UNI Panthers Dominate Iowa State in Wrestling Showdown
The Northern Iowa Panthers made a bold statement on the mat Sunday afternoon, breaking a five-dual losing streak against the Iowa State Cyclones with a dominant 26-10 victory at the McLeod Center. In front of a packed house of 7,348 roaring fans, the Panthers took control, winning seven of the ten bouts and leaving no doubt about their dominance.
Right from the start, Iowa State tried to set the tone with a strong performance from Evan Frost, who secured an 8-0 major decision at 133 pounds. But UNI answered back in a big way. Cael Happel got things rolling for the Panthers at 141 pounds, securing three takedowns in the final two periods to pull off a 10-7 victory over Jacob Frost. Then, in a match that electrified the crowd, Colin Realbuto delivered one of the biggest upsets of the night, taking down No. 6 Paniro Johnson in sudden victory. Down 7-2, Realbuto stormed back with an escape and a flurry of stalling points before clinching the win with a takedown in overtime. The reaction from the crowd was deafening, and it was clear that the momentum had shifted.
Iowa State managed to grab a win at 157 pounds when Cody Chittum edged out Ryder Downey 4-2, marking his first career victory over the Panther. But that was the last bright spot for the Cyclones. UNI went on an absolute tear, winning four straight matches from 165 to 197 pounds. Jack Thomsen set the tone at 165 with a strong 7-3 decision over Aiden Riggins. Jared Simma followed up at 174, holding off MJ Gaitan in a tight 7-4 win. Then came Parker Keckeisen at 184 pounds, and he put on a show in his final home dual. He dominated Iowa State’s Caleb Helgeson, racking up takedown after takedown to win by technical fall, 24-8. The crowd erupted as one of the best wrestlers in UNI history wrapped up his home career in spectacular fashion.
At 197, Wyatt Voelker sealed the deal with a 7-2 decision over Evan Bockman, officially clinching the dual for UNI with two matches to go. Iowa State managed to grab a late win at heavyweight, with freshman Daniel Herrera defeating Lance Runyon 3-1, but by then, the result was already decided.
Also Read:- Warwick Davis Honored with BAFTA Fellowship in Emotional Tribute
- The White Lotus Returns – A New Destination, More Secrets, and High Stakes Drama
The Panthers capped off the night in thrilling fashion at 125 pounds, as Kyle Gollhofer turned a back-and-forth match into a pinfall victory over Osmany Diversent, closing the night with a bang and securing the 26-10 win.
UNI head coach Doug Schwab was proud of his team’s performance but made it clear they have bigger goals ahead. “This was a great way to send our seniors off in the McLeod Center, but we still have work to do. We know what we want to accomplish at the end of the season, and we can’t get caught up in wins and losses—it’s about how we compete.”
Iowa State coach Kevin Dresser acknowledged the Panthers were the better team on the night. “We had a few bright spots, but overall, we just didn’t have the horses to match theirs. They’ve got a mature team that’s been around for a while. It was their day.”
With this statement win, UNI not only snapped their losing streak against Iowa State but also solidified themselves as a serious contender heading into the postseason. The energy in Cedar Falls was electric, and if the Panthers can carry this momentum forward, they’re going to be a dangerous team to watch in the weeks ahead.
Read More:
0 Comments