Peacock men's wrestling is preparing for next season with the addition of 12 recruits; nine freshmen and three transfers. "We are excited to bring in a great mix of talent and weight class coverage," said Head Coach
Heath Grimm. "Each of these young men has experienced high success on the mat thus far. We are eager to get them all here in the fall to begin the process of accomplishing big things at the next level".
In the freshman class, six hail from the state of Iowa, while the other three originate from the states of Minnesota, Illinois and Missouri. The nine combined for 1,293 career wins with a senior-year record of 394-34. Each of them qualified for the state tournament, with eight of them medaling. Five of them reached the state finals and three of them were crowned individual state champions. Two incoming transfers were previously at a DII institution, while one comes to Upper Iowa from a two-year community college. One has qualified for the NCAA Championships twice, and another the NJCAA National Championships twice. At the same time, one is a two-year starter who placed fourth at the Regional Championships twice, one spot away from qualifying for the NCAA Championships.
"This group brings diverse talent, leadership and experience that encompasses all of the characteristics Peacock wrestling is looking for," added Assistant Coach
Jordan Roths.
The 2023-24 Peacock wrestling team finished the season with a 9-5 record, a 5-1 mark in the Great Lakes Valley Conference and a share of the GLVC Championship Title.
A pair of All-Americans,
Chase Luensman and
Tate Murty, led the Peacocks to a 17th-place finish at the 2024 NCAA Division II Championships. Luensman (165) concluded his wrestling career at UIU with a second-place finish at the 2024 NCAA Championships. Murty earned his career-best finish at the NCAA Championships this year, placing fifth.
In December, Upper Iowa placed fourth at the 44th Annual Midwest Classic with 108.5 points behind five place winners in Indianapolis, Ind. Next month at the NWCA National Duals, UIU posted a 2-1 record on day one to claim a spot in the top eight after entering the event unseeded. The eighth-place finish marked the 14th time in the last 16 years that UIU placed in the prestigious event. UIU defeated Ashland (38-4) and Northern State (31-6).
The National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) unveiled the 2024 NCAA Division II Men's Team Scholar All-America top 25 team rankings in early April. Upper Iowa was ranked 24th behind a 3.128 GPA and boasted five individual Scholar All-Americans;
Cameron Lopez,
James Davis,
Tate Murty,
Chase Luensman and
Jordan Baumler.
The incoming class will be under the tutelage of Head Coach
Heath Grimm and Assistant Coach
Jordan Roths. Grimm holds an overall dual meet record of 227-90-3 (.716) and a mark of 91-33 (.734) in the NSIC and 5-1 (.833) in the GLVC. Grimm will enter his 25th season in 2024-25 and Roths will enter his third.
FRESHMEN
Caleb Olson (Union LaPorte City HS, Iowa)
- Projected weight class: 157lb
- Senior- State Champion (47-1)
- Junior- 7th place (28-4)
- Sophomore- 5th place (46-6)
- Freshman- 19-8
- Overall record of 140-19
MaKade Bloker (North Butler Clarksville HS, Iowa)
- Projected weight class: 184/197lb
- Senior- State Champion (40-0)
- Junior- 4th place (39-3)
- Sophomore- 5th place (36-8)
- Freshman- 12-2 (Injury)
- Overall record of 127-13
Nick Mueller (Dunlap HS, Ill.)
- Projected weight class: 165lb
- Senior- State Champion (43-3)
- Junior- State Runner-up (43-8)
- Sophomore- State qualifier (34-6)
- Freshman- 16-5 (COVID-19)
- Overall record of 136-22
Tanner Arjes (North Butler Clarksville HS, Iowa)
- Projected weight class: 133lb
- Senior- State runner-up (46-1)
- Junior- State runner-up (46-2)
- Sophomore- 5th place (45-6)
- Freshman- 5th place (35-5)
- Overall record of 172-12
Owen Denstad (Caledonia-Houston HS, Minn.)
- Projected weight class: 149lb
- Senior- State runner-up (51-1)
- Junior- 3rd place (48-5)
- Sophomore- 3rd place (46-5)
- Freshman- 4th place (25-6)
- Overall record of 170-17
James Lovelady (Liberty North HS, Mo.)
- Projected weight class: 141lb
- Senior- 4th place (49-4)
- Junior- State qualifier (37-13)
- Sophomore- 30-9
- Freshman- State qualifier (31-10)
- Overall record of 147-36
Braxton Westendorf (Waverly HS, Iowa)
- Projected weight class: 174lb
- Senior- 5th place (34-9)
- Junior- 20-4
- Sophomore- 8th place (32-17)
- Freshman- State qualifier (26-15)
- Overall record of 112-45
Kaden Kremer (Independence HS, Iowa)
- Projected weight class: 141lb
- Senior- 7th place (42-9)
- Junior- State qualifier (38-12)
- Sophomore- 36-11
- Freshman- 6th place (44-14)
- Overall record of 160-46
Jonah Luensman (Monticello HS, Iowa
- Projected weight class: 125lb
- Senior- State qualifier (42-6)
- Junior- State qualifier (42-8)
- Sophomore- 32-11
- Freshman- 13-12
- Overall record of 129-37
TRANSFERS
Ryan Wehner (Lake Erie College / Bad Axe HS, Ohio)
- Weight class: 133lb
- 2023-24: NCAA DII National Qualifier (18-12)
- 2022-23: NCAA DII National Qualifier (18-10)
- 2021-22: 18-15
- 2020-21: Redshirt
- Overall record of 55-41
Clayton Ours (Tiffin University / Delaware Hayes HS, Ohio)
- Weight class: HWT
- 2023-24: 4th place at Super Regionals (13-6)
- 2022-23: 4th place at Super Regionals (23-12)
- 2021-22: Redshirt
- Overall record of 36-18
Geoff Freeman (Northeast Oklahoma CC / Chaparral HS, Colo.)
- Weight class: 197lb
- 2023-24: National qualifier (16-9)
- 2022-23: National qualifier (15-8)
- 2021-22: HS State Champion
- 2020-21 3rd place (HS)
- Overall collegiate record of 31-17
