The No. 19 Peacocks and No. 9 Mavericks of Minnesota State University, Mankato locked up in a Northern Sun Conference dual full of ups and downs for both squads. The two teams each won five matches including three decisions and a pair of bonus-point wins each. While Upper Iowa posted a pair of major decisions, the Mavericks edged their guests by a single point on the final scoreboard thanks to a major and a tech fall in the final bout of the night.

The Mavericks came away with the 18-17 victory to improve to 4-1 overall and 2-0 in the conference, while UIU falls to 4-4 overall and 1-1 in the NSIC.

The dual began at 157 pounds where Tucker Black got the Peacocks off to a good start with a 6-4 win in the first tiebreaker period. Black and Daniel Close entered the extra period tied at 3-3, but Black scored an escape and takedown in his 30 seconds from the bottom to secure the win.

Minnesota State scored wins at 165 and 174 to get ahead 6-3 in the early going. Logan Saltou defeated Brock Benitz (No. 8) by a slim 8-7 decision, while Zach Johnston (No. 4) outlasted UIU's Jordan Gundrum for a 13-10 decision.

Upper Iowa was able to bounce back with three straight wins at 184, 197 and heavyweight to claim a 13-6 lead. Dalton Hahn picked up a takedown in the sudden victory period to post a 6-4 win over Trevor Tuff at 184 pounds and Triston Westerlund recorded an 8-4 decision over Max Villnow. Between the two wins, UIU got their first bonus-points of the dual with a 16-5 major decision thanks to the hard work of Nick Baumler (No. 9), who recorded seven takedowns in the bout.

 After the three wins, the Peacocks held a 13-6 lead with four matches to go.

Minnesota State's Andrew McFall posted an 18-6 major decision at 125 pounds to pull the Mavericks within three, 13-10.

With the match difference separated by just three points, 13-10, the Taylor Center's attention focused on the featured match of the night between George Farmah (No. 1) and Justin Folley (No. 7). Farmah scored the first takedown, but Folley took over the remainder of the bout scoring a 13-5 major decision fueled by three takedowns and a two-point nearfall. The victory pushed UIU's lead to 17-10 with two matches left.

  Louie Sanders registered a 5-3 decision at 141 pounds over Ryan Schmalen to pull the Mavericks within striking distance 17-13. No. 7 Kyle Rathman closed out his match with Chase Seaney with a flurry of scores to post a dual-winning technical fall (20-5).

Upper Iowa will stay away from home tonight and return to the mat in Marshall, Minn. on Friday night. The Peacocks and Mustangs of Southwest Minnesota State University are scheduled to begin their dual at 7 p.m.

 

Minnesota State 18, Upper Iowa 17

157: Tucker Black (UIU) wins 6-4 decision (TB1) vs. Daniel Close (MSU) | 3-0 UIU

165: Logan Saltou (MSU) wins 8-7 decision vs. Brock Benitz (UIU) | 3-3

174: Zach Johnston (MSU) wins 13-10 decision vs. Jordan Gundrum (UIU) | 6-3 MSU

184: Dalton Hahn (UIU) wins 6-4 decision (SV) vs. Trevor Turriff (MSU) | 6-6

197: Nick Baumler (UIU) wins 16-5 major decision vs. Dylan Butts (MSU) | 10-6 UIU

285: Triston Westerlund (UIU) wins 8-4 decision vs. Max Villnow (MSU) | 13-6 UIU

125: Andrew McFall (MSU) wins 18-6 major decision vs. Maleek Williams (UIU) | 13-10 UIU

133: Justin Foley (UIU) wins 13-5 major decision vs. George Farmah (MSU) | 17-10 UIU

141: Louie Sanders (MSU) wins 5-3 decision vs. Ryan Schmalen (UIU) | 17-13 UIU

149: Kyle Rathman (MSU) wins 20-5 tech fall at 6:57 vs. Chase Seaney (UIU) | 18-17 MSU