The NWCA Division II Team and Individual Preseason Rankings are out and the Peacocks are ranked No. 11 in the country with 36 points. The University of Pittsburgh Johnstown was selected as the preseason favorite by the NWCA Division II Rankings Committee with 88 points, while the reigning NCAA Division II Champions from St. Cloud State University are ranked second with 82 points. McKendree University and the University of Nebraska at Kearney round out the top four with 71 and 68 points, respectively.
 
Three Northern Sun Conference schools are in the Preseason Top 25, while three more are receiving votes in the poll. The six NSIC schools include No. 2 St. Cloud State, No. 7 Minnesota State University, Mankato, No. 11 Upper Iowa, Minnesota State University Moorhead (RV), the University of Mary (RV) and Minot State University (RV). The rankings are based on a tournament methodology, not a team's dual strength.
 
Upper Iowa ended the 2018-19 season with a 15th place finish at the NCAA Division II Championships thanks to a pair of NCAA DII All-Americans in Nick Baumler, who placed third at 197 pounds, and Justin Folley, who placed seventh at 133 pounds.
 
The Peacock boast four individuals in the preseason rankings including Baumler and Folley. In addition to last year's Peacock All-Americans, Brock Benitz is ranked at 165 pounds, while Dalton Hahn is ranked in the 184-pound weight class.
 
Baumler, a two-time All-American at 197 pounds, was named the NSIC Preseason Wrestler of the Year a week ago. He is ranked No. 2 at 197 pounds in the preseason poll. Last season, Baumler posted a 26-8 mark and claimed third place at the NCAA Division II Championships. The West Union, Iowa product posted 11 bonus-point wins last year with 4 falls, a tech fall and 6 majors.
 
Folley, ranked No. 5 at 133 pounds in the preseason poll, earned an All-American honor in his first season with the Peacocks after transferring from Ellsworth Community College. The 133-pounder registered a win-loss record of 31-9 with 19 bonus-point wins including 11 falls, a tech fall and 7 majors.
 
Benitz, who claimed the runner-up spot at the NCAA Super Region V tournament, made his first appearance at the NCAA Championships last season. The Mosinee, Wis. product is ranked No. 6 at 165 pounds. He finished the season with a 16-7 mark and four bonus-point wins including 2 falls and 2 majors. Benitz fell one win shy of placing at the NCAA Championships and earning an All-American honor last season.
 
Hahn enters his third season with the Peacocks; he is ranked No. 12 at 184 pounds. The Loganville, Wis. native finished the 2018-19 campaign with a 27-10 record including 12 bonus-point victories including 9 falls and 3 majors. He was ranked nationally for portions of last season.
 
UIU opens their season with an underclassmen open tournament at Rochester C&TC on Nov. 2 before all classes will compete at the Millikin Open on Nov. 9. The Peacocks will open their home slate with a dual against Southwest Minnesota State on Dec. 12 and host Minnesota State University Moorhead, Augustana University and Minnesota State University, Mankato in the second semester.