CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – Coach Doug Schwab earned his first win against Iowa State since taking over the UNI wrestling program, winning 24-13, the Panthers’ biggest margin over ISU since 1951.
The No. 5 Panthers beat the No. 17 Cyclones 22-6 in 1951.
“Our seniors wanted to go out beating them,” said Schwab. “We wanted to continue building and make a statement.”
UNI remains just one of three teams unbeaten in the top 25, improving to 10-0. They are 5-0 in the Mid-American Conference.
Iowa State got the early lead at its strongest weight class. No. 2 Kyven Gadson earned a major decision. However the Panthers would take the next five, earning bonus points at 125 pounds with a major decision by No. 6 Dylan Peters, a tech fall by 133-pounder Joe Colon and a first-period pin by No. 14 Joey Lazor.
Headed into this weekend, top-ranked Colon was third in the nation for tech falls. He now has eight on the season.
Iowa State got the next three, but No. 5 Ryan Loder extended UNI’s lead with a 5-0 decision.
In the main event of the night, All-American Cyclone Michael Moreno prevailed, tallying a come from behind 9-6 victory over No. 11 Cooper Moore of UNI. Moreno trailed 6-4 with under a minute left in the match before hitting a five-point move to claim the lead.
The Panthers got their win in front of the second sold-out house this season.
“Our guys feed off (the crowd) and love it,” said Schwab. “We tell our guys – win or lose – let’s try to score points and make it exciting for fans.”
UNI’s last undefeated season (10-0) was in 1956 under Bill Koll. The team took 10th at that year’s national tournament.
No. 2 Kyven Gadson , who wrestled his first collegiate dual match in front of his hometown, pushed his dual win streak to 26 with a 11-3 major decision over UNI’s Basil Minto. The Waterloo, Iowa, native scored four takedowns in the match and racked up 1:13 of riding time.
UNI will host Kent State at 1 p.m. Sunday in the West Gym for its second meet of the weekend.
Kent State is tied for fourth in the conference rankings, while UNI is favored.
UNI 24, ISU 13
125 – #6 Dylan Peters (UNI) maj. dec. Earl Hall (ISU), 11-2
133 – #1 Joe Colon (UNI) tech fall Shayden Terukina (ISU), 16-1
141– #14 Joey Lazor (UNI) fall Gabe Moreno (ISU), 1:59
149 – Tyler Patten (UNI) dec. Luke Goettl (ISU), 8-6
157 – John Nicholson (ISU) dec. Jarrett Jensen (UNI), 6-3
165 –#10 Michael Moreno (ISU) dec. #11 Cooper Moore (UNI), 9-6
174 –#8 Tanner Weatherman (ISU) dec. Cody Caldwell (UNI), 9-5
184 – #5 Ryan Loder (UNI) dec. Lelund Weatherspoon (ISU), 5-0
197 – #2 Kyven Gadson (ISU) maj. dec. Basil Minto (UNI), 11-3
HWT – Blaize Cabell (UNI) dec. Quean Smith (ISU), 5-2
