Feb. 4, 2008

Upper Iowa - Minnesota State Dual Results

The #9 Upper Iowa wrestling team welcomed the #1 Mavericks of Minnesota State for a non-conference dual on Saturday afternoon. The match up was a look at the future of wrestling in the Northern Sun Conference as Minnesota State will join the NSIC next year. The Mavericks entered the dual with seven ranked wrestlers, while the Peacocks had three dressed for competition. Upper Iowa jumped out to a 9-0 lead thanks to Tyler Mumbulo's (#3 NCAA, 125) victory by decision and a forfeit (open) by MSU at 133 pounds. Minnesota State stormed back using two major decisions and a technical fall to take the dual by the count of 28-9.

Mumbulo won the opening match of the dual and got the crowd on their feet. Mumbulo defeated Nick Smith (#2 NCAA) by decision 6-4. Smith scored an early takedown, but Mumbulo escaped and registered a takedown of his own. Mumbulo started down in the second period and scored the only points of the period on his second escape. Smith began the third period down, but scored on a reversal to tie the match at 4-4. Mumbulo earned the victory with his third escape and a riding time point (1:22) to win the match 6-4. The New Yorker is now 23-4 on the year.

The Peacocks got six more points to jump out to a 9-0 lead as Jacob Pedersen received the win by forfeit (open) at 133 pounds.

Steven Baker scored an early takedown on Travis Elg (#5 NCAA) to take a 2-0 lead for the home team. Elg escaped and got a takedown, but Baker was able to score on a reversal to retake the lead 4-3. Elg took the match over from that point though recording a reversal and two near fall points before the first period ended. The Maverick continued to control the match over the final two periods as he picked up the win by major decision 13-5.

Derek Stolarzyk took the place of Tee Adams (#4 NCAA) in the 149 pound match. Stolarzyk trailed 2-0 after the first period, but Tommy Abbott (#5 NCAA) had built up over two minutes of riding time. Abbott scored three more takedowns in the match to win by major decision 11-2 and bring the visitors to within one on the scoreboard, 9-8.

One of the more anticipated matches of the afternoon was a low scoring affair. UIU's Travis Eggers (#5 NCAA) toed the line against Jason Rhoten (#1 NCAA); the two have wrestled in two very close, hard fought matches. Rhoten scored a takedown on the edge of the mat, but Eggers was able to escape to make the score 2-1 at the end of the first period. The only point in the second period was registered on an escape by Rhoten as he extended his lead to 3-1. After an escape by Eggers pulled the Peacocks to within 3-2, the Mavericks got another takedown from Rhoten as time expired and added a riding time point (1:31) to take the decision 6-2.

Minnesota State's Andy Pickar (#4 NCAA) controlled the 165 pound match after Mitch Norton turned his ankle while going down. Pickar kept on Norton with relentless pressure and registered a 23-8 technical fall victory at the 5:42 mark.

Brady Hakeman stepped to the mat looking to get the Peacocks back into the dual as they trailed 16-9. Hakeman faced Tim Matheson (#8 NCAA) and both wrestlers used the first period to feel each other out. Matheson scored three unanswered points in the second period with an escape and a takedown. After a Hakeman escape and a stall call awarded another penalty point, the La Porte City native only trailed 3-2. As Hakeman moved in looking for a takedown, Matheson reacted quickly and caught the Peacock senior and scored a takedown to claim the 5-2 win by decision. Hakeman shot well in the match, but Matheson's length seemed to keep the Peacock wrestler from finishing his moves.

Both Tony Gehling (184) and Matt Norton (197) battled in their matches. Gehling earned three takedowns in his match, while Norton picked up a takedown and a three point near fall at the end of the match that almost resulted in a pin. Ben Becker defeated Gehling by decision 13-8 and Tom Block defeated Norton by decision 14-8.

Dan Goodson (#6 NCAA) faced MSU's Brady Wilson (#2 NCAA) in the dual finale at heavyweight. The match went scoreless through the first period and Wilson scored the only point of period number two on an escape. Goodson worked hard to earn an escape in the third period to tie the match 1-1. The battle moved to a sudden victory period, but neither man registered a point. In the first tie breaker period, Wilson accumulated 30 seconds of ride time. The Maverick won the match in the second half of the tie breaker period as he scored a point on an escape to take the match 2-1 (TB1) and give Minnesota State the 28-9 victory.

The #9 Peacocks will travel to Aberdeen, South Dakota this Friday night, Feb. 8, for a pivotal NSIC dual with the Wolves of Northern State University. The match is set to begin at 7 p.m. Upper Iowa will stay on the road and wrestle at #16 St. Cloud State this Sunday, Feb. 10, at 2 p.m.