The Collegian

Written by Ava Privet, Collegian Staff

In head coach Casey Kasperbauer’s first season, the Upper Iowa men’s basketball team put together a strong and consistent 2025–26 campaign, finishing 17–11 overall and 12–8 in GLVC play while earning the No. 7 seed in the conference tournament. The Peacocks showed early on they could compete with anyone, building momentum through nonconference play and carrying it into the heart of their schedule. A key stretch in December helped define the season, highlighted by a win over then-No. 5 Missouri S&T and a dominant 103–74 performance against Clarke. From there, Upper Iowa stayed steady, stacking quality wins and positioning itself as a tough matchup night in and night out.

Offensively, the Peacocks were one of the more dynamic teams in the league, averaging 82.8 points per game and outscoring opponents by 4.3 points per contest. They had the ability to score in bunches, including a season-high 106 points in a win over Maryville, while also showing balance across the board. Upper Iowa knocked down 249 three-pointers on the year, with Tate Petersen leading the way at an impressive 45.2% from deep. Ball movement was another strength, as the team averaged 16.6 assists per game, and their ability to take care of the ball led to a +4.1 turnover margin and over 18 points per game off turnovers. Defensively, the Peacocks created pressure with 8.8 steals per game, often turning those into easy scoring opportunities.

Written by Ava Privet, Collegian Staff

In Justin Maass’s fourth season leading the program, the Upper Iowa women’s basketball team continued to move in the right direction, finishing the 2025–26 season 14–15 overall and 10–10 in GLVC play while earning the No. 8 seed in the conference tournament. After a tough 0–2 start, the Peacocks quickly turned things around, winning eight of their next ten games and building momentum that carried into conference play. From there, Upper Iowa stayed competitive all season long, finishing with a narrow -1.8 scoring margin (65.4–67.2) and consistently putting itself in position to win games.

A big part of that success came from the Peacocks’ ability to shoot the ball, especially from beyond the arc. Upper Iowa knocked down 239 three-pointers at a 34.4% clip, creating an edge over opponents and opening up the floor offensively. That strength was on full display in a key road win over Quincy, where the Peacocks set a program record with 17 made threes. The team showed it could win in different ways, too, whether it was a high-scoring 96–50 win over Waldorf or a gritty 77–73 overtime victory at Missouri S&T. Even while facing a rebounding disadvantage, Upper Iowa’s offensive efficiency and spacing kept it in games throughout the year.

Written by Ava Privet, Collegian Staff

Upper Iowa University marked a special milestone this spring with the 20th annual Fayette Appreciation Day, held April 16. Over the past two decades, the event has grown into the university’s largest day of service, bringing together students, faculty, and staff to give back to the Fayette community. Organized alongside Peacocks for Progress, Fayette Appreciation Day continues to highlight the strong relationship between the university and the town. This year, that connection was on full display as volunteers spread out across the area, taking on projects that ranged from simple clean-up tasks to larger community improvement efforts.

Written by Waylon Bolibaugh, Collegian Staff

Upper Iowa University's women’s wrestling team enjoyed a successful and eventful season, characterized by several significant occurrences and accomplishments. Led by Coach Jay Riedemann, the Peacocks continued to build upon the success of previous seasons as a rising wrestling program that is capable of competing with the best. 

Among the notable events that marked the end of the season was the hosting of the first home wrestling meet ever by Upper Iowa University. The Peacocks capitalized on the opportunity by winning both matches, displaying excellent prowess in their home venue. 

Individually, there were some excellent performances by individual wrestlers. For example, Kylee Shoop received GLVC Women’s Athlete of the Week. It proves that she contributed much to the team's success and played a significant role throughout the season. 

Besides, the wrestlers did well in their studies as well. Upper Iowa managed to have three Scholar All-Americans, which are Kylie Doty, Eliana Gallies, and Kylee Shoop. It means that these people showed their dedication both to wrestling and to their education. 

Written by Waylon Bolibaugh, Collegian staff

Upper Iowa's wrestling team showed impressive results throughout the season, growing and developing in their performance and character in all competitions. Despite facing some difficult opponents during the year in the GLVC, the team kept improving both individually and collectively under the direction of their head coach Heath Grimm. 

