The Panther Train rolled into Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Mich. for the 2022 NCAA Wrestling Championships. UNI finished 20th overall in the team category with a score of 28.5 points, and Parker Keckeisen of UNI earned bronze in the individual rounds.

Keckeisen, who has been one of the most steady and reliable Panther wrestlers all season long, capped off his fantastic 2021-22 season. In the opener, he matched up with North Carolina State’s Trent Hidlay. With the match knotted up at five apiece at the end of regulation, the match went to a sudden victory round, where neither wrestler could gain an edge. With the match in tiebreakers, Keckeisen earned a reversal for the victory over Hidlay.

In the bronze medal match, Keckeisen faced off with No. 5-seeded Bernie Truax of Cal Poly. He lead 4-3 after the first two rounds, but Truax evened it up at four in the third period. Keckeisen bounced back with a takedown and sealed the win. He earned his second all-American honor, which was UNI’s fifth consecutive all-American selection in the contested championships.

Several Panthers had strong first days at the Championships. Lance Runyon opened things up with a fall, with Kyle Biscoglia and Colin Realbuto also adding falls in their respective matches. The Panthers finished the first day in sixth place with a team score of 16.