FAYETTE, IOWA – The Minot State University wrestling team lost 42-3 to No. 5 Upper Iowa on Saturday afternoon in their first NSIC competition of the 2016-17 season.
 
The Peacocks got off to an early 12-0 lead after pinning their Beaver opponents in the first period of the first two matches. After that, however, Minot State started to push back.
 
Jered Sublet, at 141, lost 4-3 after UIU's Jordan Roths escaped, earning his winning point in the final period. Sublet was down 3-1, but tied it up with a takedown late in the third period before his opponent earned his final point.
 
Cody Haugen then challenged the No. 1 ranked wrestler in the country at 149, Damian Penichet. Penichet didn't score his first point until the second period with an escape. From there his strategy was to ride Haugen for the remainder of the competition to earn another point for riding time and win the match 2-0.
 
The Peacocks showed once again why they are a top five team in their next two matches with a pin and a major decision win, before losing their first and only matchup of the day at 174.
 
Carlos Toledano, the sixth-ranked wrestler in the region, scored three points on an escape and takedown in the second period to earn a 3-0 lead to take into the final two minutes. Nick Georgean came close in the last period with an escape and penalty point to bring it within one, but Toledano got back on the offensive with a takedown in the final ten seconds to secure the Beavers' lone victory of the day with a 5-2 decision.
 
The Peacocks won their final three matches with a decision, pin, and tech. fall to finalize their 42-3 victory.
 
Minot State will wrestle again, tomorrow, December 11 at Minnesota State. The Beavers will compete in two duals starting at 12 against Truman State, which will be followed by a matchup against the hosting Mavericks.
 
About Minot State
Minot State University is a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) and NCAA Division II offering 14 men's and women's varsity intercollegiate athletics programs. The NSIC is a premier NCAA DII, 16-member conference featuring teams in North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska and Iowa. The Beavers are the only public NCAA Division II institution in the state of North Dakota.