The Panther wrestling meet against Utah Valley was temporarily canceled, but not for long as the meet was moved to Ames due to weather conditions in the area. The UNI wrestling team defeated Utah Valley on Saturday 32-6 and improved to 3-4 on the season.
The meet started with the 125 weight class, where Northern Iowa’s Trever Anderson defeated Utah Valley’s Yusief Lillie in a 1-0 decision, giving the Panthers an early 3-0 lead.
In the 133 weight class, Panthers red shirt sophomore Julian Farber had two early takedowns to help defeat Utah Valley’s Kase Mauger 11-1 in a major decision. This awarded the Panthers four points and extended their lead to 7-0.
In the 141 weight class, Panther junior Cael Happel had two takedowns in the first period against Utah Valley’s Haiden Drury, which led to a 14-4 victory in a major decision. This gave four more points to the Panthers and extended their lead to 11-0.
In the 149 weight class, Panthers red shirt sophomore Adam Allard fell to Utah Valley’s Isaiah Delgado in a 5-0 decision. This awarded the Wolverines three points and cut the lead to 11-3.
In the 157 weight class, Panthers redshirt freshman Ryder Downey defeated Utah Valley’s Alex Emmer 14-2 in a major decision. Downey had four takedowns in the match and awarded the Panthers four points, extending their lead to 15-3.
In the 165 weight class, Panther redshirt Sophomore RJ Weston defeated Utah Valley’s Jaxon Garoutte in a 5-1 decision. This gave the Panthers three points and extended their lead to 18-3.
In the 174 weight class, redshirt sophomore Jared Simma defeated Utah Valley’s Caleb Uhlenhopp in a 7-5 decision. Simma had two takedowns and awarded the Panthers three more points, extending their lead to 21-3.
In the 184 weight class, redshirt junior Parker Keckeisen dominated Utah Valley’s Mahonri Rushton 15-0 in a technical fall. Keckeisen’s victory awarded the Panthers five points and gave them a 26-3 lead.
In the 197 weight class, Panthers redshirt freshman Wyatt Voelker fell to Utah Valley’s Evan Bockman in a 4-2 decision awarding the Wolverines three points.
In the final match of the dual, redshirt senior Tyrell Gordon took the 285 weight class due to a forfeit. This gave the Panthers six points, and capped off a Panthers victory by a score of 32-6.
Over winter break, the Panthers played two top 10 teams in Nashville, Tennessee on Dec. 19. They fell to #10 Ohio State 26-7, and #2 NC State 25-16. The Panthers were able to get out of Nashville with a 35-3 victory over Lock Haven.
On Dec. 29, the Panthers participated in the Soldier Salute tournament where five wrestlers medaled.
On Jan. 6, The Panthers took on the Wyoming Cowboys in Lincoln Nebraska. They won the dual by a convincing score of 36-6. On the same day, the Panthers took on #7 Nebraska where they lost in a close dual of 18-17.
