Upper Iowa improved to 5-4 overall and 2-1 in the Northern Sun Conference with a 25-8 victory over the Mustangs of Southwest Minnesota State. The Peacocks are ranked No. 19 in the latest NCAA DII Wrestling Coaches Association Top 25, while the Mustangs were receiving votes in the poll. UIU won eight of the ten bouts including one by tech fall and two in sudden victory.

Maleek Williams got the night started on the right foot with a 19-4 tech fall victory at 125 pounds over Ben Emrich to push the Peacocks out to an early 5-0 lead. Williams scored five takedowns and a pair of four-point nearfalls in the match.

Justin Folley (No. 7) followed with his second win in as many days at 133 pounds. Folley used three takedowns, an escape and a ride time point to pick up an 8-3 decision over Brock Buysse.

Ryan Schmalen kept the momentum on UIU's side with a 3-1 decision at 141 pounds over Jordan Biehn. Schmalen trailed 1-0 heading into the final period but an early reversal and a ride time point was all that he needed to post UIU's third win.

The Mustangs rallied at 149 pounds and 157 pounds to pull within three, 11-8. Justin Haneke recorded a 21-4 tech fall over Ryan Roth, who made his varsity debut for the Peacocks. Roth's four points came on a pair of reversals. Cortez Arredondo (No. 8) outlasted Mac Spotts for a 5-2 decision.

Brock Benitz (No. 8) returned UIU to the win column at 165 pounds with a 4-2 decision over Kegen Fingalsen fueled by an early takedown and a ride time point.

Jordan Gundrum scored an 8-3 decision over Dru Kuchenbaker thanks to a pair of takedowns and two escapes moving UIU ahead 17-8.

Dalton Hahn (No. 10) registered a sudden victory takedown for the second night in a row. Hahn claimed the bout against Griffin Osing by a 3-1 count.

At 197 pounds, the Peacocks sent Nick Baumler (No. 9) to the mat and he delivered a 5-2 decision over Cole Hennen thanks to a takedown in both the second and third periods.

Triston Westerlund claimed the final bout of the night when he scored a takedown in the second sudden victory period of the match. Both Westerlund and Andrew Peterson both picked up an escape in regulation, but needed extra time to decide the outcome.

Upper Iowa will stay on the road for their next two Northern Sun duals. The Peacocks will head to Minnesota State University Moorhead on Saturday, Jan. 26 and Augustana University on Sunday, Jan. 27. Both duals are set to begin at 2 p.m.

No. 19 Upper Iowa 25 - Southwest Minnesota State 8

125: Maleek Williams wins by tech fall (19-4) over Ben Emrich. SMSU 0, UIU 5
133: Justin Folley (No. 7) wins by decision (8-3) over Brock Buysse. SMSU 0, UIU 8
141: Ryan Schmalen wins by decision (3-1) over Jordan Biehn. SMSU 0, UIU 11
149: Justin Haneke wins by tech fall (21-4) over Ryan Roth (6-14) SMSU 5, UIU 11
157: Cortez Arredondo (No. 8) wins by decision (5-2) over Mac Spotts. SMSU 8, UIU 11
165: Brock Benitz (No. 8) wins by decision (4-2) over Kegen Fingalsen. SMSU 8, UIU 14
174: Jordan Gundrum wins by decision (8-3) over Dru Kuchenbaker. SMSU 8, UIU 17
184: Dalton Hahn (No. 10) wins by sudden victory (SV-1 3-1) over Griffin Osing. SMSU 8, UIU 20
197: Nick Baumler (No. 9) wins by decision (5-2) over Cole Hennen. SMSU 8, UIU 23
285: Triston Westerlund wins by sudden victory (SV-2 4-2) over Andrew Petersen. SMSU 8, UIU 26
** UIU lost one point due to an unsportsmanlike penalty.