Feb. 7, 2010

Upper Iowa - Augustana Dual Results

Eight days ago, the Peacock wrestling team welcomed the #4 team in the country to Dorman Gym and defeated them 24-18; today Upper Iowa played host to the #6 Augustana College Vikings in a match up the two undefeated teams (5-0) in Northern Sun Conference duals. Augustana won six of the ten matches, but all came by decision while Upper Iowa's four match victories included three bonus point wins. The Peacocks moved to 6-0 in the Northern Sun with a 19-18 victory over the Vikings.

The dual opened at 125 pounds. Al Meger scored the first takedown for Augie, but a reversal by Tyler Mumbulo (#5 NCAA) evened the match at 2-2. An escape in the third period gave UIU a 3-2 edge, but Meger took a 4-3 lead with another takedown. Mumbulo evened the match a second time with another escape and then ended the match at the 6:25 mark as he pinned Meger after a throw saw both wrestlers go to the mat. The win was Mumbulo's 100th in his career in a UIU singlet and it gave the home team a 6-0 lead.

Laramie Shaffer was able to defend Kyle Pedretti's (#8 NCAA) offensive shots throughout the match at 133 pounds using just a takedown and an escape to take a 3-0 lead into the final minute of the match. Pedretti scored an escape and a takedown in one final flurry, but he couldn't keep control as Shaffer escaped to retake the lead 4-3 and maintain his ride time advantage (1:19) for a win by decision, 5-3. With the win, Augustana cut the defecit to 6-3.

At 141 pounds, the Vikings' Jay Sherer (#7 NCAA) and the Peacocks' J.R. Baker (#8 NCAA) exchanged a takedown and an escape to take a 3-3 tie late into the second period. Sherer edged out to a 4-3 lead with an escape, but Baker opened the third period with an escape of his own to tie the match at 4-4. Sherer used a double leg shot to score a takedown, but Baker escaped to close the gap back to one, 6-5, with less than a minute to wrestle. Sherer held onto his lead over the final minute and tied the dual 6-6 thanks to his win by decision, 6-5.

After posting a 12-5 record at 157 pounds this season, UIU's Derek Stolarzyk made his debut at 149 this season against Nate Herda (#5 NCAA). Stolarzyk scored first with a takedown at the edge of the mat, but Herda escaped and then scored a takedown to take a 3-2 lead into the second period. The Viking grappler was the first to score in the second period with an escape and a takedown to push his lead to 6-2. Stolarzyk got an escape to cut the margin to three and then opened the final period with an escape to pull within two, 6-4. Herda scored the knockout blow with a takedown in the final 30 seconds and earned a win by decision, 8-5. After the Vikings' third straight win by decision, the visitors moved ahead 9-6.

Justin Decker toed the line against Augie's Marcus Edginton (#1 NCAA) at 157 pounds. Edginton scored the first point of the match in the second period on an escape after opening in the down position; the point was the only score of the period. An escape by Decker with 13 seconds to wrestle tied the match at 1-1, but Edgington held the ride time point (1:35) and Decker could not score a takedown as time expired. Edgington earned the 2-1 victory hading Upper Iowa their fourth straight loss by decision to put the Peacocks down six, 12-6.

Travis Eggers (#2 NCAA) came to the mat looking to break the string of losses for the home team at 165 pounds. Eggers picked up three takedowns and 1:14 in ride time in the first period adding an escape and a takedown in the second period to push his lead to 9-3. Gavin Nelson opened the final period with his fourth escape of the match, but Eggers scored a takedown and added two near fall points. A final takedown and ride time point (2:07) gave Eggers a 16-4 major decision victory. With the four points, Upper Iowa climbed back into the dual trailing 12-10 with four matches to wrestle.

Carl Serck took a 2-0 lead late in the first period with a takedown of UIU's Mitch Norton (#3 NCAA). Serck added a second takedown in the second period, but Norton was able to get on the scoreboard with an escape to cut the gap to 4-1. Norton opened the third period down earning an escape to pull within two, 4-2, just twenty seconds into the period. Serck was penalized with a two stall calls to give Norton a point, but it was the final point of the match as Serck upset Norton by decision, 4-3. The Vikings' fifth match win gave them a 15-10 lead with three matches to go.

Redshirt freshman Mitch Schultz (#2 NCAA) stepped into the circle to face Nick Henning in the 184 pound match. Schultz took a 2-1 lead after one period thanks to an early takedown. Schultz controlled the second period on top moving his ride time advantage to 2:35 while clinging to the same 2-1 lead. An optional start to the third period gave Schultz a 3-1 lead. The Postville, Iowa native earned the 4-1 decision for Upper Iowa adding a ride time point to cut the Augie lead to 15-13.

Nick Shandri came to the mat for the 197 pound match against Augie's Ty Copsey (#3 NCAA). Copsey scored a takedown and added two near fall points before Shandri escaped trailing 4-1. An escape and a stall point gave Copsey a 6-1 lead, but a penalty on Copsey pulled the margin back to 6-2. The momentum of the dual swung completely when Shandri was unable to continue wrestling due to the late takedown injuring his ribs. Instead of trailing heading into the final match, the Peacocks received six points from the injury default to move ahead 19-15 in the dual.

Augie's Lance Peters picked up the final win of the day with a 4-2 decision over Arron Cramer. Peters scored the first points of the match with an escape in the third and added a takedown to move ahead 3-0. Cramer scored a reversal to get back within one, 3-2, but a second escape by Peters set the final score and gave Augie their sixth win by decision of the match. The three points made the final score of the dual 19-18 giving the Peacocks the upper hand in the Northern Sun Conference race.

Upper Iowa (12-1, 6-0 NSIC) has one NSIC dual left on their schedule against #9 St. Cloud State in St. Cloud, Minnesota. With a win, the Peacocks will claim their third NSIC Championship in the last four years. UIU and SCSU will clash on Sunday, Feb. 14, at 2 p.m.