However, what stands out most is the team spirit that allowed them to continue competing even in some very hard duals or tournaments. Some wrestlers have managed to show impressive skills and have made a breakthrough in the season. For example, Ethen Doty earned his second qualification for the NCAA Championships. It is also worth mentioning how well-prepared for every match each wrestler seemed to be due to the great job done by the coaching staff. 

As the season went on, the team showed noticeable improvement, especially in close matches. Wrestlers became more confident and consistent, which led to better overall results. The men’s wrestling team also had 11 wresters earn NWCA All-American honor including Tanner Aries, Owen Denstad, Preston Klostermann, Nick Mueller, Dawson Schmit, Collin Altensey, Cael Bridgewater, Kale Hansen, James Lovelady, Jonah Luensman, and Chase Wickwire. 

written by Waylon Bolibaugh, Collegian Staff

Student-athletes at Upper Iowa University were convened in the Student Center ballrooms for what may be considered the most important evening of the year – the annual “Petey’s” awards ceremony. It was an evening where teams from all the various sporting disciplines came together to honor the efforts made and achievements reached during the 2025-2026 athletic season. 

The evening paid tribute to individual and group achievements that went beyond just their performance on the field of play. 

Among the most prestigious accolades of the night was Scholar Athlete of the Year, won by Kyle Hrncir and Ava Privet, both members of the basketball teams. The way in which they have managed to maintain such a good balance between academics and sports was worthy of an award like that. 

Iron Peacock awards, which are given for hard work put into lifting weights, were awarded to Sydnee Nelson from the women’s basketball team and Lawson Loose from the wrestling team. Their dedication to lifting helped in contributing towards their performance on the field. 

When it comes to new faces that made a mark, Trey Lewis and Kendyl Lodermeier were crowned Newcomers of the Year. The two freshmen made significant contributions during their first year at UIU and had a profound impact on both basketball teams. 

The Breakthrough Athlete of the Year accolade was awarded to Ava Privet (women’s basketball) and Alejandro Sanchez (men’s soccer). The two improved their game and emerged as stars on their teams. 

The award for Mr. and Miss Peacock went to Shaquille Roman and Alexis Moses respectively. Mr. and Miss Peacock award is presented to athletes who bring glory to the University of International Hospitality and Tourism by performing their best inside and outside the sports field. 

Another big winner was the football team that won numerous prizes including Staff of the Year, Team of the Year, and Win of the Year. 

For the grand finale of the night, the Athlete of the Year awards were given to Kyle Hrncir and Ellie Foster, both from the sport of basketball. The athletic abilities of these two distinguished them as being the best athletes at UIU. 

Written by Waylon Bolibaugh

Photo by Jared McFarlane

The Upper Iowa University football team had a memorable end to its season by earning a spot in the Candy Bowl and coming away with a big win over the Hillsdale Chargers. The bowl appearance itself was a major accomplishment for the program and showed how much the team grew throughout the season. Traveling to Hobart, Indiana, the Peacocks were focused, confident, and ready to finish the year the right way. 

The team left Fayette early Thursday morning and made the trip to Indiana together on two buses. The long bus ride gave players and coaches time to reflect on the season and hang out with each other while also locking in on the task ahead. After arriving in Hobart, the team settled in and prepared for a busy and meaningful weekend. 

Friday was filled with several team activities that made the bowl experience special. The Peacocks visited a local elementary school, where players spent time with students in the classroom, played recess, and answered any questions the students had in a Q&A. Later in the day, the team visited the Albanese Candy Factory which is one of the highlights of the Candy Bowl experience. Players enjoyed trying the different chocolate samples they had to offer and buying some candy on the way.  

That evening, Upper Iowa took part in a team dinner and conference that included the Hillsdale Chargers. This gave both teams a chance to come together in a respectful setting before facing off on the field. Coaches talked about each others season while both conferences sent representatives to speak on the game as well.  

