Peacocks Picked First in Northern Sun Conference Preseason Coaches Poll

Upper Iowa Returns Two All-Americans in 07-08

Oct. 19, 2007

The Upper Iowa University wrestling program has been voted as the preseason favorite to win the Northern Sun Conference by the five NSIC wrestling coaches.

The Peacocks received 74 points to earn the top spot in the poll. MSU Moorhead was picked second (60), while Northern State was just behind in third (58). Southwest Minnesota State is slated in the fourth spot (25) and U-Mary rounds out the poll in fifth (13).

The NSIC coaches also ranked the top five individuals at each weight for the upcoming season. The Upper Iowa individuals ranked include:

125 Tyler Mumbulo #1 (Jr./All-American/2x Regional Runner Up)
133 Jacob Pedersen #1 (Jr.)
141 Layne Greedy #3 (Sr.)
149 Tee Adams #1 (Sr./National Qualifier/3rd at 2007 Regionals)
157 Travis Eggers #1 (So./National Qualifier/2007 Regional Runner Up)
165 Mitch Norton #2 (So./National Qualifier/3rd at 2007 Regionals)
174 Brady Hakeman #3 (Sr./2x 5th at Regionals)
184 Tony Gehling #4 (Jr.)
197 Matt Norton #2 (Jr.)
HWT Dan Goodson #1 (Sr./All-American/2007 Regional Runner Up)

The Peacocks earned the 2006-07 Northern Sun Conference Championship with a perfect season in NSIC duals. The conference title was the wrestling program's first since 1972-73, when the team won the Iowa Conference. The team held a 9-1 overall record in duals this season with their only loss coming at Minnesota State-Mankato. The Peacocks also had their share of success in the seven tournaments they competed in placing 45 individuals and four UIU wrestlers were crowned champions. Their best regular season finish came at the Midwest Classic where they claimed second place when seven wrestlers placed including one champion. Four wrestlers were recognized as the NSIC Wrestler of the Week last season; Ryan Phillips, Mitch Norton, Tyler Mumbulo, and John Gamble.

The team finished in second place at the NCAA Division II North Regional with 122 points. MSU-Mankato won the regional with 146.5 points, while three-time defending National Champion Nebraska-Omaha scored 114.5 points to finish third. The Peacocks earned one championship (Ryan Phillips), five runner-ups, two third-place finishers, a fifth and a sixth. Upper Iowa sent eight wrestlers to the National Championships in Kearney, Nebraska, March 9 and 10. Seven wrestlers earned invitations to the National Championships for the first time and one wrestler earned his second trip. The group of first-timers included Nate Naumann, John Gamble, Tee Adams, Travis Eggers, Mitch Norton, Ryan Phillips, and Dan Goodson. The sole Peacock returning to Nationals was Tyler Mumbulo.

Phillips was dominating in his finals match with Josh Majerus of Chadron State winning 12-0. Phillips finished his National Championship run with a 4-0 record with a combined score of 43-6; he did not surrender an offensive point throughout the championship.

Upper Iowa placed 8th at the National Championships hosted by the University of Nebraska-Kearney. Upper Iowa finished the championships with 4 of their 8 qualifiers earning All-American honors. After Phillips' title, Gamble finished third at 141; Mumbulo finished eighth at 125; and Goodson finished eighth at 285. Other Peacock qualifier's records at the National Championships included Naumann 1-2, Adams 0-2, Eggers 1-2, and Norton 1-2.

Thanks to the team's effort in the classroom last year, the Peacocks earned the 8th slot in the NCAA Division II All-Academic Team Rankings presented by the NWCA with a team grade point average of 3.12. The rankings also listed three UIU student-athletes that earned individual honors for the 2006-2007 year. They were Dan Goodson, First Team, Tony Gehling, Second Team, and Jacob Pedersen, Honorable Mention.

The Peacocks will open their season on November 10 when some members of the team will wrestle at the Pointer Open hosted by Wisconsin-Stevens Points and other team members will wrestle at the Loras Open hosted by Loras College. The team will wrestle in four other tournaments before opening their dual season at home in Dorman Gym against Truman State on December 16 at 2:00 p.m.