The Upper Iowa wrestling coaching staff has announced the commitment of five young men to continue their academic and athletic careers at Upper Iowa University next fall. Jordan Gundrum, Bradon Roen, Connor Williams, Dalton Nelson and Tanner Prochaska make up the Peacock wrestling program’s early signing class for the 2017-18 season.
Jordan Gundrum enters his second year at Ellsworth Community College after graduating from East High School in West Bend, Wisconsin. While at East, Gundrum was a four-time conference champion and a three-time Wisconsin State Tournament place winner. He capped off his brilliant high school career with a perfect 50-0 record and a Wisconsin State Championship at 160 pounds as a senior. Last season at Ellsworth, Gundrum was a NWCA All-Acadmic Team and finished the season as the NJCAA Runner-up at 174 pounds with a 33-10 record.
“Jordan has established himself as one of the best wrestlers in junior college today,” said Head Coach Heath Grimm. “We are very excited and have been working with him for some time to be a part of Peacock wrestling. He will fill a hole created by graduation and make an instant impact on our lineup and program next season.”
Jordan is the son of James and Lauri Gundrum and will work toward a degree in information systems at UIU.
Bradon Roen is in his senior year at Riverdale High School and lives in Blue River, Wisconsin. Roen is a three-time Wisconsin State Tournament place winner and the 2016 Wisconsin State Champion at 138 pounds. The future Peacock also plays football for the Chieftans and was named to his all-conference first team as a running back and linebacker. Roen is a hard worker on and off the mat earning academic honors and high honors throughout his years at Riverdale.
“Bradon is a proven winner,” said Assistant Coach Nate Skaar. “He is a state champion and looking for a second title this year. We are looking forward to having him in the room and representing Upper Iowa on and off the mat.”
He is the son of Chriss and Stacie Roen and will study agronomy at Upper Iowa.
Connor Williams is entering his final season at Central High School in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Williams is a three-time Wisconsin State Tournament qualifier and place fifth at 170 pounds last season. This past spring and fall, Williams placed second the Northern Plains Freestyle, won the InterMat JJ Classic and placed third at the Cliff Keen USAW Preseason Nationals. Heading into his final season at Central, Williams has posted a career record of 126-18 with 75 wins coming by fall. He has earned three All-MVC Team nods twice as a first team member and once as a second teamer. Williams has also been named to the All-Tribune Area three times as a freshman (145), a sophomore (160) and a junior (170). A three-sport athlete for the Red Raiders, Williams has earned accolades in both football and track as well including all-conference honors. He also earned the Central Academic Acheivement award for his efforts in the classroom given to students with a grade point average above 3.5.
“We feel that Connor is a rising star in the world of wrestling and the results since he placed fifth at last year’s state tournament have been impressive,” said Grimm. “Connor’s best wrestling is ahead of him and we can’t wait to help him reach his goals in an Upper Iowa singlet.”
Connor is the son of John and Patty Williams and will study exercise science at Upper Iowa.
Dalton Nelson attends North Butler High School in Greene, Iowa and is a senior with the Bearcat wrestling program. Nelson is a three-sport athlete at North Butler competing in football, wrestling and baseball. On the mat, he is a four-time letter winner and a three-time Iowa State Tournament qualifier. Nelson has placed twice at the Iowa State Tournament in 8th place at 120 pounds as a freshman and 7th place at 152 pounds as a junior. Last season, he secured a 44-3 record and was named the team’s most valuable wrestler. Nelson has been named as a captain of the team this season. He has been successful in his other two sports as well garnering all-district honors in football and all-conference marks in baseball. Nelson pays close attention to his school work and appears on the honor roll and is involved in the peer mentor program at North Butler as well.
“Dalton comes from a great family that loves Upper Iowa wrestling,” said Skaar. “But it was important that he understood that we want him in our program at Upper Iowa. He is a solid wrestler coming off a year with over 40 wins and we are excited to get him into our workouts and continue his development into a collegiate wrestler.”
He is the son of Joe and Tina Nelson and brother of Cody, a redshirt sophomore on the Peacock wrestling team.
Tanner Prochaska is no stranger to Fayette and Upper Iowa as he starts out on his senior season at Stewartville High School in Stewartville, Minnesota. He has been a varsity starter at Stewartville since the eighth grade and has placed in the team’s sectional four times. Prochaska is a two-time all-conference first team member and a two-time member of the MNUSA Cadet/Junior Freestyle Team. He has posted 90 wins in his career with 53 bonus-point victories including 37 by fall. While competing in wrestling, football and baseball, he has carried a 3.5 grade point average and spread his time beyond the mat and classroom as well. Tanner is the president of the Key Club and a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Business Professionals of America.
Stewartville has produced some great wrestling Peacocks like Tony Gehling, an NCAA All-American as a senior and four-time NWCA All-Academic honoree, as well as Derek Stolarzyk. Tony’s two younger brothers, also from Stewartville, are on athletic rosters at UIU right now in the form of Jamie (baseball) and Adam (football).
“Tanner belongs at Upper Iowa,” said Grimm. “We felt that Tanner was destined to be a Peacock and we worked hard to recruit him to our program. His family’s legacy matched with his work ethic and wrestling skills will make him a success at UIU.”
He is the son of Mike, a 1989 alum, and Sandra Prochaska and grandson of Bill, a 1963 alum, and Janet Prochaska. Mike was a member of the Peacock baseball and golf programs as a student-athlete and Bill was student-athlete with the basketball and baseball programs and served as the head coach of the men’s basketball (21 years), baseball (16 years), and both women’s and men’s golf teams (12 years). The floor in Dorman Gym is named in honor of Bill’s legacy at Upper Iowa.