On Saturday, it was finally time for the Candy Bowl. Upper Iowa came out ready to compete and played with intensity from start to finish. The Peacocks executed their game plan on both sides of the ball and stayed composed in key moments throughout the game. Their effort paid off as they defeated Hillsdale 37-28, earning a Candy Bowl victory and ending the season on a high note. 

Written by Waylon Bolibaugh, collegian staff

Photo by whatshappeninuiu Facebook/Instagram

Upper Iowa University students got the chance to experience professional football up close this semester thanks to a special NFL trip organized by Student Activities. Students who signed up were taken to Minneapolis to watch the Minnesota Vikings take on the Chicago Bears on November 16th in a home matchup at U.S. Bank Stadium.

The trip gave UIU students a full weekend experience. The group traveled the day before the game and stayed overnight in a hotel, giving everyone time to relax, explore, and enjoy the atmosphere before heading to the stadium on game day. For many students, it was their first time seeing an NFL game in person, and the energy of a packed NFL crowd made the experience even more memorable.

While details of the full itinerary were kept pretty flexible, the focus of the trip was simple: giving students a fun, affordable, and unique opportunity outside the classroom. Between traveling together, staying overnight, and cheering in one of the loudest stadiums in the league, the trip offered a chance for students to connect, unwind, and make memories.

Written by: Waylon Bolibaugh, Collegian Staff

Photo by GLVC sports website

The Upper Iowa Peacocks have officially made school history. After finishing the regular season 8–3, UIU is bowl eligible for the first time ever, and they’re getting ready to play in the Candy Bowl on December 6th, 2025. The game will take place in Hobart, Indiana, where the Peacocks will face the Hillsdale Chargers.

This matchup is not only a chance to cap off a huge season—it’s also a chance for Upper Iowa to prove itself on a bigger stage. With a strong defense, a balanced offense, and the momentum of an 8-win season, UIU is heading into the Candy Bowl with confidence.

Game Preview: Upper Iowa vs. Hillsdale

Upper Iowa comes into the game with a lot of energy and one of its most complete rosters in years. The Peacocks have been strong on both sides of the ball, especially late in the season, and their 8–3 record shows how far the program has come.

Hillsdale, meanwhile, brings a tough and physical style of football. They’ve played a challenging schedule and know how to compete in big games. For UIU, the key will be controlling the tempo, winning the line of scrimmage, and continuing the explosive plays that helped them reach eight wins.

This matchup should be competitive, but the Peacocks have shown all year that they step up when it matters most.

Student Travel & Fan Support

To help pack the stands, Upper Iowa is offering a student bus trip to the Candy Bowl.

Cost: $35

Covers: Your ticket + transportation

This is a great chance for students to travel together and support the team during their first-ever bowl appearance.

Candy Bowl Send-Off Event

UIU is also hosting a Candy Bowl Send-Off on

📅 December 4th

⏰ 12:30 PM

📍 Main Street, Fayette, IA

Students, faculty, community members, and fans are invited to cheer on the team before they leave for Indiana.

Written by Luke Hanson, Collegian Staff

Picture by Luke Hanson

Year one of the Casey Kasperbauer era is off to a flying start as the Peacocks’ first-year head coach has Upper Iowa men’s basketball 4-1 through its first five games. The Peacocks began their season at the GLIAC/GLVC Crossover in Kenosha, Wisconsin, facing off against UW-Parkside and Roosevelt. A 2-0 record was achieved on the weekend trip, as Upper Iowa defeated the Rangers, 78-69, and the Lakers, 88-76, on consecutive days.  

The team followed that up with a split of two road tests the next weekend, falling to Central Missouri, 79-84, in Warrensburg, Missouri, before completing a 20-point comeback to knock off Purdue Northwest, 92-86, in Hammond, Indiana.  

In the home opener and the final game before GLVC play, the Peacocks were once again victorious, defeating Minnesota Crookston, 96-81, inside Dorman Gym on Black Friday.  

Through the opening five games, its been the consistent play from redshirt-junior Kyle Hrncir, who is averaging 18.8 ppg and 10.0 rpg on the young season. Hrncir earned GLVC Player of the Week honors following the games against Central Missouri and Purdue Northwest and has three double-doubles thus far.  

