The UNI wrestling team had one of their biggest duals in program history, hosting a top-three opponent inside the McLeod Center. On Friday, Jan. 24, the Panthers welcomed No. 3 Oklahoma State on a calm, cold night. 6,030 fans made their way to one of the best dual matchups of the season, breaking the McLeod Center attendance record for a wrestling meet in the process. 

Starting at 125 pounds, UNI’s Trever Anderson took on No. 3 Troy Spratley. Anderson struck first, converting on a takedown to take a 3-0 lead. Spratley would answer, reversing Anderson and adding two nearfall points to claim a 4-3 lead. Another reversal for Spratley in the second period and an Anderson escape gave the Cowboys a 6-4 lead going into the last period. Spratley snagged a takedown in the third and was awarded an extra point of riding time, giving him a 10-5 victory and putting the Cowboys on top 3-0 in the dual score. 

At 133 pounds, Julian Farber faced No. 19 Cael Hughes. Farber was dominant all match, scoring a takedown just 10 seconds into the match. His intensity ramped up as the match progressed, scoring three more takedowns en route to a 13-4 major decision. Farber’s bonus points gave the Panthers a 4-3 lead. 

141 pounds set up a top five matchup between No. 4 Cael Happel and No. 3 Tagen Jamison. Despite the 1-1 score at the end of the third period, it felt as if Happel controlled the entire match, getting in on a handful of shots throughout the match. But in overtime, Happel finally prevailed, scoring a takedown and securing a 4-1 win. The win over Jamison was Happel’s second top-five victory of the season, giving UNI a 7-3 lead after three matches. 

At 149 pounds, a top-15 matchup between UNI’s Colin Realbuto and Oklahoma State’s Carter Young would prove to be one of the best of the night. Young struck first, securing a takedown in the first period. Realbuto earned two escapes to get within a point. Young was then called for stalling, giving Realbuto an additional point. A Young escape made the score 4-3. In the final minute of regulation, Realbuto called the game and iced the match with a takedown. Realbuto’s 6-4 win was his sixth in a row, and gave the Panthers a 10-3 advantage. 

At 157 pounds, No. 2 Ryder Downey took the mat against No. 9 Caleb Fish. Fish controlled most of the match, carrying a 3-0 lead entering the third period. In the final 30 seconds, Downey managed to takedown Fish. Fish escaped, which forced the match into overtime. Fish came out victorious after a takedown in sudden death, turning the tide of the dual, leaving the Panthers with a slim 10-6 advantage at the intermission. 

Coming out of intermission, at 165 pounds, Jack Thomsen faced a tough opponent in No. 6 Cameron Amine. Amine was held scoreless in the opening period, but had a points explosion in the next two, earning a 10-2 major decision. Amine’s win would tie the dual score at 10. 

At 174 pounds, UNI’s Jared Simma took on OSU’s Dean Hamiti. Hamiti, who is ranked No. 3 in the country, showed why. In dominant fashion, Hamiti won the match 16-4, earning a major decision and giving the Cowboys four points. 

At 184 pounds, the match of the night featured No. 2 Parker Keckeisen and No. 3 Dustin Plott. Keckeisen and Plott are familiar opponents, facing off a handful of times last year, most notably in the 184-pound national championship match.  Keckeisen brought the energy early, scoring a first period takedown. Keckeisen proceeded to take Plott down three more times, securing a 14-4 major decision, improving his record against Plott to 5-0. More importantly for the Panthers, it put them right back into the dual race, tying the score at 14. 

At 197 pounds, Wyatt Voelker took on No. 7 Luke Surber. After giving up a takedown in the first period, Voelker would battle back, earning two escapes. Surber gained a point on an escape in the second period, but Voelker got it right back with a stall call in the third period. Ultimately, Surber would come out victorious with a 4-3 win, giving the Cowboys a 17-14 edge. 

Finally, at heavyweight, Lance Runyon faced Wyatt Hendrickson, who’s ranked No. 2 in the country. Hendrickson went to work right away, securing a takedown and four backpoints in the opening period. In the second period, Runyon nearly caught Hendrickson on his back, but he was able to roll through and evade the danger. Hendrickson would run up the score, and in the end, earned a 19-4 tech fall. 

The final score of the dual ended up being 22-14. In the post match press conference, Parker Keckeisen was asked about the UNI crowd and what it has meant to wrestle for the purple and gold. He replied, “Panther country is special. This is a special place to wrestle”