BURNSVILLE, Minn. – The Northern Sun Conference released their Preseason Wrestling Coaches' Poll on Thursday and Upper Iowa was selected third with 66 points. St. Cloud State University, the ten-time defending NSIC Champions, was the unanimous choice to win the league with 81 points and all nine first place votes ahead of Minnesota State University, Mankato (69 points) and UIU.
 
Upper Iowa finished the 2020-21 shortened-season with a 3-3 dual meet record which included wins over Minnesota State University Moorhead, the University of Wis­consin-Parkside and Augustana University. Upper Iowa placed second as a team at the NCAA Super Region V Championships after claiming two region champions, a runner-up, two third-place finishes and a fourth-place finish. The Peacocks have nine of their ten regional championship wrestlers back this season and the team also returns all four NCAA Division II Championship qualifiers from a year ago in 2021-22.
 
The Peacocks, who are ranked No. 9 in the NWCA Preseason Coaches' Poll, placed 12th at the 2021 NCAA Division II Championships last March. UIU's finish was thanks to a pair of All-Americans including 197-pounder Zach Ryg (3rd) and 141-pounder Tate Murty (6th). Chase Luensman and Eric Faught both qualified and posted wins at the NCAA Championships coming up just one win shy of joining their team­mates as All-Americans.
 
"We return nine starters from the regional championship last year," said Grimm. "That group pushed us to a team runner-up finish and qualified four individuals to the NCAA tournament. This group of men work hard and believe they can accomplish great things!"
 
All four national qualifiers are ranked in the preseason national rankings as well. Ryg is ranked No. 2 at 197 pounds after posting a 12-1 record last year and claiming third place at the 2021 NCAA Division II Championships. Following the season, Ryg was named the NSIC Rookie of the Year and the NWCA Division II Rookie of the Year. 
 
Grimm continued, "Zach is farm tough! He's gritty, and he loves to grind. He has established himself as a team leader by how he attacks each and every workout."
 
Murty comes in at No. 4 in the 141-pound rankings. Murty went 9-8 last season, but won seven of his matches in the postseason including a 5-1 record at the NCAA Super Region V Championships and a 2-3 mark at the NCAA Division II Championships to claim sixth place in St. Louis, Mo. Faught grabbed the No. 8 ranking at 149 pounds. Faught was 8-4 last season with four wins by major decision. Luensman is ranked No. 9 at 157 pounds going 9-3 last year. Luensman won the NCAA Super Region V Championship with a 3-0 mark joining Ryg at the top of their respective podiums.
 
In addition to the four All-Americans, the Peacocks also welcome back regional competitors Donny Schmit, who placed third at 133 pounds at the regional, Kaden Anderlik, who placed fourth at 125 pounds at the regional, Scott Kellenberger (165), Jordan Baumler (285) and Myron Crawford (174).
 
The Peacocks will open their 2021-22 schedule at the Simpson College Open in Indianola, Iowa this Saturday, Nov. 6. Upper Iowa's first home action is slated for Sunday, Dec. 12; UIU will face the University of Central Missouri in Dorman Memorial Gymnasium at 2 p.m.