A pair of transfer guards have given the Peacocks a boost throughout non-conference play as well, as Trey Lewis and Tate Petersen have both averaged double figures in scoring. Lewis, who joined the Peacocks by way of Division I Florida A&M, is scoring 14.8 ppg and had a season-high 22 points and five assists against Minnesota Crookston. Petersen, a Kirkwood CC transfer, is averaging 13.0 ppg, shooting a team-best 56.5% from three-point range, and leads the team with 13 made three-pointers.  

As a team, Upper Iowa is averaging 86.6 ppg, ranking second in the GLVC through Nov. 28. The Peacocks have a conference-best 6.0 turnover margin per game, and are second in the conference in three-pointers made per game (9.6) and offensive rebounds per game (14.0).  

Picked 11th in the GLVC preseason coaches’ poll, the Peacocks have outplayed the public expectations thus far, but you can throw everything away when the ball tips off in GLVC play. Upper Iowa opens conference play on Monday, Dec. 1, against Quincy (3-2) in Quincy, Illinois.  

The Peacocks then return to Dorman Gym for two vital clashes with Lincoln (MO) (4-1) and Missouri S&T (3-0) on Dec. 4 and Dec. 6. The Blue Tigers and Miners accounted for all 15 first-place votes in the conference’s preseason poll, as Missouri S&T was picked first and Lincoln was picked second. In 2024-25, Upper Iowa split the season series against both teams, including upsetting then-#5 Missouri S&T on Feb. 8 inside Dorman gym.  

The road tilt with Quincy on Monday will be an important one for both teams, as each have had good starts to the season. The Hawks’ 3-2 record includes wins over Pittsburg State, Cedarville and Hannibal-La Grange, with two one-possession losses to Findlay and Missouri Western.  

Sophomore guard Tiernan Stynes played sparingly as a freshman in 2024-25, but the Australian native is the team’s leading scorer through November at 17.4 ppg. Stynes is shooting 66.7% from the field and 41.2% from three-point range, including an 11-of-12 performance from the field for a career-high 26 points against Cedarville. Max Booher is another name to monitor for the Hawks, another sophomore guard and one who had a big game against Upper Iowa last season, going for 21 inside Dorman Gym. The Peacocks’ success in Monday’s opener will be dependent on their ability to shut these two scorers down for 40 minutes.  

The nerves will be lessened for Upper Iowa by the time it reaches Thurday’s clash with Lincoln (MO), but there’s no doubt the emotions will be high. Not only will it be the Peacocks’ first game inside Dorman Gym this season with students on campus, but the handful of players left from last season’s squad will be looking to avenge a home loss to the Blue Tigers last February. Heading into December, Lincoln is 4-1 (1-0 GLVC), highlighted by a 77-68 victory over Southwest Baptist in the team’s conference opener. The Blue Tigers will match up with Missouri S&T in Jefferson City, Missouri ahead of arriving in Fayette.  

After losing his top two scorers from last year’s team Lincoln (MO) head coach Jimmy Drew found a gem in the transfer portal in Division I Prairie View A&M transfer Solomon Oraegbu. Oraegbu has also spent plenty of time across Division II, playing at UW-Parkside, Ferris State and Emporia State in years’ past, and now featuring as the Blue Tigers’ leading scorer at 17.8 ppg. One of the most experienced players in the GLVC, Oraegbu should be no stranger to hostile environments like the one he’ll face in Dorman Gym on Thursday. Alongside Oraegbu is a host of returning players for Drew, including the likes of Tyler Chapman (14.0 ppg), Malcolm Davis (9.8 ppg) and Max Ekono (8.4 ppg). Another close game should be expected in a budding rivalry between the GLVC’s two newest programs.  

