By: Howie Thompson, Director of Sports Communication
Photo above: Blake Sorensen (by Jeff Sorensen).
The 3 Peacock wrestling team opened their Northern Sun Conference season this afternoon against the Wolves of Northern State University in Aberdeen, S.D. Upper Iowa posted a decisive 41-4 victory to move to 5-1 overall and 1-0 in the NSIC. The Peacocks used three wins by fall, a pair of major decisions and a win by forfeit en route to nine wins in ten matches.
Blake Sorensen (165) opened the dual with a win by fall (2:24) for the Peacocks after registering a first period takedown and worked his position into the pin. Wade Gobin (174, #6 NCAA) kept the momentum in the visitor’s corner with a 5-3 decision thanks to takedowns in the first and second period and an escape in the final period; all three points against Gobin came on escapes.
With a 9-0 lead for UIU, Mitch Schultz (#4 NCAA) toed the line in the 184 pound match. Schultz scored a takedown in the first period and escaped quickly in the second period taking a 3-0 lead into the final period. A final takedown as time wound out gave the Postville native a 5-0 decision.
Carl Broghammer (197, #4 NCAA) picked up a takedown midway through the first period and added three nearfall points to take early control of his match. A second takedown as the end of the first period neared gave the Manchester native a 7-1 lead. Broghammer added a pair of takedowns and another three nearfall points in the second period and three nearfall points and a ride time point (2:28) in the final period for a 19-6 major decision win that pushed Upper Iowa’s lead to 16-0.
Luke Stika entered the circle against the Wolves leader and defending National Champion, Matt Meuleners (#2 NCAA). The Wolves’ grappler scored a pair of takedowns through the first two periods and built up quite a bit of ride time. A final pair of takedowns and the ride time point gave the NSU ranked wrestler a 10-1 victory and the cut the gap to 16-4.
Kyle Pedretti (125, #1 NCAA) took the mat looking to restore momentum to UIU’s side of the mat, but his opponent Anthony Bruno registered an early takedown, but Pedretti escaped to cut the margin in half. The Monona native came out of a scramble with a takedown and two nearfall points at the end of the first period to take a 5-2 lead. Pedretti added a takedown in the second period and an escape and takedown in the final period to claim a 10-4 decision.
After Trevor Franklin (#1 NCAA) was awarded a win by forfeit at 133 pounds, the Peacocks lead grew to 25-4. Blake Hilmer got the action started again in the 141 pound match. Hilmer scored an early takedown and later added three nearfall points before ending the match in the first period with a win by fall (2:32) that gave the Peacocks a 31-4 advantage.
Jordan Rinken fell behind in his match at 149 pounds versus Beau Voegeli, 4-2, but countered with an escape and a takedown to secure a 5-4 lead heading into the second period. Rinken added an escape and a takedown to push his lead to 8-5 as the match went to the final period. The Peacock freshman worked hard in the third period and earned UIU’s third win by fall (5:37).
Winston Robbins (157) took the mat for the final match of the dual. Robbins scored the first points of the match with a takedown and then added three nearfall points in the first period. The Broadview, Ill. native registered another takedown and two nearfall points in the second period to claim a 9-2 lead. After adding a final reversal and a ride time point (1:47), Robbins claimed the major decision, 12-4, and gave Upper Iowa the 41-4 dual victory.
Upper Iowa will head north to Bismarck, N.D. for a 2 p.m. dual with the Marauders of the University of Mary tomorrow afternoon.