UNI Wrestling Takes Down Old Dominion, 24-12

On January 17, 2016, the UNI Panthers wrestling team knocked off a top-10 opponent and avenged a loss earlier in the year to hand Old Dominion its first MAC loss of the season, 24-12.

UNI got its second MAC win to improve to 3-5 overall and 2-2 in the MAC. Old Dominion fell to 4-6 overall and 0-1 in the MAC.

UNI got wins from: No. 17 Josh Alber at 133 pounds, Trevor Jauch at 141 pounds, Bryce Steiert at 157 pounds, No. 8 Cooper Moore at 165 pounds, Kyle Lux at 174 pounds, Jared Bartel at 197 pounds, and No. 15 Blaize Cabell at heavyweight.

After wrestling at 149 pounds in Friday's Virginia Tech dual, Jauch returned to the lineup at 141 pounds as the lead-off wrestler, getting his second top-15 upset of the year. Earlier in the season, Jauch pinned No. 15 Jamel Hudson of Hofstra.

It was a scoreless first period. Jauch gave up a stall point nearly midway through the second period and racked up about a minute of riding time before releasing No. 9 Chris Mecate. Jauch got a takedown but gave up a reversal just as the second period expired. The third period started in Mecate's favor, 3-2 with the wrestlers starting neutral. With 15 seconds left in the match, Jauch got the takedown and was awarded riding time to win 5-3.

The Panthers had the dual win locked up by the time Alber stepped on the mat for the final match at 133 pounds. It was a rematch from the Midlands Championships where No. 14 Emilio Saavedra won the title in a second sudden victory. The win swapped Alber with Saavedra in the latest MAC rankings.

This time it was Alber who would get the win. After a scoreless first period, Alber got an escape in the second period and secured a riding time point in the third to win 2-0.

It was Alber's fourth win over a top-20 opponent this year. He has beaten then-ranked No. 19 Anthony Giraldo of Rutgers two times and then-ranked No. 12 Josh Martinez of Air Force.

UNI 24, OLD DOMINION 12
141 – Trevor Jauch (UNI) dec. #9 Chris Mecate (ODU), 5-3
149 – #8 Alexander Richardson (ODU) tech fall Jake Hodges (UNI), 18-2 (5:00)
157 – Bryce Steiert (UNI) dec. Devin Geoghegan (ODU), 4-2
165 – #8 Cooper Moore (UNI) dec. Seldon Wright (ODU), 11-6
174 – Kyle Lux (UNI) dec. Brooks Climmons (ODU), 4-2
184 – #6 Jack Dechow (ODU) maj. dec. Cody Caldwell (UNI), 11-2
197 – Jared Bartel (UNI) dec. Austin Coburn (ODU), 7-1
285 – #15 Blaize Cabell (UNI) pinned Andrew Snyder (ODU), 4:35
125 – Brandon Jeske (ODU) dec. Leighton Gaul (UNI), 6-3
133 – #17 Josh Alber (UNI) dec. #14 Emilio Saavedra (ODU), 2-0

NEXT UP: UNI will host Central Michigan in its second dual of the season 7 p.m. Jan. 29. It will be Military Appreciation Night in the West Gym. The first fans through the door will receive camouflage hats.