#upperiowa

Photo Courtesy of Myah Brinker (Instagram: @myah.brinker.photography)

Written by: Hayden Sathe, UIU Collegian Staff

It was truly a phenomenal season for Upper Iowa football in 2024, as the team placed itself in the record books as one of the best teams that Upper Iowa University has seen in a long time.

In August, Upper Iowa entered its second season as a member of the GLVC after years of struggling to compete in the NSIC. Coming off a 3-8 season, Upper Iowa was picked to finish seventh in the conference in the GLVC Preseason Coaches’ Poll, placed ahead of only William Jewell and Lincoln University.

Fortunately, the Peacocks surprised many people by finishing the season 7-4 overall and going 6-2 in conference play, finishing tied for second in the conference with Truman State. While many outside of the team considered it a surprising breakout season, if you were to ask any member of the team, they would tell you that this season was no surprise at all.

Upper Iowa’s season started on Aug. 31, when the Peacocks traveled to Indianapolis to take on the Division I (FCS) Butler Bulldogs for their first-ever matchup with a Division I team. The team showed promise at first, but a rough second half led them to lose their first game 40-7.

On Sep. 7, the Peacocks came back to Fayette to face their old friends from the NSIC, Concordia St. Paul. The Peacocks took care of business, scoring two defensive touchdowns and winning their first home game 33-7. In week three, UIU traveled 12 hours to start a three-game road trip and to finish non-conference play against South Dakota School of Mines. This game was neck-and-neck from the start, but the Peacocks fell just short and lost 17-10.

Upper Iowa started off GLVC play on Sep. 21, hitting the road for a matchup in Bolivar, Missouri against Southwest Baptist. A late fourth quarter comeback propelled the Peacocks to a 21-7 victory, their first road win since October 2019. They continued their late fourth quarter success in the next game against Quincy, scoring 22 points to lead them to a 29-27 victory.

The Peacocks dropped their first conference home game against Truman State on Oct. 5 though, as their fourth quarter magic was not enough to come back against the Bulldogs, losing a close one by the score of 26-23.

The second week of October was homecoming week in Fayette and Upper Iowa’s football team was taking on the William Jewell Cardinals. The Peacocks had a strong first half, leading 24-6, before the Cardinals came marching back to take a 31-24 lead of their own. As all great homecoming games go though, it was the home team that got the last laugh in overtime, taking this one 38-31.

On Oct. 19, Upper Iowa hit the road once again to take on the newest members of the GLVC, Lincoln University (MO). The Peacocks took care of business early and coasted their way to a 31-3 victory, their third in three tries on the road in conference play.

This set up Upper Iowa for its biggest game in the school’s NCAA Division II history. Indianapolis was coming to town as the conference’s top team as the Peacocks sat just behind in second place. With just four weeks left in the regular season, there was a lot on the line in this one. Unfortunately, it was all UIndy in this game, as the visiting Greyhounds left Fayette with a 40-13 victory.

The Peacocks went into their bye week at 5-4 with two games to play and still plenty to play for. Following the bye, they hit the road for a final time to face off against the McKendree Bearcats. It took another fourth quarter comeback to win this rainy game, with the Peacocks taking the lead with 20 seconds left to win 28-24. Returning home to Fayette for Senior Day and the final gameday of the 2024 season the Peacocks played their best game of the season, dominating Missouri S&T 51-7 and outscoring the Miners 28-0 in the second half.

The Peacocks earned multiple postseason honors, with 16 players receiving All-Conference recognition. The lone Peacock named to the first-team All-Conference list was Rhett Smith (DT, Sr.). However, the second-team All-Conference list was filled with Peacocks, as Zacarius Murray (CB, Sr.), Michael Mulherin (LB, So.), Jayden Mitchell (RB, Sr.), Mante Morrow (WR, Jr.), Ben Kamara (CB, Jr.), Nathan Behne (K, Fr.), Trevor Thompson (LB, Sr.), Eddy Latanauskas (DT, Jr.), and Klay Seehase (OT, Jr.) were all honored. All-Conference honorable mentions went to Darryl Overstreet (QB, Jr.), Avery Dixon (CB, Jr.), RJ Wells (RB/P, Jr.), Nick Perry (OL, So.), Braden Powers (DL, Jr.), and Baxter Bohr (DL, Sr.). Congratulations to every member of the all-conference teams!

