THIS WEEK IN PEACOCK MEN'S WRESTLING… The Peacocks are set to compete in their first GLVC dual of the season at home as they host Davenport University on Friday at 7 p.m.
DIGITAL GAMEDAY PROGRAM… Fans can access an interactive and digital program for UIU's home duals at any time at UIUPeacocks.com/Programs. The digital programs are available to fans both at our duals and those at home watching the action. QR Codes will be located around the facility to scan with your cell phone's camera that will link you directly to that game's specific digital program.
LIVE OPTIONS… Live scoring and a webcast for the dual will be available through the links at UIUPeacocks.com/LIVE and included with this story.
GLVC PRESEASON POLL… Upper Iowa men's wrestling was selected third in the annual Great Lakes Valley Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Peacocks collected 26 points in the poll, six shy of McKendree who came in second with 32 points and two first-place votes.
The University of Indianapolis was voted as the choice to win the GLVC wrestling championship after amassing 35 points and five first-place votes. The Greyhounds are coming off their first-ever conference title last season, as well as returning the GLVC Wrestler of the Year, Derek Blubaugh.
| RK. |
SCHOOL |
PTS (1st-Place Votes) |
| 1. |
UIndy |
35 (5) |
| 2. |
McKendree |
32 (2) |
| 3. |
Upper Iowa |
26 |
| 4. |
Drury |
19 |
| 5. |
Maryville |
18 |
6.
7. |
Quincy
Davenport |
9
8 |
THE NATIONAL SCENE… Upper Iowa men's wrestling was voted ninth in the most recent NWCA National Poll and had four athletes listed in the individual rankings.
Chase Luensman led the way at 165 as the top-ranked wrestler, followed by
Tate Murty listed second at 141,
James Davis in ninth at 133 and
Eric Faught 11
th at 157.
NO. 9 UPPER IOWA TEAM LEADERS… So far this season,
Dawson Schmit and
Jackson Heaston (who have wrestled unattached in open events), have both acquired 11 wins to pace the team, while Schmit also leads in takedowns. The program has seen 126 total wins so far this year after their completion of open meets. They have collected 47 falls, 26 tech falls, 22 major decisions and 27 decisions.
THE LEGACY… Head Coach
Heath Grimm returns for his 24th season at the helm of the men's wrestling team. He holds an overall dual meet record of 218-85-3 (.712) and a mark of 91-33 (.734) in the team's former league, the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference
During his tenure, Grimm has led the Peacocks to nine top-11 national finishes, including a second-place finish (program best) in 2002; in which six Peacocks were named All Americans (program best), a third-place finish in 2010, where UIU earned four All Americans including a National Champion, a National Runner Up, two third place finishers, and two fourth-place finishes (2011, 2018). In 2011 the Peacocks earned five All American including a National Champion, a third-place, a fifth-place and two sixth places. In 2018, UIU earned four All-Americans, including a National Champion and a National Runner-Up. In 2023, UIU earned three All-Americans, including a National Champion.
IOWA STRONG… Peacock men's wrestling is comprised of a large number of student-athletes that originate from the Hawkeye State. Out of 34 wrestlers in the program, 21 of them hail from Iowa, including returning National Champion
Chase Luensman, a native of Monticello, Iowa. Six other wrestlers in Friday's probable lineup are local talents;
Jackson Rolfs (Decorah, Iowa),
Lawson Losee (Riceville, Iowa),
Cael Meyer (Dundee, Iowa),
Colter Bye (Cresco, Iowa),
Jordan Baumler (West Union, Iowa) and Mitchell Marr (Riceville, Iowa).
PROBABLE LINEUP FOR THE PEACOCKS…
SCOUTING THE PANTHERS…Davenport University was selected seventh in the GLVC preseason poll after finishing 0-9 (0-7 GLVC) on the season last year. They have a No.11 ranked wrestler at 125, Manuel Leija, who has not competed yet this season. The Panthers defeated Cleary University in their first dual of the season 37-12 and were led by Ferdando Pena prevailing by tech fall (19-2, 2:26), Ethan Ramsey succeeding by tech fall (21-2, 1:33) and Lucas Nagle with a 5-2 decision over his opponent at 141.
DOWN THE ROAD… Upper Iowa men's wrestling is back on the mat on Dec. 16-17 as they compete in the Midwest Classic, held on the campus of the University of Indianapolis.
