By: Howie Thompson, Director of Sports Communication
The Peacocks remained undefeated in NSIC duals this season (3-0) with a 28-9 defense of Dorman Gym versus the Mustangs of Southwest Minnesota State University. UIU won seven matches including one by fall, one by major decision and one by forfeit in front of a massive crowd in Fayette this afternoon. With the victory, Upper Iowa improves to 7-1 overall in duals this season.
After Kyle Pedretti (#1 NCAA) took the mat at 125 pounds to claim a win by forfeit and a 6-0 lead for the home team, Trevor Franklin (#1 NCAA) toed the line in the 133 pound match against Justin Reinsma. Franklin scored a takedown midway through the first period and collected over a minute of ride time heading into the second period. The junior added an escape and three takedowns in the second period to push his lead to 9-2. Franklin closed the match with a takedown and a ride time point to claim the 12-4 major decision to give UIU an early 10-0 lead.
Upper Iowa sent Blake Hilmer to the mat for the 141 pound match against SMSU’s Ethan Hildebrandt. The Mustang wrestler scored a quick five points thanks to a takedown and three nearfall points en route to a 7-3 decision.
Freshman Jordan Rinken opened the 149 pound match with a pair of early takedowns, but the Mustangs’ Codie Lane scored an escape and a reversal to stay close, 4-3. Rinken picked up the final point of the period with an escape. Lane scored the only points in the second period with an escape and a takedown claiming a 6-5 lead heading into the final period. The Denver native countered in the third period with a reversal and three nearfall points to register an 11-7 decision after a final ride time point.
With a 13-3 lead, Winston Robbins went to work in the 157 pound match recording a win by fall in just 43 seconds. Robbins took advantage of an early takedown and locked in a cradle to get the pin. The win got the huge home crowd on their feet quickly as the Peacock’s lead ballooned to 19-3.
Jacob Begin scored a first period takedown in the 165 pound match to take a 2-0 lead into the second period against UIU’s Blake Sorensen. Begin added a reversal in the second, but Sorensen scored a reversal of his own to cut the gap to 4-2 heading into the final period. The Peacock freshman escaped and scored a quick takedown to take a 5-4 lead, but Begin fired back with a reversal to jump back in the lead, 6-5. Sorensen scored another reversal with 30 seconds left, but Begin put the last points on the board with 10 seconds on the clock with a reversal and a ride time point for the 9-7 decision.
Wade Gobin (#6 NCAA) took the mat at 174 pounds against Trent Molacek. Molacek took a 3-1 lead midway through the second period thanks to a first-period takedown and early second-period escape. Gobin scored a late takedown to tie the match, 3-3, entering the final period. An escape and takedown in the final thirty seconds erased Molacek’s ride time point and gave Gobin the 6-3 decision. The win brought the huge home crowd to their feet again and extended UIU’s lead to 22-6.
SMSU’s Andrew Rodas lined up with Mitch Schultz (#4 NCAA) in the 184 pound match and the Mustang started well thanks to a takedown and two nearfall points. Schultz rallied with a reversal and then escaped to open the second period to pull back within one, 4-3. Rodas scored a takedown and three nearfall points after the pair scrambled. The quick five points and ride time advantage gave Rodas the 10-3 decision.
In the 197 pound match, the Peacocks sent Carl Broghammer to the middle to face Martin Hagen. Broghammer scored a takedown in the first and built nearly a minute of ride time claiming a 2-1 lead after the first three minutes. The Manchester native added an escape and a takedown in the second period while moving his ride time above two and a half minutes. Broghammer added a takedown and a ride time point for the 8-3 decision and a 25-9 lead for the home team.
In the heavyweight match, Brian Rodas scored the first point of the match with an escape in the second period versus UIU’s Luke Stika. Stika tied the match with an escape in the third period as the match moved to sudden victory where the Cresco native scored a takedown at the edge of the mat and earned the 3-1 decision to place the final score at 28-9.
Today’s dual was the first of four straight home NSIC duals for the Peacocks. Upper Iowa will return to Dorman Gym next Thursday night for a 7 p.m. start with the Mavericks of Minnesota State University, Mankato. The dual will be a match up of top twenty powers.