Several seniors concluded their Peacock football careers by leading the team to its best season as an NCAA Division II member: Tyler Owen (DB), Zacharius Murray (CB), Aboubacar Barry (RB), Jayden Mitchell (RB), Cam Williams (WR), Chris Ndushabandi (WR), Willy Camacho (WR), Connor Frasier (RB), Trevor Thompson (LB), Drake Kinney (OT), Tyler Nielsen (OL), Noah Schirmers (OT), Riley Kennow (OL), Isaiah Gray (TE), Chandler George (WR), Baxter Bohr (DL), Rhett Smith (DT), Deion Hicks (DT). Thank you, seniors, and best of luck in your future endeavors!

Some key accomplishments were achieved this season by the team, including the team notching its first seven-win season in the team’s Division II era. In the school’s history, this was the first seven-win season since 1997 and only the second since 1966. In just its second year in the GLVC, Upper Iowa football finished tied for second place in the conference.

This year's team also won the program's first road game since 2019, finishing 4-2 on the road overall, including a 4-0 mark on the road in conference play. This was the first season since 2017 that the Peacocks finished with an overall record and away record of above .500. They also scored 50-plus points in a game for the first time since 2017, as they capped off this highly successful season on Senior Day with a 51-7 win.

Written by: Ava Privet, UIU Collegian Staff

The eight weeks of Session Two have flown by, but not without plenty of excitement across campus! Session Two started on Oct. 21 after a quick fall break, and not long after, campus was buzzing with activity once again.

To start Session Two, Cody Booker (Class of 2016) shared inspiring advice in the Virtual Alumni Speaker Series and students competed to win a Nintendo Switch during Escalation Training. Fall vibes were in full swing with a German-themed Coffee Hour and a pumpkin carving event. The weekend brought soccer and volleyball games and an academic recognition ceremony at the football game against UIndy.

Week 10 brought Halloween, which means the whole week was packed with fun. Grocery Bingo got things rolling, followed by the Halloween Drag Show and an after-party at Pete’s Bar & Grill. Students also learned professional tips at a Market Ready 101 session and enjoyed a spooky Beetle Juice-themed lunch. The month wrapped up with a showing of Night of the Living Dead at the library, perfect for Halloween night.

As the calendar moved to November, UIU was still full of exciting events, community celebrations, and opportunities for growth. From cultural presentations to Thanksgiving activities, there was something for everyone to enjoy! The activities for the month started on Nov. 4 with the Blood Drive hosted by SAAC and the Becoming Wildhearts three-mile walk/run. Students came together to help others and get active.

On Nov. 5, it was Election Day, and students had the opportunity to make their voice heard as they voted at the Fayette Community Library. The day also included a Native American Heritage Month display and a Career Readiness Workshop. Later that evening, the Glow Dodgeball Event added some fun to the night. Nov. 6 featured a Native American Heritage Month Zoom presentation, giving students more chances to learn and reflect. The women’s volleyball team rounded out a great first week of the month, hosting two GLVC matches.

The second week of November was full of learning and fun. On Nov. 12, the Resume & Cover Letter Workshop helped students get ready for their careers. The GratUIUde Day event, hosted by the Psychology Club, gave students time to relax and reflect. The T-Shirt Sales by the Psychology Club and a Karaoke Night at Pete’s Bar & Grill were other highlights of the week. Sports fans also enjoyed the women’s basketball home opener and the Senior Day for the football team against Missouri S&T on Nov. 15.

On Nov. 19, students had the opportunity to take part in mock interviews to prepare for their futures and had fun at the Student Government Association-sponsored Casino Night. It was also International Education Week, where students learned about study-abroad opportunities in different parts of the world and experienced foods from many different cultures across the globe in the cafeteria.

The Alumni Speaker Series on Nov. 21 featured Dosia Kumbe, who shared valuable career advice. Home matches for men’s wrestling and men’s basketball kept sports fans excited, while the Mall of America Trip on Nov. 23 was a great way to kick off the holiday season.

The last week of November brought Thanksgiving-themed events. On November 25th, the Thanksgiving Bake Sale helped support the Friends of the Henderson-Wilder Library. Students also gathered for Bingo Night before heading into Thanksgiving Break. The break started on Nov. 27, giving everyone a chance to relax before the busy end of the semester.

As students traveled back to Fayette at the start of December, campus was filled with fun, relaxation, and a lot of preparation for the holidays and finals. From bake sales to Christmas activities, there was no shortage of events to finish off the semester in style!

