Teams are eligible for free admission to the Oklahoma vs. UNI wrestling dual set for February 5, 2017 in the McLeod Center.

Coaches interested in bringing a team need to email their roster to Ryan Milke at milker@uni.edu by February 1, 2017.

The Panthers have not wrestled in McLeod since 2009.

The dual against Oklahoma reignites a rivalry with the Oklahoma Sooners. The two teams had fierce battles back in 2012-13 and 2013-14.

In the 2012-13 season, the Panther wrestling team knocked off No. 13 Oklahoma in a nail biter decided by the final match in front of UNI’s largest crowd that season.

"The atmosphere was awesome,” said head coach Doug Schwab. “The crowd was incredible. It makes a difference for our guys. You could see the other team was uncomfortable with the crowd on top of them."

It was the first win for the Panthers against the Sooners since 1988. They had lost three duals in that span. It was also the first time the dual was back in West Gym since 1950.

In the following year, No. 4 Oklahoma hosted No. 9 University of Northern Iowa in Norman, Oklahoma.

The Sooners were stunned again in a dual that the Panthers started off hot by winning the first three matches. The first three matches were also the three top-15 matchups of the night.

At 125, it was No. 7 Dylan Peters (UNI) vs. No. 5 Jarrod Patterson (OU). At 133, it was No. 1 Joe Colon (UNI) vs. No. 8 Cody Brewer (OU). And rounding out the top-15 matchups at 141 was No. 15 Joey Lazor (UNI) vs. No. 10 Nick Lester (OU).

“We started off strong against three All-Americans,” said Schwab. “It was big for us to get up 12-0 and earn bonus points at 141 pounds.”

This year looks to be another barn burner as Oklahoma is currently ranked No. 18 in the NWCA poll. UNI looks to defend the McLeod as it sits No. 22. Both teams have five wrestlers ranked in FloWrestling’s top 20.

UNI is headed to the Southern Scuffle in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Jan. 1-2, 2017.

Contributed By: UNI Athletics Communications

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