KENT, Ohio – Two Panthers upset wrestlers in the top 15 to take down Kent State, 21-16.
Jarrett Jensen knocked off No. 4 All-American Ian Miller at 157 pounds, and 174-pounder Curt Maas beat No. 15 Caleb Marsh. The team win came down to the heavyweight match.
“I saw a lot more emotion and effort out of our guys,” said head coach Doug Schwab. “Even the ones we lost, I saw the effort. It’s what we have been preaching- keeping the effort and emotions real high. That makes me excited as a coach.”
UNI improved to 7-7 overall, 4-3 in the MAC. Kent State dropped its first dual at home to fall 7-12 overall, 3-4 in the MAC.
UNI jumped out to a 6-0 lead over Kent State with a second-period fall by No. 5 Dylan Peters at 125 pounds. KSU would take the next three bouts before Jensen upset Miller at 157 pounds and started a win streak for UNI. The Panthers took the next three weights before giving up a win at 197 pounds. Heavyweight Blaize Cabell secured the team win with a decision.
MATCH RECAPS
Peters earned his second bonus point win for the weekend pinning Del Vinas at 125 pounds. It is the second time Peters has pinned Vinas. Peters also earned a tech fall in his Friday match against Ohio’s Zak Hassan. Peters needs one more fall to crack UNI’s top 10 for most career falls among all Panthers.
Leighton Gaul kept No. 17 Mack McGuire scoreless in the first, but McGuire earned an escape just before the midpoint of the second period. McGuire would go on to get a takedown to lead 3-0 to start the third. He gave up an escape but earned riding time in the third to beat Gaul 4-1.
At 141 pounds, Jake Hodges escaped Tyler Small’s cradle in the first, but Small went on to get the major decision, 10-0.
Kent State extended its lead with a fall at 149 pounds, but Jensen gave UNI a much-needed boost at 157 pounds.
KSU’s Miller grabbed two takedowns against Jensen to lead 4-2 to start the second period. Then Jensen went on the offensive and erased No. 4 Ian Miller’s riding time. Miller was dinged for stalling, closing the scoring gap for Jensen, 4-3. A reversal in the third secured the upset for Jensen who went on to win 5-4.
“He turned the tide,” Schwab said of Jensen. “He kept the course and rode him real hard. That’s a huge win for him and the program. It’s good for the guys to know they can beat guys they aren’t supposed to beat on paper. You could see it in the team. It lifted the team’s spirits and got us going.”
No. 11 Cooper Moore remained perfect in dual competition with a 7-2 decision at 165 pounds to pull the Panthers within one point for team scoring. Moore is now 10-0 in duals, 6-0 in the MAC.
Maas followed suit limiting two-time NCAA qualifier Marsh to just one point off an escape in the third period. Maas struck first with a takedown in the first. He earned an escape and grabbed a second takedown in the second.
“Curt won a lot of positions that he got outscrambled in the past,” Schwab said. “He kept his emotions in control this weekend.”
Kyle Lux made his MAC dual debut at 184 pounds. His 10-5 decision over Jerald Spohn extended UNI’s lead.
A loss at 197 pounds put the team win on shoulders of heavyweight Cabell. Cabell led 5-3 after the second period. Cabell started down in third, and an escape would push him ahead 6-3 before Mimmo Lytle got his first takedown of the match. He gave up an escape, and Cabell held on for the 7-5 win.
“I am proud of the response and how we won,” said Schwab. “Now we have to keep the momentum.”
UNI has one more dual on the road before returning home for the team’s final dual of the season. The Panthers will take on Iowa State at 2 p.m. Feb. 15 in Ames, Iowa.
UNI will host Old Dominion for Senior Night 7 p.m. Feb. 20. The MAC Championships are set for March 7-8 in Columbia, Missouri.
UNI 21, Kent State 16 (NCAA rankings)
125 – #5 Dylan Peters (UNI) pinned Del Vinas (KSU) 4:17
133 – #17 Mack McGuire (KSU) dec. Leighton Gaul (UNI) 4-1
141 – #29 Tyler Small (KSU) maj. dec. Jake Hodges (UNI) 10-0
149 – Mike DePalma (KSU) pinned #32 Gunnar Wolfensperger 1:21
157 – Jarrett Jensen (UNI) dec. #4 Ian Miller (KSU) 5-4
165 – #11 Cooper Moore (UNI) dec. Tyler Buckwalter (KSU) 7-2
174 – Curt Maas (UNI) dec. #15 Caleb Marsh (KSU) 6-1
184 – Kyle Lux (UNI) dec. Jerald Spohn (KSU) 10-5
197 – #24 Cole Baxter (KSU) dec. #30 Basil Minto (UNI) 7-3
285 – #10 Blaize Cabell (UNI) dec. #30 Mimmo Lytle (KSU) 7-5