Saturday’s game against Missouri S&T may be the most anticipated matchup of the season for both Upper Iowa and Missouri S&T, with strong motives for both teams. The Peacocks will be aiming to make a statement to close out the opening week of conference play against a team currently ranked inside the NABC DII Coaches’ Poll top 10, while the Miners are out for revenge after falling as the #5 team in the country and losing its then-perfect GLVC record last season in Dorman Gym. The Miners will face off against Lincoln (MO) and Quincy ahead of Saturday’s game, currently boasting a 3-0 record and holding opponents to 53.3 ppg.  

The big three for Missouri S&T is a trio of returners from last year’s core, as Alex Benassi (16.7 ppg), Cameron Stovall (15.0 ppg) and Andrew Young (13.5 ppg) all are back in Miner uniforms. However this game turns out, both of these teams will learn a lot about themselves over the course of 40 minutes.  

Written by Luke Hanson, Collegian Staff

2025 Homecoming Week came to an exciting close on Saturday, as the Homecoming Parade, Alumni House Tropical Tailgate Party, and Homecoming football game took center stage in Fayette. Kicking off at 10:30 a.m., Upper Iowa University legends of the past, local Fayette businesses, and current UIU sports teams, clubs, and organizations led a parade through Fayette, circling around the campus and culminating at the football tailgate area. The parade started an eventful day on the east side of the Upper Iowa campus, as the Alumni House’s Tropical Tailgate Party went from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., featuring Thyron Matthews BBQ and a Bloody Mary Bar.  

The tailgate celebrations flooded towards the Peacock Pavilion as the middle of the day went on, with live music at the tailgate area to help build the anticipation for the afternoon’s big football game against Lincoln (MO). With Peacocks past and present enjoying the scenes ahead of the game, everything was set in place for a big Peacocks victory on a beautiful Saturday afternoon in late September.  

The Peacocks came in to the game flying high, fresh off a road win against a nationally-ranked Michigan Tech team and excited to be back at Harms-Eischeid Stadium. Once again, the Peacocks came out hot of the gates, executing a four-and-a-half minute opening drive that saw senior defensive lineman Eddy Latanauskas carry the ball across the goal line for his first career touchdown. Upper Iowa took a 7-3 lead into the second quarter before the flood gates opened and the offense couldn’t be stopped. The Peacocks executed three straight touchdown drives, each taking under four minutes to get into the endzone. Damon Head Jr. crossed the goal line on a two-yard rush to make it 14-3 before a long touchdown run from Darryl Overstreet Jr. and an even longer touchdown catch from Mante Morrow blossomed the Peacocks lead to 28-3 going into halftime.  

With the temperature up near 80 degrees in late September, perhaps it was the hot weather that slowed both teams down in the second half. The focus turned to the defensive side of the ball as the Peacocks looked to close out the game in the second half. Nathan Behne added a field goal in the fourth quarter before a Lincoln (MO) touchdown closed out the scoring in a 31-10 Upper Iowa win. Overall, Upper Iowa outgained Lincoln (MO) 432 yards to 334 yards, frequently getting off the field defensively on third down as the Blue Tigers were just 5-of-12 while the Peacocks sustained long drives while executing 7-of-10 third down opportunities. The win pushed Upper Iowa up to 3-1, starting GLVC action off with a dominant home win over an upstart Lincoln (MO) team.  

Written by Luke Hanson, Collegian staff

Photo by: Myah Brinker, UIU student

The weekend of September 20-21 will be one to remember for a while for Peacock Athletics. Peacock Football and Peacock Men’s Soccer each picked up a win over a ranked opponent on the weekend, marking the first ranked win since 2018 on the gridiron and the first ranked win since 2023 on the pitch for Peacock Athletics.  

A road trip to Houghton, Michigan, is never easy, both in the route traveled and the opponent at hand. Upper Iowa came into the weekend with a 1-1 record, riding a high after a 58-14 demolition of South Dakota Mines at Harms-Eischeid Stadium. The hosts, Michigan Tech, had won three straight games to open the season, including a win over #16 Bemidji State and found themselves ranked #24 in the nation.  

Things didn’t start the greatest for the Peacocks, as a first quarter fumble and interception saw Michigan Tech take a 7-0 lead into the second quarter. The turnaround for the Peacocks came soon enough though, as a 15-play, 75-yard drive was capped off by a 19-yard touchdown pass from Darryl Overstreet Jr. to Mante Morrow.  

