The New Year has brought a second set of regular season rankings from the National Wrestling Coaches Association. Upper Iowa is ranked No. 14 in the Division II Coaches Poll that was released on Dec. 31, 2021. Three Peacocks are ranked in the individual rankings as well with
Kaden Anderlik,
Eric Faught and
Chase Luensman all earning a spot in the top 12 in their respective weight classes.
This season, Upper Iowa wrestlers (including unattached matches) have won 186 bouts in 281 matches claiming a win percentage of 66.2%. The squad has posted 86 bonus-point wins including 48 falls, 10 tech falls and 28 major decisions. UIU has competed in three open tournaments and three duals through the first half of the season. In the open tournaments, Upper Iowa grabbed 13 weight class titles and 13 more runner-up finishes. The Peacocks are 2-1 in duals after a 23-15 win over Ouachita Baptist University, a 29-9 loss at No. 15 Augustana University, and a home-opening 32-6 win over the University of Central Missouri to close out their competitions before the break.
Luensman claims the No. 4 ranking at 157 pounds in the latest release. The Monticello, Iowa product is 11-1 this season with four bonus-point wins including a fall, two tech falls and a major decision.
Anderlik returns to the rankings for the first time this season at 133 pounds claiming the No. 6 spot. Currently 9-1, the former Crestwood prep has five bonus-point wins thanks to three falls, a tech fall and a major.
Faught suffered his first loss of the season in UIU's rout of Central Missouri, but remains one of the top wrestlers in the country at 149 pounds. The Clear Lake, Iowa native is 9-1 on the year with a pair of falls and three major decisions.
The Peacocks are back in Fayette training for the upcoming NWCA Multi-Divisional National Duals in Louisville, Kentucky on Thursday and Friday, Jan. 6-7. The huge event will take place at the Kentucky International Convention Center and features 24 NCAA Division II teams, 23 Division III teams, 16 women's teams from NCAA schools, 16 NAIA men's teams, 16 NAIA women's teams and six NJCAA teams.
