Upper Iowa, who moved up to No. 9 in the NWCA Division II rankings released Friday afternoon, claimed six of the ten bouts at Minnesota State University, Mankato to put a final victory on their Northern Sun Conference tally. The Peacocks grabbed the 21-14 win to finish the regular season with a 10-5 dual record including a 6-3 mark in NSIC duals, which tied for third place with the University of Mary. MSU fell to 5-7 overall and 2-7 in the conference.
 
The win marked Upper Iowa's 90th victory in the conference since joining as an affiliate member in 2005-06 before the whole Peacock athletics department entered the Northern Sun as an official member in 2006-07. In 18 seasons, UIU has accumulated a conference record of 90-32 with three NSIC titles, three undefeated seasons and six seasons that ended with just one loss. In addition, the win gave Upper Iowa an 8-7 lead over Minnesota State in the career series which started 15 years ago.
 
No. 2 Chase Luensman (165) opened the dual for the Peacocks with a controlled 5-1 decision thanks to a second-period escape and a third-period takedown.
 
Mike Smith (174) and Brody Nielsen (184) posted a pair of one-point decisions outlasting Scott Kellenberger and Colter Bye to give the home team a 6-3 lead. The difference in the 174-pound match came down to a ride time point as Kellenberger's escape came a little too late to avoid the bonus point for Smith. In the 184-pound bout an illegal headlock was called on Bye and proved to be the difference after the UIU wrestler got a reversal in the second period, but surrendered a pair of escapes to Nielsen.
 
No. 7 Dalton Hahn scored four quick points in the first period fueled by a pair of takedowns and then added a final ride time point to win the 197-pound match by a 5-1 score and knot the dual at 6-all.
 
Jordan Baumler (285) took on Max Villnow in the heavyweight match and after each competitor scored an escape the bout went into a sudden victory period where Baumler got a big takedown to secure the 3-1 win just 17 seconds into overtime.
 
After Colby Lopez earned six points for the Peacocks thanks to a Maverick forfeit, Upper Iowa pushed ahead 15-6 with four matches to go.
 
No. 11 Kaden Anderlik took a 4-2 lead into the second period of the 133-pound bout thanks to a takedown and a reversal around a reversal by Isaiah Mlsna. Mlsna scored one more point on a pair of stalling calls, while Anderlik preserved his 5-3 win with a final ride time point.
 
Donny Schmit answered the call for Upper Iowa at 141 pounds against No. 12 Brock Luthens and scored a 5-3 decision in his final collegiate match to post the upset. Schmit scored first with a takedown and added a second takedown in the second period after an escape. The win pushed UIU's lead to 21-6 prior to the final two bouts.
 
Minnesota State secured a pair of major decisions at 149 and 157 pounds as Caleb Meunier defeated Chance Throndson 18-4 and Drake Hayward beat Jackson Rolfs 12-2 to add eight final points to MSU's total score.
 
Upper Iowa will now prepare for the NCAA Super Region V Championships in Aberdeen, S.D. on Feb. 25. The top three finishers in each weight class at the regional will earn a berth to the NCAA Division II Championships, which Upper Iowa Athletics is hosting at the Alliant Energy Power House in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Mar. 10-11.
 
No. 9 Upper Iowa 21 – Minnesota State 14
165: Chase Luensman (UIU) wins via 5-1 decision vs. Kole Marko (MSU) | 3-0 UIU
174: Mike Smith (MSU) wins via 2-1 decision vs. Scott Kellenberger (UIU) | Tied 3-3
184: Brody Nielsen (MSU) wins via 3-2 decision vs. Colter Bye (UIU) | 6-3 MSU
197: Dalton Hahn (UIU) wins via 5-1 decision vs. Tommy Johnson (MSU) | Tied 6-6
285: Jordan Baumler (UIU) wins via 3-1 decision vs. Max Villnow (MSU) | 9-6 UIU
125: Colby Lopez (UIU) wins via forfeit | 15-6 UIU
133: Kaden Anderlik (UIU) wins via 5-3 decision vs. Isaiah Mlsna (MSU) | 18-6 UIU
141: Donnie Schmidt (UIU) wins via 5-3 decision vs. Brock Luthens (MSU) | 21-6 UIU
149: Caleb Meunier (MSU) wins via 18-4 major decision vs. Chance Throndson (UIU) | 21-10 UIU
157: Drake Hayward (MSU) wins via 12-2 major decision vs. Jackson Rolfs (UIU) | 21-14 UIU