The shutout victory is the fourth such result since Head Coach Heath Grimm took the reigns for the 2000-01 season. Upper Iowa defeated Knox College 54-0 and Illinois College 57-0 in Grimm's first season at the helm. Last season, 2005-06, the team faced UNC Pembroke at the National Duals and won 47-0.
The dual began at 149 pounds. Upper Iowa's Andy Norton matched up against Dustin Bonn. Norton carried a 6-10 record in to the match with some hard luck losses as of late. The two wrestlers spent most of the first period feeling each other out, but a takedown by Norton just before the horn gave him a 2-0 lead going to the second period. The second period did not yield any points but Bonn had accumulated 1:49 of riding time. After two escapes by Bonn that sandwiched a Norton takedown, Norton led 4-2, but the Bonn still had a possible riding time point and so the match remained in question until Norton recorded his third takedown of the match and erased the riding time advantage. Norton won the match by decision 6-2.
At 157 pounds, Travis Eggers (UIU) toed the line against Phillip Downs. Eggers supplied one of the more dominating performances with an immediate takedown and an overwhelming 2:52 in riding time to take a 2-0 lead after one period. In the second period Eggers again registered a takedown and worked hard to turn Downs over. Eggers succeeded and pinned Downs with 40 seconds left in the second period. After the pin, Upper Iowa took a 9-0 lead over Northern State.
Mitch Norton (UIU), the reigning NSIC Wrestler of the Week and #4 NWCA ranked wrestler, took the mat against Shawn Lewis in the 165 pound match. Norton dominated the match registering a takedown and near fall in first period to lead 5-0. The second period featured an escape by each wrestler, but Norton tallied two more takedowns and two more near falls. The second near fall ended the match and Norton was awarded the Technical Fall at the 5:00 mark leading 16-1.
In the 174 pound weight class, Brady Hakeman (UIU), the #8 NWCA ranked wrestler, continued Upper Iowa's brilliant performance in his match with Brunau Augustine. Brady came out on fire, and after an early takedown and two near falls, he ended the match with 1:11 on the clock in period one by pinning Augustine. Hakeman's pin and Phil Brushchuk's (UIU) win by forfeit at 184 pounds gave Upper Iowa a 26-0 lead over Northern State.
At 197 pounds, Ryan Phillips (UIU) took on Todd Naasz in a very physical match. Phillips led 2-0 after the first period thanks to a late takedown. Phillips started the second period with an escape and another takedown, but Naasz escaped his grip late in the period. Naasz trailed 5-1 after his escape. Phillips stayed on the offensive in the third period and even though Naasz tallied three more escapes, Phillips registered a takedown after each of them. After Phillips' third and final takedown of the period, he earned a riding time point and won the match by major decision 12-4.
In the heavyweight match, Dan Goodson (UIU) walked out to face Jared Little. Both wrestlers pushed each other around through the first period, but neither wrestler could gain an advantage. Little chose down to begin the second period and Goodson took advantage. Goodson recorded two near falls before finishing the match with a pin at the 0:42 mark in the second period. The victory gave Upper Iowa a 36-0 lead over Northern State.
The match at 125 pounds featured two nationally ranked wrestlers on the mat. Tyler Mumbulo (UIU), NWCA #5, lined up against Chas Welch, NWCA #6. Mumbulo took control of the match in the first period with an early takedown and 1:51 of riding time to lead 2-0. Throughout the second period neither wrestler was able to gain an advantage on the other and the match moved to the final period with Welch trailing 2-0. Mumbulo began the third period with an escape and then held on to gain a riding time point and win by decision 4-0.
Nate Naumann and Corbin Surat came to the mat for the 133 pound match. Early on Naumann looked good. He earned a takedown, a two-point near fall, and a three-point near fall, before giving up a reverse to Surat. Naumann led 7-2 after the first period and had accumulated 2:08 in riding time. Surat got caught by a second takedown in period two and trailed 9-2. Late in the third period Surat made a final charge and registered a near fall, but could not get the pin and Naumann was awarded a riding time point to win by decision 10-5.
The final match of the night was at 141 pounds between John Gamble and Dave Schiley. Gamble entered the match looking to shake the results of his past few matches and come up with a victory for himself and the team. Gamble trailed 2-0 after Schiley recorded a takedown. Gamble countered early in the second period with a takedown of his own, but Schiley escaped and led 3-2 with 33 seconds of riding time in his pocket. Gamble was not able to score on any moves but did reverse the riding time advantage and held on to earn a riding time point and tie the match as the third period ended.
In the first sudden victory overtime, one minute in length, neither wrestler was able to score a point and the match moved to a second overtime. In the second overtime, Schiley was able to earn an escape during the first 30 seconds, but Gamble found enough energy to get a reversal during the second 30 seconds and won the match 5-4. The result was a great ending to an awesome night for Peacock Wrestling, who won the dual 45-0.
After the match, Grimm proudly said, "We were happy to be wrestling at home in front of our fans. They gave us some help with the last match. We greatly appreciate everyone's support. The guys looked extremely focused on the task at hand, which was to wrestle hard for a complete seven minutes. We were offensive and attacked when openings were present. We only gave up 1 takedown the entire dual meet. We got off to a good start in the NSIC. I am proud of all ten wrestlers and their approach to this dual meet."
The Upper Iowa wrestling team's dual versus the University of Mary scheduled for tomorrow, Jan. 20th, has been cancelled and forfeited to Upper Iowa by Mary, who cited the inability to field a full team as the reason for the cancellation. Upper Iowa will return to action next Thursday, Jan. 25th at 6 p.m., at Waldorf College (Forest City, Iowa) in a non-conference showdown.
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