On the Peacocks’ next drive, it was Eddie Burgess who came up big, picking up a 12-yard gain on a 3rd-and-1 before capping the drive with a nine-yard touchdown to give the Peacocks a 14-7 lead.  

After the Peacocks’ defense forced a second consecutive punt, the offense got back to work, scoring a touchdown on a third-straight drive with Logan Rosauer getting into the endzone just ahead of halftime.  

The 21-point explosion in the second quarter for Upper Iowa would be all it took offensively, as the game shifted into a defensive battle. Michigan Tech’s lone second half touchdown came on the opening drive out of the break, but the Huskies’ next two drives were halted on 4th down conversion attempts.  

With under two minutes to go, the Peacocks iced the game as they drew an offside call against the Michigan Tech defense. Seconds later, Overstreet would kneel the ball out and the Peacocks were celebrating their first win over a ranked opponent since 2018’s upset over then-#11 Winona State at Harms-Eischeid Stadium. The win brought Peacock football above .500 on the season and surging into GLVC play while also setting the stage for a men’s soccer showdown in Fayette the following day.  

An up-and-down start to the year for Upper Iowa Men's Soccer saw the Peacocks sitting at a 1-3 record heading into the team’s GLVC home opener on September 21. With the 23rd ranked team in the nation, Lewis, taking on the Peacocks in Fayette, the stage was set for an important conference matchup early on in the season.  

With 18 total goals across the Peacocks’ first four matches of the season and an exciting first ten minutes that saw both keepers called into action, a high-scoring matchup seemed likely. The visiting Flyers saw a goal called back in the 19th minute due to an offside call and seemed to be the stronger of the sides through 20 minutes.  

Head coach Jason Carlson went to his bench to find a boost, bringing on Gerardo Romo and Jonah Bowen-Burt 25 minutes into the game. A minute later, forward Abraham Navarro found himself with a bit of space on the edge of the 18-yard box, firing a shot that looked as if it would break the deadline. It came smashing off the underside of the crossbar, but bounced away from goal, keeping the game scoreless. Navarro wouldn’t be denied though, scoring just a minute later as he found himself as the recipient of a long throw-in from Reilly Moore. Needing just the slightest touch, Navarro flicked the ball up and over the Lewis goalkeeper with a header, officially scoring his first collegiate goal in the 29th minute.  

The 1-0 scoreline stood through 45 minutes, as both teams went to the halftime locker rooms with plenty yet to play for. Holding the lead, the Peacocks’ defense was called into action plenty throughout the second half as the Flyers pushed on. Senior captain Dexter Garrett was the most active among the back line, winning countless headers and clearing the ball off the goal line late on in the second half. Though the Peacocks never could find a second goal, it was a strong all-around performance for 90 minutes that eventually got the home team over the line.  

By Kayla Veto/Collegian Staff

By Biingo Lewis/Collegian Staff

By Logan Zacharias/Collegian Staff

It is early March, and the CDC had just declared the coronavirus had spread into a pandemic. Days after, the whole country went into lockdown mode, and many nonessential businesses had to close down until who knew when. One of the results was people who love to work out, build muscle and get into shape lost their spots to do so.

When the pandemic began, people hoped it would be over in a reasonable time, so many started working out at home to stay in shape. But that got harder and harder as the pandemic went on.

After a couple of months of the pandemic, many people who started working out at home stopped because they did not see a reason. After all, there was no person to impress. People began to put on weight.  

Those who did gained an average of 29 pounds, according to an article on advisory.com. Around 50% of people said that they gained at least 15 pounds of undesired weight.

Brendon Parnell is one of those people who added unwanted weight during the pandemic. "I put on around 20 pounds in the first couple of months because I did not have the workout equipment to keep losing weight," he said. Parnell went from around 310 pounds at the beginning of the pandemic to 330 in a couple of months.

When UIU students returned to Fayette in the fall, it was time to get back to work. When UIU's Recreation Center removed the restriction of only allowing six people in the weight room area at a time, it got filled quickly; there would be eight to 10 people in there at a time.