The first week of December kicked off on Dec. 2 with the BPQ Fraternity Bake Sale in the Student Center, followed by exciting basketball games that night at Dorman Gym. The women’s and men’s basketball teams both tipped off GLVC play with thrilling victories over Quincy University.

On Dec. 3, students gathered for Mr. Peacock, a fun and popular annual event hosted by SAAC in the Student Center Ballrooms. The duo of Wes Willis (UIU Football) and Jaeden Cook (UIU Volleyball) went home victorious, while half the proceeds from the event went to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Dec. 5 brought the Threads and Treads Blanket Making & Winter Driving/Safety event in the Student Center Ballrooms, where students made blankets and learned tips for safe winter driving in preparation for their journeys home.

As finals approached, students had a chance to unwind with the Christmas Kickback on Dec. 9, featuring holiday activities like custom snow globe making, gingerbread house decorating, and ornament crafting. On Dec. 10, it was time for another edition of the Late-Night Breakfast, a favorite tradition where students fueled up for finals.

The week continued with final exams on Dec. 11 and 12, as students wrapped up their semester work. On Dec. 13, students had the chance to ride along on one last Walmart Trip to get everything they needed before the start of Winter Break.

Written by: Ava Privet, UIU Collegian Staff

With the semester coming to a close, it’s the perfect time to recap everything that went down around campus this fall! Session One brought many exciting things for students to do, with plenty of school-sponsored activities both on and off campus and the start of the fall sports seasons!

As the cool fall weather arrived in Fayette, UIU came alive as students arrived to campus ahead of the start of classes on Aug. 26. Soon after the calendar moved to September, and between the start of fall sports to the many campus activities, this month was full of fun and showed off the strong Peacock spirit!

On the first week back at campus, students enjoyed a Family Feud game night and karaoke at Pete’s. Some went on a kayak trip to Volga Lake, while others had fun at the Saturday Slip and Slide event at the end of week one. The week ended with a camping trip at the Tailgate Area—a great way to enjoy the outdoors before classes got busy!

In week two, Labor Day gave students a break, but the fun continued. On Tuesday, there was a Poster Invasion on campus, and Wednesday’s Club and Organization Fair showed off all the student activities UIU has to offer. The men’s soccer team opened their season against Roosevelt on Thursday, and Fayette’s Watermelon Days brought tons of fun over the weekend. Football fans loved the home opener against Concordia-St. Paul, which featured a halftime band performance and fireworks after the game. The women’s soccer team finished the weekend with a match against Winona State.

National Suicide Prevention Week created a thoughtful and caring atmosphere during the third week of the semester. Students stayed active with Iron Peacock workout events and helped choose a name for UIU’s new signature beer at Pete’s Bar and Grill. Karaoke nights at Pete’s Bar and Grill kept everyone entertained, and the week ended with the Women’s cross-country team racing at the All-American Invite in Decorah.

As week four began, Hispanic Heritage Month started, giving students a chance to learn and celebrate Hispanic culture. Students got ready for their futures with a Career Fair Workshop and joined a Constitution Day Lunch & Learn. Women’s volleyball had an exciting home opener, and both the women’s and men’s soccer teams had great matches during their conference home openers.

Not long after, the calendar flipped to October, a month full of exciting events at Upper Iowa that brought everyone together for fun, learning, and Halloween spirit. From homecoming celebrations to spooky activities, there was something for everyone!

The month started with Homecoming Week and Mental Illness Awareness Week. Students decorated campus with window painting, raced in a VR car race inside the student center, and gathered for the Coronation Bonfire at the tailgating area. Midweek brought career workshops, free haircuts from a visiting ClipDart barber, and the Powder Puff Game at Harms-Eischeid Stadium. The week ended with the Homecoming Ball, the Alumni Awards & Honor Class brunch, the Homecoming Parade, and an Upper Iowa victory in the homecoming football game against William Jewell College. Soccer fans also enjoyed exciting matches over the weekend from both the women’s and men’s teams.

(Upper Iowa students outside U.S. Bank Stadium - Image via @whatshappeninuiu on Instagram)

Written by: Waylon Bolibaugh, UIU Collegian Staff

This past September, Upper Iowa University gave students an unforgettable opportunity to spend a long weekend in Minneapolis, combining fun, exploration, and sports. The highlight of the trip was attending the highly anticipated game between the Minnesota Vikings and the San Francisco 49ers at U.S. Bank Stadium.  

