This Week in Peacock Wrestling... No. 6 Upper Iowa is in Las Vegas, Nev. for the 2019 Desert Duals hosted by Wartburg College on Sunday, Dec. 22. The Peacocks will wrestle in four duals on Sunday including action in the first round before battling in three straight rounds after sitting rounds two and three out. UIU will face Simon Fraser University, then match up against the University of North Carolina-Pembroke, Cloud County Community College and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
Live Options… Fans unable to attend can follow the live results through the links above or at UIUPeacocks.com/Live.
Scouting the Opponents… Simon Fraser, an NCAA Division II institution in Burnaby, British Columbia, is 0-3 on the season with a loss to Oregon State University and a pair of defeats to North Idaho College. UNC Pembroke is also an NCAA Division II school that comes into the Desert Duals with a 4-3 record and a No. 14 ranking in the latest NWCA Division II Top 25. The Braves, who are led by Nick Daggett (No. 3, 125) and Jon Miller (No. 5, 141), have wins over the University of Mount Olive, No. 17 Limestone College, Belmont Abbey College and Queens University. Cloud County comes into the duals with a 1-2 record thanks to a win over Wayland Baptist College and two losses to Iowa Western Community College and Chadron State College. Embry-Riddle is ranked No. 9 in the latest NAIA Top 20 Poll and boast five wrestlers in the individual rankings. The Eagles are 4-2 on the season with wins over Sierra College, Arizona Christian College, Wayland Baptist College and Morningside College.
Undefeated Start to Dual Season… Upper Iowa is 3-0 on the season with all three duals coming against Northern Sun Conference opponents. The Peacocks claimed a tight 20-19 victory in their Northern Sun Conference opener against Minot State University (RV); both teams won five matches on the night, but the Peacocks notched an extra bonus-point win to come out on top. UIU's victorious wrestlers included
Justin Folley,
Mac Spotts,
Dalton Nelson,
Dalton Hahn and
Nick Baumler. Hahn won by fall, while Folley and Baumler registered major decisions. Upper Iowa defeated the University of Mary on Saturday by a 28-6 count taking advantage of four major decisions within their eight wins in the dual. Winners included
Philip Ihde, Folley,
Ryan Schmalen,
Chance Throndson, Spotts, Hahn, Baumler and
Triston Westerlund. Ihde, Folley, Hahn and Baumler all recorded bonus-points for UIU. The Peacocks opened their home slate with a 28-6 win over Southwest Minnesota State University behind eight wins including one by major from Baumler and a win by fall from
Brock Benitz.
Probable Peacock Lineup…
Peacocks in the Rankings… Upper Iowa is ranked No. 6 in the country in the latest NWCA Division II Top 25 released by the Division II rankings committee. Individually, the Peacocks boast four individuals in the rankings including a pair of NCAA Division II All-Americans in
Nick Baumler (197) and
Justin Folley (133). Baumler is ranked No. 1 in the nation, while Folley is ranked No. 4 in his weight class. In addition to last year's Peacock All-Americans,
Brock Benitz is ranked No. 4 at 165 pounds, while
Dalton Hahn is ranked No. 11 in the 184-pound weight class.
Looking Ahead… The Peacocks will return to action in the New Year at the NIACC Open in Mason City on Saturday, Jan. 4. Upper Iowa will then travel to Louisville, Kent. To compete in the NWCA National Duals on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 10-11.
