2/5/2010
Written By: Howard Thompson, Upper Iowa Sports Information Director
Category: Collegiate Corner  

FAYETTE - The Upper Iowa University Wrestling team moved up to third in the latest NCAA Division II Wrestling Coaches' Association's  Top 20 poll released late yesterday. The Peacocks jumped another three spots after posting a 5-0 record in Northern Sun Conference duals since the last poll. UIU received 138 points to earn the #3 ranking, which is the highest ranking that the wrestling program  has earned in their five years as an NCAA Division II member. The Peacocks also placed six individuals in the rankings.

Tyler  Mumbulo moved up a spot to fifth at 125 pounds after improving his record last night to 16-5. He has recorded 8 bonus point wins including four by fall, two by technical fall, and two by major decision.

Kyle  Pedretti found his way back into the rankings at #8 in the 133-pound class. The sophomore is 21-5 on the season with a seven-match win streak, which includes four straight bonus-point wins.
J.R Baker fell a spot to #8 at 141 pounds with a record of 10-9. The junior has posted a 5-3 record in his last  eight matches winning two by fall.

Travis  Eggers remained the #2 ranked wrestler in the nation at 165 pounds with a season record of 17-3 which includes an 11-0 mark against Division II competition. The senior has won 10 straight matches since being defeated by Donny Jones of West Virginia  (Div. I) in sudden victory (7-5) at the Reno Tournament of Champions. The win streak includes six bonus-point victories.

Mitch  Norton maintained a firm grip on his #3 ranking in the nation at 174 pounds with a 14-2 mark for the year. Norton is 10-0 versus Division II opponents. The senior also carries a 10 match win streak which includes seven bonus-point wins.

Mitch  Schultz moved up two more spots in the latest poll after posting a 5-0 record in NSIC action including one win by technical fall. The Postville, Iowa native is ranked #2 in the nation at 184 pounds with a 22-2 record. Schultz's lone loss in his  last 21 matches came by decision (5-1) to Lucas Haag (#4) of #5 Wisconsin-Parkside.

Nebraska-Omaha received all eight first-place votes in balloting of coaches from around the country to finish with  160 points in the sixth poll of the season. The Mavericks have been No. 1 in 13 straight polls the past two years, having topped the rank¬ings in all seven polls in 2008-09 en route to winning their fifth Division II national title. Newberry (S.C.) received  all eight second-place votes and stayed No. 2 with 152 points, while Upper Iowa jumped from sixth to third, Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.) fell a spot to fourth and Wisconsin-Parkside moved up two spots to fifth.

The NSIC is well represented in the poll with four top ten teams. Augustana jumped from tenth to sixth after defeating  Minnesota State and St. Cloud State. The Mavericks of MSU dropped three spots to seventh after losing duals to Augustana and the Peacocks. St. Cloud State dropped one spot to ninth after their loss to the Vikings.

The #3 Peacocks will face the #6 Vikings of Augustana College in the team's final home dual of the season this  Sunday, Feb. 7, at 2 p.m. Both schools are 5-0 in the NSIC and the winner will have a leg up on the conference title race. After the dual, each team will only have one more NSIC dual. Augustana will travel to MSU Moorhead on Feb. 11, while Upper Iowa must  travel to #9 St. Cloud State on Feb. 14.