PELLA, Iowa - Nebraska Wesleyan men's wrestling opened the 2026 calendar year against one of the nation's deepest fields Saturday at the Central Under Armour Invitational in Pella, Iowa. Competing in an open tournament that featured 17 teams and multiple nationally ranked programs, the Prairie Wolves saw two wrestlers earn top-six finishes across the 20 contested weight classes. Cy Peterson placed sixth at Gold 157 pounds, while Logan Hede matched that finish at Silver 174 to highlight Nebraska Wesleyan's day against elite Division III and NAIA competition. The event included the top three teams in the latest Division III rankings in No. 1 Wartburg, No. 2 Augsburg and No. 3 Wisconsin-La Crosse, along with NAIA No. 1 Grand View.

How It Happened

At 157 pounds, Cy Peterson put together one of the most productive individual days of the tournament. Peterson opened with a technical fall in round one before running into a setback in the quarterfinals. He responded with authority in the consolation bracket, winning by a 19-3 technical fall in the consolation quarterfinals. His most impressive performance came in the consolation semifinals, where he pinned Cade Braun of Northwestern (Iowa) at the 2:18 mark. Peterson ultimately finished sixth in a loaded bracket.

Logan Hede delivered a strong showing at 174 pounds, stringing together multiple bonus-point victories. Hede recorded a technical fall, a decision and a fall during his run through the bracket. In the consolation semifinals, he secured a pin of Pehton Truempler of Dickinson State. Hede closed the tournament with a sixth-place finish in the weight class.

Nebraska Wesleyan also gained valuable experience across the lineup, with several Prairie Wolves competing in tightly contested matches against ranked and regionally recognized wrestlers, often pushing bouts into later periods against nationally proven opponents.

UP NEXT 

Nebraska Wesleyan returns to dual competition on Jan. 15, traveling to Buena Vista for its next scheduled match.