Two Top 10 Teams Expected at UNI Open (Wrestling)

At least four Division I schools are expected to compete Saturday, December 14, 2013 in the UNI Open wrestling tournament, which is presented by Doughy Joey’s.

Matches will get underway at 9 a.m. Saturday in the UNI-Dome.

No. 8 Missouri, Michigan State, South Dakota State and Campbell University are expected to bring the majority of their squads. The University of Iowa also is expected to send a few wrestlers.

“It is a good tournament for us,” said head coach Doug Schwab. “It’s time for us to make adjustments and improvements, and this gives us that chance.”

The open tournament style allows Panther fans to get a glimpse at most of the team from UNI, including true freshmen who are wrestling unattached.

UNI crowned three champions last year. Panther wrestlers’ finishes from last year:

•     125 – Dylan Peters 4th
•     133 – Tyler Willers 6th
•     141 – Joey Lazor 2nd, Gunnar Wolfensperger 4th, Tyler Patten 6th
•     149 – Zach Witte 4th
•     157 – David Bonin 1st, Taylor Berger 6th
•     165 – Cooper Moore 4th, Jarrett Jensen 6th
•     174 – Cody Caldwell 1st
•     184 – Ryan Loder 1st
•     197 – Jared Bartel 5th
•     285 – Cody Krumwiede 2nd, Blayne Beale 4th

IN THE RANKS:
The Panther team has moved up in the NWCA coaches poll. UNI cracked the top 10. Six Panthers also have earned national rankings:

•     125 – Dylan Peters 8th AWN, 7th InterMat
•     133 – Joe Colon 7th AWN and InterMat
•     141 – Joey Lazor 15th InterMat
•     165 – Cooper Moore 13th AWN, 15th InterMat
•     174 – Cody Caldwell 19th AWN, 18th InterMat
•     184 – Ryan Loder 3rd AWN, 5th InterMat

MAC WRESTLERS OF THE WEEK:
Colon is the latest Panther to earn MAC honors. He was named Wrestler of the Week Dec. 4 after beating No. 2 Tyler Graff of Wisconsin 6-0 in UNI’s first home dual.
Moore was UNI’s first wrestler to earn MAC honors this season. He knocked off No. 3 Steven Monk of North Dakota State to win the Finn Grinaker Cobber Open.

PARKING:
Fans should allow for heavy traffic. The UNI men’s basketball team will be hosting VCU starting at 11 a.m. in the McLeod Center.
Wrestling fans are advised to enter campus from Hudson Road onto 22nd Street, while basketball fans are encouraged to use the 27th Street entrance.

SPECIAL INVITATION:
Upon conclusion of the event that evening, fans are invited to Doughy Joey’s in Cedar Falls, Iowa.