"We had to make people get out of the weight room because it was too full at times," said Noah Jackson, one of the employees who works at the Rec. "We would ask them to sit by the desk, or they could go and warm up on the track and wait their turn."

With the Rec being fully open, people use the cardio machines more often than before the pandemic. "I use the cardio machines four to five times now after putting on weight back on that I lost," said Parnell. "Even though I love to lift weight and move heavy weights, I will not lose the weight that I put back on (lifting only), so cardio is my new friend."

There are many new workouts that people are doing at the UIU rec. Many are trying more sets and reps over miniature sets and fewer reps. This helps build a body with lower body fat but still has more muscle tone. When the muscle is worked for a longer time, the fibers in the muscles do not have time to rebuild themselves and lengthen.

With so many people going into the gym, it might be the first time some people have ever gone into the Rec and worked out. Some might not know what to do when they get there.

Who has some ideas for those who have never truly worked out.

"I would use simple bodyweight progressions into resisted movements," advises Eric Idhe, a student trainer and a strength and conditioning major. "The big five would be a squat pattern progression, upper body push, upper body pull, hinge and core work and stabilization."

Doing these simple bodyweight progression lifts will train one's body to be ready for weighted lifts because if one just jumped into weighted lifts, it could cause muscle damage. While doing these body lifts, one will also see muscle gains.

People going back to the gym for the first time since the pandemic started might not know where to start. Some might not know if they should start back at their previous weights to get their gains back.

By LaZavion Harris/Collegian Staff

The Upper Iowa University football team has had its share of tough losses throughout this year, and the toughest loss was against Southwest Minnesota State University by a score of 21-14. It was also a Homecoming game, which is the game a team would usually want to win. The Peacocks played 57 minutes of complete football until the final three minutes in the fourth quarter. The Peacocks played to a level where their record of 0-6 did not exist going into the opening kickoff.

Samson Tufui, a senior defensive end for the Upper Iowa defensive line, was one of many defensive players who took huge shots at SMSU quarterback Andrew Haidet. “We are much better than what the record shows with our program, and I believe it shows to the people who watch,” Tufui said. It seems as if the Peacocks use the hardest route to take when it comes to winning. In the last three games, the Peacocks led the first three quarters. In each of those fourth quarters combined, the team gave up over 45 unanswered points.

Alexander Stevens, a senior wide receiver for the Peacocks, had four catches in the final drive of the fourth quarter. “I believe we have at least three wins out of the five games we’ve played if we just finish throughout the fourth quarter,” Stevens said. It is true that the Peacocks could have been on the top half of the NSIC with at least three wins. “It hurts more when you know that we are better than 75 percent of the teams we play, and for the first three quarters we are a playoff-contending team,” Stevens said.

“We are the best zero-win team in the Midwest in my eyes, and it shouldn’t be this way,” Tufui said.

There is a lot to prove if a team wants to be on top of the NSIC. The Peacocks have a tough task with the schedule remaining for them. In the second half of their schedule, they will play five of the toughest teams in the NSIC. History has shown the Peacocks overcoming the tough tasks of beating the best teams, in their own way. In 2019, the Peacocks defeated the Bulldogs of Minnesota Duluth in the second half of the season, which eliminated the Bulldogs from playoff contention.

In 2018, the Peacocks defeated the Warriors of Winona State University, one of the programs’ biggest upsets in their recent history. The Peacocks defeated the Warriors by a score of 34-33. It began a huge turnaround for Upper Iowa, in what would be a momentum boost for the community. The Peacocks only won two games in 2018.

Now the Upper Iowa football team is in week seven, and the team hasn’t won any games yet. The team’s search for its first win of the season didn’t get any easier against Augustana University. The Peacocks were competitive against the 25th-ranked Vikings but fell 37-20 on the road.

“We just have to get back to the basics, and I believe if we do that, we could overcome a lot of the problems we have,” Stevens said. Stevens is one of the leading wide receivers for the team on side of D.J. Emsweller. “Me, and D.J. have been together since the 2017 season, and our chemistry is like no other at the wide receiver position,” Stevens said.

