Colin Realbuto looked as if he was going to drop his match on Senior Day. With about a minute left in the third period, Realbuto trailed Iowa State’s Paniro Johnson, 7-2. As he entered the down position, his mind caught something that was sitting in the stands:
His 4-month-old daughter, Georgia.
“I don’t think I’ll ever forget that,” said Realbuto.
With his spirits spiraling downward, thinking of his wife and daughter gave him the extra spark he needed to force overtime and, ultimately, win the match in dramatic fashion with an overtime takedown.
“It makes every moment like that so much better,” said Realbuto when asked what it meant to have his daughter with him this season. “I’ve been blessed with [Georgia] and my wife, they’ve been a great rock for me and that whenever I think about them, it gets me going again.”
Realbuto, a New York native, spent his first two years in college at Brown University, finishing his time with the Bears with 14 wins and 20 losses. During the COVID year, Realbuto took a shot in the dark and transferred to UNI, saying he was looking for the best coaches for his development. After qualifying for the NCAA Championships as a sophomore and junior, Realbuto used his Olympic Redshirt his senior year, giving him one more year of eligibility. Realbuto has taken advantage of his “last chance,” clocking in at No. 10 at the 149-pound rankings. And more importantly to him, helped lift his team to victory over in-state rival Iowa State.
Behind a McLeod Center record 7,348 people in attendance, the Panthers put on a show. Starting at 133 pounds, UNI’s Julian Farber took on Evan Frost of Iowa State. Frost was dominant, proving his top-5 ranking by winning by major decision, 8-0. While the score may look like the match was heavily in favor of Frost, Farber was in on plenty of shots in the opening periods, and held his own for all seven minutes.
At 141 pounds, Panther senior Cael Happel toed the line for the final time in the McLeod Center. Happel, a former four-time state champion for Lisbon and a two-time NCAA tournament qualifier for UNI, took only one college visit in his recruitment process, even though he was a sought after recruit. That visit was to Cedar Falls, and the rest is history. Happel took on Jacob Frost, the twin brother of Evan. Happel did what he does best, earning a 10-7 win and getting the Panthers on the board.
At 149 pounds, the aforementioned Realbuto defeated Paniro Johnson in overtime. Realbuto’s energy at the end of the match earned him a total of three stalling points, which was enough to tie the score at seven. With U-N-I chants in full force, Realbuto got to Johnson’s legs and ended up on top, earning a takedown and winning the match 10-7. Realbuto’s win gave the Panthers a lead they would never look back on.
157 pounds featured one of the best matchups of the day between UNI’s Ryder Downey and ISU’s Cody Chittum. It was a rematch of last year’s Big 12 title match, which saw Downey come out on top. This matchup was a different story, as Chittum beat Downey 4-2 in a nailbiter.
At 165 pounds, Jack Thomsen took on Aiden Riggins in the last match before intermission. After a scoreless first period, Thomsen took control, securing two takedowns in the next two periods, winning the match 7-2, and giving the Panthers a 9-7 lead before the break.
Jared Simma went to battle at 174 pounds, taking on MJ Gaitan. Simma took a 3-0 lead on a first period takedown. A second period escape added to Simma’s lead. Gaitan managed to get a takedown in the third, but Simma was awarded a penalty point for locked hands. In the end, Simma earned a 7-3 win.
Panther legend Parker Keckeisen wrestled his final match inside the McLeod Center. Keckeisen took on Caleb Helgeson, who he handled easily with a 24-8 tech fall. Keckeisen finishes his Big 12 career with a 37-0 record in duals, including extending his regular season win streak to 52 matches. Keckeisen received a standing ovation from the sold out McLeod Center.
“That’s earned. People just don’t do that for anybody. It is freaking earned and people respect how he trains and lives. I’m so happy he got that moment,” said UNI head coach Doug Schwab.
At 197 pounds, Wyatt Voelker took on Evan Bockman, who was wrestling up a weight class. After an uneventful first period, Voelker secured a takedown at the start of the second period, and another at the end of the second period. After fending off shot attempts from Bockman in the third period. Voelker came out on top 7-2.
At heavyweight, Lance Runyon faced Daniel Hererra. No points were scored in the first two periods. Runyon got an escape to start the third, but it was Hererra who came out on top, securing a last second takedown to win the match 3-1.
In the last match of the day, Kyle Gollhofer faced Osmany Diversent at 125 pounds. Gollhofer trailed 3-1 entering the second period. An escape and takedown in the second gave him a 5-4 lead heading into the third. After a Diversent escape, Gollhofer reattacked, earning a takedown and putting Diversent on his back, earning the fall.
After the match, coach Schwab was happy with the result of the dual, but his eyes are set on the next opportunity.
“We want to finish it right. We’re gonna sprint through the finish”
