22-1), who won 3-1 in the opening bout.

Redshirt-senior Logan Hopp battled with Indianapolis' Dylan Faulkenberg at 285 lbs, but came up on the short end of an 8-4 final to fall to the consolation side of the bracket. Hopp trailed 6-0 early, and battled back with points, but could not complete the comeback. The heavyweight, now 11-4, will take on Damon Sims Jr. of Pittsburgh-Johnstown (15-8), who fell in the opening round, 16-4.

SESSION I RESULTS
125
Maleek Williams (28-9) place is unknown and scored 2.00 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 - Maleek Williams (Upper Iowa) 28-9 won by major decision over Blake Glogouski (Lake Erie) 17-7 (MD 20-8)

133
Josh Walker (33-6) place is unknown and scored 3.00 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 - Josh Walker (Upper Iowa) 33-6 won by fall over Noah Au-Yeung (Colo. Sch. of Mines) 14-9 (Fall 1:20)

149
Damian Penichet (27-10) place is unknown and scored 2.00 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 - Damian Penichet (Upper Iowa) 27-10 won by major decision over Josh Wimer (Findlay) 19-14 (MD 12-2)

184
Dalton Hahn (25-16) place is unknown and scored 0.00 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 - JaVaughn Perkins (Colorado St.-Pueblo) 14-2 won by major decision over Dalton Hahn (Upper Iowa) 25-16 (MD 9-1)

197
Nick Baumler (31-9) place is unknown and scored 1.00 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 - Nick Baumler (Upper Iowa) 31-9 won by decision over Jake Temple (Seton Hill) 20-9 (Dec 3-1)

285
Logan Hopp (11-4) place is unknown and scored 0.00 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 - Dylan Faulkenberg (UIndy) 29-2 won by decision over Logan Hopp (Upper Iowa) 11-4 (Dec 8-4)