“I’ve seen our team defeat some of the best teams in this conference, and it’s not a task that we can’t deliver,” Emsweller said. Emsweller is having one of his best seasons at Upper Iowa as is the leading offensive weapon for the Peacocks with a team-best seven touchdowns on 20 catches for 364 yards. “I feel as if what I’m doing isn’t enough, and we definitely have a long way to go to get to where we need to be,” Emsweller said.

It seems as if the Upper Iowa University Peacocks believe in what they can do. The rest of the season will be a task that could go either way for Upper Iowa. Most things have changed at Upper Iowa’s practices daily, and the team has shown improvement during practices. They have upgraded their workouts that take place on Sunday and Wednesday mornings.

By LaZavion Harris/Collegian Staff

There have been many twists and turns throughout the last two school years. The year 2020 had not been ideal for the Class of 2024, and many first-year students did not enjoy their time in college. The coronavirus kept many students in a shell of what they would call a “dorm room.” Upper Iowa University students endured much time in quarantine or isolation due to COVID-19.

Aboubacar Barry, who is originally from Moline, Ill., came to Upper Iowa University in the fall season of 2020. He began his fall term with the belief as if there would be a college football season. He also had the thought of becoming a redshirt freshman because he did not know if he would have been forced to become one.

Barry was upset that football was canceled in the fall semester, but it gave him the opportunity to focus on schoolwork. His college experience became a lot harder this year with the addition of college football again. He mentioned that he eventually “lost hope and motivation” for being a college student-athlete. His love for the sport began to light a fire in him to want to train and play hard again.

Cole Ewald, who is originally from Hopkins, Minn., had the same to say about his college experience as Barry did. Ewald had to quarantine three times his freshman year, and he struggled in his first two semesters in the classroom. He struggled to get adjusted with online classes, and he said it forced him to slack off his classes for some time.

He found that new focus with the addition of football once again. He worked all the way for the spring semester to begin, but the games were canceled.

Ewald continued to struggle with his social life, and he mentioned that he was “afraid to get near people in fear of a fourth quarantine.” There was a total of four scrimmages that were scheduled, and all four we canceled just days before. Ending a spring term in the fashion that it did was very frustrating for Ewald. Things would begin to change with the upcoming school year for Ewald as he would get his opportunity to become a student athlete.

The 2021 school year has begun for Ewald, and he came in excited to work both on and off the field. He decided to become vaccinated over the winter break, so that helped his chances of not being quarantined by a long shot. Vaccinated student athletes have the option of not wearing masks if they do not want to, but it is still recommended. Non-vaccinated student athletes must test at least three times a week before any competition or travel. Ewald’s social life has become better, and he believes that we are “one step closer” to normalcy.

Alan Ayala, originally born in Fond du Lac, Wis., was another first-year student affected by the pandemic. “I had no social life, I went into a deep depression, and I had family problems back home,” said Ayala.

He instantly gravitated toward the moment of hearing about the cancelation of the 2020 football season. “I was devastated, and I no longer wanted to be here at this school anymore” Ayala said. It seemed as if he struggled to maintain being just a student without athletics.

The narrative would change for Ayala as he would get the opportunity to play, but not against other opponents. He would find his way around being in college for the first time in his life. He was anxious to wear a football helmet again, and he would get his chance to on Aug. 24, 2020.

He said life was better for him because he also did not have to quarantine again with his vaccination status. Ayala took no online classes compared to what he had to take in his freshman season. He loved that he also has not used a Zoom link since he was first introduced to Upper Iowa campus.

He gets to live his life as a redshirt sophomore alongside Barry and Ewald. “Football is important to us, because we can all agree that without it, we struggled” said Ayala and Ewald.

Together the three guys take on their sophomore season without a second redshirt. “We came in together, and now we get the chance to actually fulfill our dream,” Barry said.

Ewald would also say that he could be in the running for a starting position on the offense if he keeps working hard. “The coaches love how I work hard, and remain focused on my job,” Ewald said.