The Peacocks had a good second day at the 2021 NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships thanks to the efforts of 197-pounder Zach Ryg and 141-pounder Tate Murty. After earning All-American honors on Friday, Ryg claimed third place with two dominating wins after a loss in the championship semifinals and Murty grabbed sixth place thanks to a win in his opening match of the day and two hard-fought losses. As a team, the Peacocks tied for 12th place in the final standings with 23.5 points.
 
In Murty's first match of the day, Branson Proudlock got the first takedown, but Murty quickly escaped to his feet. Murty came out of a long scramble with a cradle locked in for a takedown and four nearfall points as the opening period wound down. Murty added two more takedowns over the final two periods and came away with the 11-4 decision.
 
In the consolation semis, Murty lined up with Kelan McKenna of Notre Dame College in a rematch of their opening bout on Friday. McKenna registered four takedowns in the first two periods and Murty rode his opponent for whole final period, but dropped a 9-4 decision.
 
Murty toed the line against Christian Small of King University in the fifth-place match. UIU's sophomore from Fountain City, Wis. recorded a pair of takedowns in the bout including one at the final buzzer, but Small had put together too much time in his time on top and claimed the win 5-4 thanks to a final ride time point. Murty's run at the championships ended with an All-American honor, a 2-3 record and a sixth-place finish in the 141-pound bracket.
 
After a tough regular season in which the sophomore went 2-4, Murty put together a memorable regional tournament with five wins in six matches including three falls and a pair of majors and an All-American run at the NCAA Championships to finish the year with a 9-8 record thanks to seven wins in his last ten matches.
 
Ryg ran into a buzzsaw in the championship semis in the form of Ryan Vasbinder of McKendree University. Vasbinder, the nation's No. 1 ranked wrestler at 197 pounds scored a takedown just four seconds into the bout and began racking up ride time. In the end, the three-time All-American collected two takedowns, a third period escape and a ride time point to win 6-0.
 
The Plymouth, Iowa product dominated his match up in the consolation semifinals against Donald Negua of Colorado Mesa University. Ryg scored four takedowns and a pair of four-point nearfalls to secure a 17-4 major decision.
 
Ryg locked up with Joseph Reimers of the University of Nebraska-Kearney in the third-place match. Ryg dominated for a second straight match scoring five takedowns with the majority coming on single-leg shots to claim third at the championships. The redshirt freshman closed out his impressive first season with a 12-7 decision pushing his record to 12-1 on the year.
 
Full NCAA Division II Championships Results for Upper Iowa
197 - Zach Ryg (12-1) placed 3rd and scored 13.5 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Zach Ryg (Upper Iowa) 12-1 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal - Zach Ryg (Upper Iowa) 12-1 won by decision over Bryce Walker (UNC Pembroke) 11-6 (Dec 6-3)
Semifinal - Ryan Vasbinder (McKendree) 11-0 won by decision over Zach Ryg (Upper Iowa) 12-1 (Dec 6-0)
Cons. Semi - Zach Ryg (Upper Iowa) 12-1 won by major decision over Donald Negus (Colorado Mesa) 12-3 (MD 17-4)
3rd Place Match - Zach Ryg (Upper Iowa) 12-1 won by decision over Joseph Reimers (Neb.-Kearney) 16-4 (Dec 12-7)
 
141 - Tate Murty (9-8) placed 6th and scored 7.5 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Kelan McKenna (Notre Dame (OH)) 11-2 won by decision over Tate Murty (Upper Iowa) 9-8 (Dec 10-6)
Cons. Round 1 - Tate Murty (Upper Iowa) 9-8 received a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Round 2 - Tate Murty (Upper Iowa) 9-8 won by decision over Austin Hertel (Gannon) 5-3 (Dec 9-3)
Cons. Round 3 - Tate Murty (Upper Iowa) 9-8 won by decision over Branson Proudlock (Findlay) 8-5 (Dec 11-4)
Cons. Semi - Kelan McKenna (Notre Dame (OH)) 11-2 won by decision over Tate Murty (Upper Iowa) 9-8 (Dec 9-4)
5th Place Match - Christian Small (King) 13-4 won by decision over Tate Murty (Upper Iowa) 9-8 (Dec 5-4)
 
157 - Chase Luensman (9-3) scored 2.0 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Chase Luensman (Upper Iowa) 9-3 won by major decision over Colby Teague (Mount Olive) 8-7 (MD 10-0)
Quarterfinal - Ty Lucas (Central Okla.) 11-3 won by decision over Chase Luensman (Upper Iowa) 9-3 (Dec 7-3)
Cons. Round 2 - Will Evans (Newberry) 11-5 won by fall over Chase Luensman (Upper Iowa) 9-3 (Fall 1:14)
 
149 - Eric Faught (8-4) scored 0.5 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Noah Hermosillo (Adams St.) 9-4 won by decision over Eric Faught (Upper Iowa) 8-4 (Dec 6-1)
Cons. Round 1 - Eric Faught (Upper Iowa) 8-4 won by decision over Craig Cook (Davis & Elkins) 11-7 (Dec 3-1)
Cons. Round 2 - Sam Turner (Neb.-Kearney) 12-5 won by fall over Eric Faught (Upper Iowa) 8-4 (Fall 2:04)