CEDAR FALLS – No. 20 UNI wrestling won six bouts, including a major decision by Bryce Steiert at 174 to top eighth-ranked Oklahoma State 19-15 Saturday night in front of over 4,000 fans at the McLeod Center. The win is the first over the Cowboys since 1991 and on the third win all-time against OSU.
At 125, Jay Schwarm lost a hard-fought battle to No. 4 Nick Piccininni 9-6, giving Oklahoma State a 3-0 lead to start the dual.
Jack Skudlarczyk came back from an early deficit to earn a big 10-5 win over OSU’s Reece Witcraft. After the first period, Skuds trailed 0-2. He responded by riding Witcraft for the entire second period and picking up a four-point near fall in the process. Skudlarczyk picked up big points in the third period with an early escape and a last second take down to tie the dual 3-3.
Michael Blockus picked up a reversal in the third period to earn a 4-3 win over Dusty Hone. The win gave the Panthers their first lead of the night, 6-3.
During a battle of top-20 ranked wrestlers, No. 12 Max Thomsen fell to No. 3 Boo Lewallen. After a scoreless first period, Lewallen picked up a significant amount of ride time and led Thomsen 2-0 in the second. Thomsen earned an escape in the third period, but was unable to battle back and fell 5-2 to tie the team score at 6-6.
Keaton Geerts earned a huge 7-6 win over Wyatt Sheets at 157. He picked up three takedowns and a late escape. Geerts earned the lead in the first period and held it into the third. Sheets tied the match 6-6 at the beginning of the third with a takedown, but he earned an escape and picked up the ride time point to earn the 8-6 win. The win gave UNI a 9-6 lead going into intermission.
OUS took a 10-9 lead after No. 9 Travis Wittlake picked up the 14-5 major decision over Austin Yant.
In another battle of top-20 ranked wrestlers, No. 5 Bryce Steiert dominated No. 12 Joe Smith at 174. Steiert led 4-1 early after the first period with two takedowns. He extended his lead to 10-2 after a takedown and a nearfall in the second. Steiert earned a pair of stall points and a point for riding time to pick up the 13-2 major decision to give UNI the 13-10 lead.
At 184, Taylor Lujan shutout Anthony Montalvo for the 4-0 win. Lujan grabbed a first-period takedown, an escape in the second and ride time to pick up the win and give the Panthers a 16-10 lead.
At 197, Noah Glaser fell to No. 11 Dakota Geer. Glaser fought through an early knee injury and avoided a pin late in the second period. Geer closed out the technical fall 19-4 technical fall at the 5:29 mark.
The dual came down to 285 where No. 11 Carter Isley and Austin Harris picked up a 5-2 decision to close out the win. After a scoreless first period, Harris earned a lead with an escape in the second. Isley evened the score with an escape early in the third followed by a quick takedown. With 30 seconds left, Isley sealed the win with another takedown to earn the three-point win and close out the dual victory.
UNI improves to 5-3 on the season and 4-1 in Big 12 action. Oklahoma State is now 7-1 in duals and 3-1 in the Big 12.
UP NEXT
The Panthers head south to Oklahoma for another Big-12 match on Feb. 1 in Norman.
RESULTS
125: Nick Piccininni (OSU) over Jay Schwarm (UNI) (9-6)
133: Jack Skudlarczyk (UNI) over Reece Witcraft (OSU) (10-5)
141: Michael Blockhus (UNI) over Dusty Hone (OSU) (4-3)
149: Boo Lewallen (OSU) over Max Thomsen (UNI) (5-2)
157: Keaton Geerts (UNI) over Wyatt Sheets (OSU) (7-6)
165: Travis Wittlake (OSU) over Austin Yant (UNI) (14-5)
174: Bryce Steiert (UNI) over Joseph Smith (OSU) (13-2)
184: Taylor Lujan (UNI) over Anthony Montalvo (OSU) (4-0)
197: Dakota Geer (OSU) over Noah Glaser (UNI) (20-4)
285: Carter Isley (UNI) over Austin Harris (OSU) (5-2)
