The No. 8 Peacock wrestling team moved to 4-0 in the Northern Sun Conference and 11-2 overall thanks to a 22-13 win over No. 17 Northern State University. Upper Iowa won six of the ten matches in the dual including two with bonus points to earn the victory. Northern State is now 5-5 overall and 1-4 in conference action.
 
The Wolves opened the dual with three straight wins at 165, 174 and 184 pounds to build a 10-0 lead. After No. 9 James Burks put together a 16-4 major decision at 165 pounds, Northern State edged Upper Iowa in slim decisions to gain an early advantage. Tanner Wiese got a takedown against Dalton Nelson to post a 3-1 sudden victory at 174 pounds, and No. 11 Marcus Placide outlasted No. 10 Dalton Hahn for a 3-0 decision fueled by a penalty point, an escape and a ride time point.
 
Trailing 10-0, the Peacocks got on a roll thanks to a major decision from No. 1 Nick Baumler. Baumler scored his 23^rd win of the season with a 12-4 major decision over Diego Gallegos on the back of five takedowns for the West Union, Iowa native. One match later, the Peacocks had the score knotted at 10-10 after No. 12 Triston Westerlund posted a win by fall over Caleb Lefferdink just two minutes into the match (2:02).
 
The Peacocks kept the momentum rolling with two more wins at 125 and 133. Philip Ihde claimed a 5-3 decision behind a takedown in each of the first two periods. No. 4 Justin Folley registered an 8-2 decision over No. 5 Dayne Morton in a matchup of two of the nation's best. Folley took advantage of a second-period takedown and a four-point nearfall in the third.
 
After the four straight victories, the Peacocks held a 16-10 lead with three bouts to go. Northern State pulled within three thanks to a 10-3 win by Kenny Jones over Tate Murty at 141 pounds.
 
Freshman Chase Luensman got Upper Iowa back into the win column thanks to a 10-6 win over No. 8 Caden Moore. A pair of takedowns in the first period and two more in the third period fueled Luensman's third win over nationally-ranked foes in the last six duals for the Peacocks.
 
Leading 19-13, Mac Spotts toed the line for UIU in the night's final match at 157. Spotts notched a 6-2 decision highlighted by a takedown in the opening frame and two reversals in the final period.
 
Upper Iowa will return home to Dorman Memorial Gymnasium on Sunday, Jan. 26 for a 2 p.m. NSIC dual. The Peacocks will host the Dragons of Minnesota State University Moorhead.
 
No. 8 Upper Iowa 22 – No. 17 Northern State 13
165: No. 9 James Burks (NSU) over Chance Throndson (UIU) (MD 16-4)
174: Tanner Wiese (NSU) over Dalton Nelson (UIU) (SV-1 3-1)
184: No. 11 Marcus Placide (NSU) over No. 10 Dalton Hahn (UIU) (Dec 3-0)
197: No. 1 Nick Baumler (UIU) over Diego Gallegos (NSU) (MD 12-4)
285: No. 12 Triston Westerlund (UIU) over Caleb Lefferdink (NSU) (Fall 2:02)
125: Philip Ihde (UIU) over Landen Fischer (NSU) (Dec 5-3)
133: No. 4 Justin Folley (UIU) over No. 5 Dayne Morton (NSU) (Dec 8-2)
141: Kenny Jones (NSU) over Tate Murty (UIU) (Dec 10-3)
149: Chase Luensman (UIU) over No. 8 Caden Moore (NSU) (Dec 10-6)
157: Mac Spotts (UIU) over Bryan Burnett (NSU) (Dec 6-2)