For many, it was their first time experiencing the electrifying atmosphere of an NFL game, and the excitement in the stadium was unmatched as fans cheered for their teams. But the weekend wasn’t just about football, as students also had the chance to visit the iconic Mall of America, one of the largest shopping and entertainment destinations in the country. Whether it was exploring the countless shops, enjoying the rides at Nickelodeon Universe, or experiencing a taste from one of the many restaurants, there was something for everyone to enjoy.

Following the trip, Upper Iowa University student Genevieve Chenoweth spoke about her experience: “It was a fun and amazing experience, I really enjoyed getting to hang out with everyone who went and experience an NFL game. As a student it was a great opportunity to get out and do something since campus is so remote. It wasn’t my first NFL game - I grew up watching the Steelers play in Pittsburgh - but it was my first Vikings game and my first time visiting U.S. Bank Stadium. It was a great time!”

Written by: Waylon Bolibaugh, UIU Collegian Staff

On Oct. 23, Upper Iowa University had the honor of hosting Jordan Green-Ellis, a renowned, award-winning motivational speaker, who delivered an inspiring talk to the students. The event was organized as part of the university’s commitment to providing students with opportunities for personal and professional growth.

Green-Ellis' visit was met with great enthusiasm, and he certainly lived up to expectations. During his speech, he focused on themes of resilience, self-belief, and the importance of setting and pursuing personal goals. His dynamic delivery and relatable anecdotes captivated the audience, making his message both powerful and memorable. Green-Ellis emphasized the significance of overcoming challenges and staying committed to one's dreams.

Green-Ellis shared his own experiences and success stories, encouraging students to embrace their potential and strive for excellence. His words left a lasting impact on the attendees, motivating them to take proactive steps towards achieving their aspirations. The feedback from students and faculty was overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing how Green-Ellis' talk inspired them to reflect on their own lives and make positive changes.

Written by: Maria Winter, UIU Collegian Staff

Everyone deserves to feel included, loved, and respected. Best Buddies is an international nonprofit organization that is “dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development, inclusive living, and family support for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.”  

Here at Upper Iowa University (UIU), the student-led chapter of Best Buddies strives to help the people in and around the Fayette community feel this acceptance. Every month, the club holds one or two events to connect students with people in the community who have intellectual or developmental disabilities.  Best Buddies at UIU partners with Full Circle, which is an organization in West Union that focuses on helping people with these disabilities live independently. Best Buddies often volunteer at events held by Full Circle, such as scavenger hunts and carnivals! 

Kailey Porter is a sophomore at UIU, and an active member of Best Buddies. The mission of the club has a special place in her heart, as her younger brother Grant was diagnosed with ATRX (Alpha thalassemia mental retardation X-linked syndrome) at a very early age. This is an extremely rare genetic disorder that affects multiple organ systems of the human body, and there are only a few hundred known cases in the medical world at this time. Because of ATRX, Grant is unable to walk or talk, and he also has underlying health conditions because of the effects of the condition.  

Kailey has been an integral part of Grant’s life from day one and has gone along to his doctor’s appointments starting in first grade. Like any big sister does, she also acted as a babysitter for Grant when her parents were away. However, unlike typical older siblings’ duty, Kailey was knowledgeable on level caretaking skills, such as learning how to give Grant his medications (which she learned to do at age 9), how to properly transport him, safely clean and feed him, etc. Throughout it all, Kailey has unconditionally and fiercely loved her brother, just as any sister would. 

I asked Kailey what message she would want the world to know about Grant – and she replied with “He is like any other kid. He understands everything and what people say to him, he’s just not able to verbalize his thoughts.”

So often, we avoid situations or interactions that we may be unknowledgeable about or uncomfortable around, just because they are new. But our lack of comfort is an absolutely unjustifiable excuse to treat people who are a little different than ourselves in a way that excludes them. Kailey said that “even though Grant cannot verbally communicate his thoughts, he should still be treated just as any other little kid and given the amount of respect and care that other children receive.”  

Best Buddies provides the opportunity for students to make that connection with people in our community who have disabilities and work to bridge the gap to inclusion. For Kailey, Best Buddies is a place where she can use her life experience and help her “buddies” on another level – she is able to know when things are actually wrong, when something is needed, or just simply have a normal conversation.

For others in the club, it is a place where they are growing their circle of inclusion for the first time and seeing how truly amazing a connected community can be.  

Martha Pace is the president of UIU’s Best Buddies chapter and has been for the past several years. According to her, the mission of the chapter is to “spread inclusion and form lasting friendships with members of the IDD (intellectually and developmentally disabled) community.” That’s what it’s all about, isn’t it?