Panther Train Rolls

Cedar Falls- The University of Northern Iowa and instate Big 12 Conference rival locked horns in Cedar Falls today. It was a match up that had the potential to for a very close finish between two storied wrestling programs. What we got was a battle that included great wrestling, and coaches nearly brawling on the edges of the mat. In front a record crowd in the McCloud Center of 7,348 the UNI Panthers took a 26-10 victory over the Cyclones.

We started the meet at 133 lbs with a ranked battle between #5 rank Iowa State wrestler Evan Frost and #17 Julian Farber of UNI. The Cyclone wrestler jumped out to an early lead, and picked a late takedown in the third period to take a 7-0 lead to the end of the match. With riding time it added a point, giving Frost an 8-0 major decision.

It was Evan Frost’s twin brother Jacob’s turn on the mat at 141 lbs. He faced #4 Cael Happel. After no scoring in the opening period Frost scored first escaping Happel. Happel then took Frost to the mat at the 1:32 mark and immediately cut him loose to make the score 3-2. Happel went back on the offensive and scored another takedown and allowed Frost the escape, which left the score at 6-3 going into the final period. With 45 seconds remaining Happel was hit with a stall call, and Frost followed that up with a quick takedown to tie the score. Happel immediately escaped Frost and turned that into a takedown. One more escape from Frost brought us to the final score of 10-7. Happel clearly had a gameplan of scoring bonus points for the team after the major decision at 133.

The 149 pound match got off to a hot start with a scramble between #10 Colin Realbuto (UNI) and #6 Paniro Johnson (ISU) that ended with a takedown for Johnson. Both wrestlers had an opportunity to score, but it was Johnson that was able to gain position and take the three points. Realbuto was able to escape at the halfway point of the match to make the score 3-1. Realbuto started on the bottom to open the second period and escaped in about 10 seconds. Johnson was tagged with a stall call shortly after that, and Realbuto just missed a go-ahead takedown at the edge of the mat. The UNI crowd was into the match, calling for additional stall warnings throughout the match. To start the third Johnson chose the down position and Realbuto granted him the escape to start 4-2, needing a takedown to take the lead. It was Johnson, however, who found the takedown 30 seconds into the final frame, making the score 7-2 in favor of the Cyclone wrestler. Realbuto was able to get out with 1:20 remaining and trailing by 4. The match had to be stopped for injuries as Realbuto appeared to be poked in the eye on a scramble. This brought jeers from the crowd, as well as a few barbs between coaches. With 40 seconds remaining Johnson took a second stall warning, giving REalbuto a chance to tie if could take Johnson down. An additional stall warning gave REalbuto another point with 15 seconds left. In another wild turn of events Johnson appeared to retreat from the mat and with three seconds left Johnson was tagged with another stall warning, this time costing him two points and tying the match. Johnson went to the mat with an injury and things got even more interesting between the coaches. Doug Schwab (UNI) and Kevin Dresser (ISU) had to be separated from mat side as the Johnson injury was tended to. During the injury stoppage there was a video review and the stall warning was confirmed. In overtime it took 21 seconds for Colin Realbuto to find the match winner, taking Johnson down to pick up the exciting win.

The 157 pound bout featured Panther Train’s #4 Ryder Downey facing #8 Cody Chittum. The match went to the second period with no score. It was Downey that was able to strike first, picking up an escape as he started in the down position. Both wrestlers had chances to score in takedowns in the second, but good defense by both landed them with a 1-0 Downey lead heading to the third period. Chittum chose down to start the period and escaped to tie the match 1-1. It was Chittum, who then picked up a takedown with 45 second remained to take the lead. Downey was able to escape with 10 seconds remaining, but wasn’t able to reshoot to take a lead. He fell 4-2 to Chittum.

The 165 pounders came to the mat with Iowa State leading 7-6. #19 Jack Thomsen faced Aiden Riggins. The first period expired with no points scored, and no real offensive attacks. Riggins started in underneath and found his escape 30 seconds into the second frame. Thomsen was finally able to score a go ahead take down with 2 seconds left in the period. He shot in on a single leg, and was able to work his way around to pick up the three points. Thomsen started underneath In the final period, escaping and then turning that into another shot and points to take a 7-1 lead. Riggins escaped to make it 7-2 with about 30 seconds remaining in the match. Thomsen took a second late stall warning, which brought the final tally to 7-3 for the UNI senior. At the intermission break Northern Iowa lead Iowa State 9-7.

Out of the break it was Panther Train’s #15 Jared SImma squaring off with #23 MJ Gaitan. Simma was tagged with a stall warning almost immediately, but nearly scored a pin as near nearly locked up a cradle on Gaitan. Simma then scored a takedown to take a 3-0 lead. After a dramatic mat return Simma nearly put Gaitan to his back using a butcher. Simma started in the down position to start the second period. After escaping he got in deep on a double leg shot, but was unable to finish it for points. Gaitan started on the bottom to start the final period. He worked his way to his feet, but a mat return with momentum going forward resulted in an apparent injury to Gaitain. Trainers were called to the mat and appeared to be assessing is right leg. Gaitan was able to get back to his feet to continue the match. He conceded the escape to Simma, making the score 5-0. Gaitan was able to score a takedown with 60 seconds left to make the score 5-3.  This brought the first challenge of the meet. Simma gained a point on a locked hands call and went on to win 12-7

At 184 pounds UNI’s #2 Parker Keckheisen came to the mat to face Iowa State’s Caleb Helgeson. It didn’t take the defending National Champion long to rack up points against the Johnston, Iowa native. Keckeisen appeared to be laboring during the match, but further evaluation confirmed that his process is to reset his mind at stoppages. Keckeisen finished off the tech fall with a 24-8 score to put the panther train up 17-7 over the visiting Cyclones.

Manchester native #11 Wyatt Voelker stepped to the mat for the Panthers at 197 lbs. He faced Evan Bockman, who is ranked 11^th at 184 pounds. After no scoring in the first period Bockman, a native of Anchorage, AK, chose to start underneath. Bockman was able to escape to pick up a point, but Voelker immediately threw him back to the mat for the takedown and a 3-1 lead. Bockman was able to escape to get back within a point. There was a scramble and jump, and the next thing the crowd new Voelker was behind Bockman and had scored another takedown. Voelker started the second period on the bottom and was able to escape within fifteen seconds. Bockman tried to reshoot, but Voelker was able to stem the shot. Voelker lead 7-2 when Bockman shot again, but Voelker was able to tie up his upper body and took the 7-2 win for the Panther Train to make the lead 20-7 and lock up the meet.

The heavyweights rolled onto the mat with #14 Lance Runyon taking on #28 Daniel Herrera. Runyon had a couple of opportunities in the first period to score points, but couldn’t quite finish off the move. We went to the second period scoreless. In the third period Runyon started underneath and escaped for a point. He nearly finished off a takedown later, only to have Hererra circle around on him and pick up three points on a takedown of his own. Hererra went on to with a 3-1 decision.

The final contest of the night treated the Panther Train to a fall as senior Kyle Gollhofer pinned Osmany Diversant in 6:02 to put a cherry on the 26-10 win for the UNI Panthers.