By: Howie Thompson, Director of Sports Communication

Photo Gallery (Thanks to Jeff Sorensen)

The #2 Peacocks ended their run at the NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals in Springfield, Ill. today with a third place finish, their best-ever finish at the National Duals.  Upper Iowa lost their semifinal match to #3 St. Cloud State in the semifinals, 22-13, but rebounded with a nine-point victory, 24-15, over #4 Nebraska-Kearney in the third place match.  St. Cloud State defeated #1 Newberry in the finals to win the team title.

The Peacocks jumped out to a 6-0 lead over the Huskies of SCSU after wins by Kyle Pedretti (3-2) and Trevor Franklin (4-1), but St. Cloud State tied the dual with wins by decision at 141 and 149 pounds.  Winston Robbins gave UIU a 10-6 lead with a win by major decision, 13-2, and Blake Sorensen extended the lead to 13-6 with a win by decision, 2-0.  The Peacocks would not put another win on the board as the Huskies claimed a win by fall at 174, wins by decision at 184 and 197 pounds and a major decision at heavyweight to rally for the 22-13 victory.

In the third place match, UIU took on the Lopers of Nebraska-Kearney.  Upper Iowa posted six wins in the dual on the way to a 24-15 win and their third place.  Chris Paulus got the ball rolling with an 8-6 win at 125 pounds and Franklin backed it up with a 7-2 decision at 133.  The Lopers claimed a win by fall and three straight wins by decision to take a 15-6 lead.  Upper Iowa dug deep and fired back as Wade Gobin picked up a win by fall (1:17) and Mitch Schultz earned a 5-1 decision to tie the match at 15-15.  Carl Broghammer put Upper Iowa on top, 18-15, with a 5-1 decision in overtime and Luke Stika picked up a win by forfeit at heavyweight to push the final score to 24-15.

Upper Iowa (4-1) will now enter the Northern Sun Conference season with a pair of road duals this weekend.  The Peacocks will travel to Northern State on Saturday at 4 p.m. and U-Mary on Sunday at 2 p.m.


Match #3 Semifinal: St. Cloud State defeated Upper Iowa 22-13
125 - Kyle Pedretti (Upper Iowa) over Eric Forde (St. Cloud State) Dec 3-2
133 - Trevor Franklin (Upper Iowa) over Zach Stewart (St. Cloud State) Dec 4-1
141 - Jay Hildreth (St. Cloud State) over Blake Hilmer (Upper Iowa) Dec 9-3
149 - Josh Howk (St. Cloud State) over Jordan Rinken (Upper Iowa) Dec 5-3
157 - Winston Robbins (Upper Iowa) over Matt Leibforth (St. Cloud State) Maj 13-2
165 - Blake Sorensen (Upper Iowa) over Dan Dick (St. Cloud State) Dec 2-0
174 - Tad Merritt (St. Cloud State) over Wade Gobin (Upper Iowa) Pin 4:35
184 - Derek Skala (St. Cloud State) over Mitch Schultz (Upper Iowa) Dec 10-4
197 - Lucas Munkelwitz (St. Cloud State) over Carl Broghammer (Upper Iowa) Dec 6-2
285 - Jake Kahnke (St. Cloud State) over Luke Stika (Upper Iowa) Maj 11-0

Match #4 3rd Place Match: Upper Iowa defeated Nebraska-Kearney 24-15
125 - Chris Paulus (Upper Iowa) over Jordan White (Nebraska-Kearney) Dec 8-6
133 - Trevor Franklin (Upper Iowa) over Stephen Weimer (Nebraska-Kearney) Dec 7-2
141 - Dalton Jensen (Nebraska-Kearney) over Blake Hilmer (Upper Iowa) Pin 4:45
149 - Raufeon Stots (Nebraska-Kearney) over Jordan Rinken (Upper Iowa) Dec 9-4
157 - T.J. Hepburn (Nebraska-Kearney) over Winston Robbins (Upper Iowa) Dec 5-2
165 - Joey Wilson (Nebraska-Kearney) over Blake Sorensen (Upper Iowa) Dec 8-5
174 - Wade Gobin (Upper Iowa) over Mark Fiala (Nebraska-Kearney) Pin 1:17
184 - Mitch Schultz (Upper Iowa) over Brock Smith (Nebraska-Kearney) Dec 5-1
197 - Carl Broghammer (Upper Iowa) over Matt Lenagh (Nebraska-Kearney) OT 5-1
285 - Luke Stika (Upper Iowa) over Unknown (Unattached) Forf