Upper Iowa wrestling gains 10 commitments

Upper Iowa University announced Friday that it has 10 commitments from its spring recruiting class.

Here is the news release from the Upper Iowa Sports Information Department:

Ten Commit to Peacock Wrestling for 2011-12

Head Coach Heath Grimm and the Peacock Wrestling program released their spring recruiting class today. Ten young men have committed to continuing their academic and wrestling careers at Upper Iowa University. Included in this group are Kelby Bachman, Mitch Funk, Brock Gobin, Carson Henry, Travis Jensen, Eric Nelson, Chris Paulus, Evan Rethmeier, Zach Salisbury, and Tanner Schmidt.

 The spring class joins an outstanding early signing class that included Blake Sorensen (Denver-Tripoli), Matt Paulus (New Hampton) and Jordan Rinken (Waverly-Shell Rock); all three signed National Letters of Intent to Upper Iowa in November.

The new ten committed student-athletes are listed below (alphabetically) in more detail.

 Kelby Bachman Monticello HS Monticello, Iowa

· Projected at 141 pounds

· Conference Champion

· Named Team Captain

· Named All-Conference First Team (Cross Country)

· Honor Roll

· Parents: Mike and Rhonda Bachman

· Projected Field of Study: Exercise and Sports Studies

Carson Henry St. Charles HS St. Charles, Minn.

· Projected at 125 pounds

· Named to All-Three Rivers Conference in 2011

· Qualified for Minnesota State Tournament

· Parents: Dale and Rebecca Henry

· Projected Field of Study: Physical Education/Special Education

Travis Jensen North Fayette HS West Union, Iowa

· Projected at 141 pounds

· Named to Upper Iowa All-Conference Team four times

· 3.3 GPA

· Honor Roll

· Parents: Craig and Jennifer Jensen

· Projected Field of Study: Business Management

Eric Nelson Stewartville HS Stewartville, Minn.

· Projected at 133 pounds

· Stewartville is the alma mater of former Peacocks Tony Gehling and Derek Stolarzyk

· Twice named to HVL All-Conference Team

· Placed in Sectional Tournament four times

· Placed in Top 8 of the Minnesota State AA Tournament

· Five-time Letterwinner

· Three-time Team Captain

· Parents: Scott and Brenda Nelson

· Projected Field of Study: Accounting

Brock Gobin Cannon Falls HS Cannon Falls, Minn.

· Projected at 165 or 174 pounds

· Brother of current Peacock Wade Gobin

· Two-time Minnesota State Qualifier

· Senior Season: 35-6 overall; lost in state quarters to #1 ranked opponent (6-5)

· Three-time All-Conference in wrestling, once each in football and baseball

· Named MVP for Wrestling in 2011

· Varsity Letters: 6 in wrestling, 3 in football and 2 in baseball

· Named Offensive MVP in football

· Earned B Honor Roll

· Parents: Brian and Lisa Gobin

· Projected Field of Study: Undecided

Zach Salisbury Sumner Fredericksburg HS Sumner, Iowa

· Projected at Heavyweight

· Junior Season: 33-12 overall

· Senior Season: 35-5 overall

· Placed 7th as a junior and 2nd as a senior at Iowa State Tournament

· Parents: Shelley Downing and Scott Thompson

· Projected Field of Study: Criminology

Evan Rethmeier Newton HS Laurel, Iowa

· Projected at 184 pounds

· Junior Season: Conference Champion at 171 pounds and placed 7th at State Tournament

· Senior Season: Placed 4th at 215 pounds at State Tournament

· 67-14 Record in final two years at Newton

· Parents: Ron and Jeannie Rethmeier

· Projected Field of Study: Agricultural Business

Chris Paulus New Hampton HS Ionia, Iowa

· Projected at 133 or 141 pounds

· Brother of Matt Paulus, who commited to UIU in the early signing period

· Overall record of 92-19 during sophomore, junior and senior years

· Three-time Iowa State Placewinner

· Finished 4th as a sophomore, 7th as a junior and 3rd as a senior

· Honor Roll (all four years)

· Parents: Joe and Jane Paulus

· Projected Field of Study: Education

Tanner Schmidt Charles City HS Charles City, Iowa

· Projected at 125 or 133 pounds

· Four-time place winner at Iowa State Tournament

· State Champion as a sophomore

· Placed 5th as a freshman, 4th as a junior and 3rd as a senior

· Parents: Corey and Ginger Schmidt

· Projected Field of Study: Criminology

Mitch Funk MFL MarMac HS Strawberry Point, Iowa

· Projected at 125 pounds

· 133-26 overall record in four years

· Placed 5th after reaching semifinals at Iowa State Tournament as a junior

· Parents: Nicole Pope

· Projected Field of Study: Conservation Management

 The Peacocks closed the 2010-11 campaign with a fourth place finish at the NCAA Division II Championships in Kearney, Nebraska. All five of the Peacock All-NSIC wrestlers earned All-American honors. After Franklin's championship and Broghammer's third place finish, Mueller claimed fifth place while Pedretti and Schultz each finished sixth. The NCAA team trophy marked the second straight trophy for UIU wrestling program.

Five Upper Iowa wrestlers earned NSIC All-Conference honors including one first team spot, while Carl Broghammer added NSIC Rookie of the Year and First Team All-Rookie (Amateur Wreslting News) recognition as well. Trevor Franklin, the 125 pound National Champion earned first team honors after his dominant 27-2 sophomore season. Broghammer, Kyle Pedretti (133), Mark Mueller (174) and Mitch Schultz (184) all earned second team recognition after earning All-American status at the 2011 NCAA Championships.

The Upper Iowa wrestling team finished 19th in the 2010-11 Division II All-Academic Wrestling Teams Top Twenty presented by the National Wrestling Coaches Association thanks to a team grade point average of 3.005. The NWCA also cited five Peacock student-athletes that earned individual honors for the year.

Upper Iowa's Carl Broghammer, Kyle Pedretti and Mitch Schultz all were named to the first team. Wade Gobin was honored on the second team, while Blake Hilmer earned recognition as an honorable mention.