CEDAR FALLS – UNI wrestling challenged the No. 10 Oklahoma State Cowboys inside the McLeod Center on Saturday night, but ultimately fell short of a second consecutive dual win against its Big 12 rival in a 19-17 loss.
The Panthers split their 10 matches with the Cowboys, kicking the night off with Kyle Gollhofer picking up a 14-5 major decision victory at 125 pounds over Oklahoma State’s Zach Blankenship. Gollhofer was taken down very early in the match, but came back with an escape and a takedown in the second period, before securing the win with another key takedown and back points through the third period.
UNI dropped the next two matches with No. 1 Daton Fix edging No. 11 Kyle Biscoglia at 133 pounds in an 8-1 decision, and No. 27 Carter Young scoring a 5-4 win over No. 7 Cael Happel at 141 pounds. Colin Realbuto rallied at 149 pounds in the third period with an escape, takedown and the riding time point for a 5-4 decision against No. 23 Victor Vionovich.
Panther fans were on their feet for the bout at 157 pounds as No. 12 Derek Holschlag went down to the wire against No. 10 Kaden Gfeller. After tying the first period 3-3, Gfeller forced the bout into overtime, where Holschlag picked up the sudden victory takedown for the 6-4 decision to put UNI ahead 10-7 at the intermission. The win marks Holschlag’s second win over a top-10 opponent this season.
Despite a hard fought bout at 165 pounds, No. 12 Austin Yant suffered his first defeat of the season as No. 21 Wyatt Sheets pinned the redshirt senior with just 36 seconds remaining in the third period. It is only the third time Yant has been pinned in his collegiate career, and first since facing South Dakota State’s Tanner Cook at the Midlands Championships during the 2019-20 season.
Lance Runyon fell to 2-2 on the season at 174 pounds as he dropped a 7-3 decision to No. 6 Dustin Plotts, giving up a takedown in the final two periods. Top-ranked Parker Keckeisen brought the Panthers back at 184 pounds in a commanding 20-6 major decision against Gavin Stika, racking up 5 takedowns, including 3 in the final period. Keckeisen improves to 6-0 in matches decided by major decision this season, and 22-0 in his career.
Wyatt Voelker made his collegiate dual debut at 197 pounds in a critical matchup against No. 19 Luke Surber. Voelker, who won 3 open competition titles earlier this season, held his own against the Cowboys’ top-20 wrestler, falling 2-1 after giving up the riding time point to Surber.
No. 11 Tyrell Gordon finished the night strong for the Panthers, earning a 3-2 decision over No. 21 Konner Douchet to improve to 13-5 on the season and 5-2 in duals this year.
The Panthers also competed in a pair of extra bout prior to the start of the meet, with Connor Thorpe dropping a narrow 4-3 decision to Oklahoma State’s Teague Travis at 141 pounds. Evan Yant meanwhile fell to Jalin Harper as he was pinned just 10 seconds into the second period at 165 pounds.
#15 UNI 17, #10 OKLAHOMA STATE 19
RESULTS (NCAA/ (Intermat / FloWrestling rankings)
125 | Kyle Gollhofer (UNI) major dec. Zach Blakenship (OSU), 14-5
133 | #1 (2/2) Daton Fix (OSU) dec. #11 (12/15) Kyle Biscoglia, 8-1
141 | #27 (32/NR) Carter Young (OSU) major dec. #7 (8/7) Cael Happel (UNI), 15-7
149 | #12 (13/13) Colin Realbuto (UNI) dec. #23 (20/NR) Victor Vionovich (OSU), 5-4
157 | #20 (25/NR) Derek Holschlag (UNI) sudden victory-1 over #10 (11/11) Kaden Gfeller (OSU), 6-4
165 | #21 (26/HM) Wyatt Sheets (OSU) pins #12 (9/16) Austin Yant (UNI), 6:24
174 | #6 (6/5) Dustin Plott (OSU) dec. (13/12) Lance Runyon (UNI), 7-3
184 | #1 (2/2) Parker Keckeisen (UNI) major dec. Gavin Stika (OSU), 20-6
197 | #19 (18/HM) Luke Surber (OSU) dec. Wyatt Voelker (UNI), 2-1
285 | #11 (13/13)Tyrell Gordon (UNI) dec. #21 (24/17) Konner Doucet (OSU), 3-2
EXTRA BOUTS
141 | Teague Travis (OSU) dec. Connor Thorpe (UNI), 4-3
165 | Jalin Harper (OSU) pins Evan Yant (UNI), 2:09
UP NEXT
The Panthers return to action tomorrow afternoon as UNI hosts Oklahoma in Big 12 dual action. Competition is slated to begin at 2 p.m. CT at the McLeod Center. UNI will celebrate Military Appreciation Day, with all military personnel and veterans receiving a free ticket by presenting a military ID.
