MADISON, WI – UNI wrestling battled down to the final bout, but came up short in its final dual of the season in a 23-17 loss to No. 19 Wisconsin on Saturday night at the UW Fieldhouse. The Panthers finish the 2022-23 dual schedule with a 7-5 record, and 5-3 mark against Big 12 opponents.
After the Panthers dropped the opening bout of the night at 125 pounds, No. 12 Kyle Biscoglia (133 pounds) went head-to-head against Taylor LaMont. With a scoreless first period, both wrestlers scored an escape bringing the match into overtime, 1-1. Battling for the final takedown needed to win, Biscoglia narrowly missed his shot and fell in sudden victory, 3-1.
No. 8 Cael Happel put UNI on the board at 141 pounds against No. 29 Joesph Zargo. While already ahead 7-1 in the second period, Happel brough Zargo to his back, securing his win with a pin in three minutes and twenty five seconds. The fall is Happel’s fourth of this season.
Adam Allard got his second dual opportunity of the season on Saturday, scoring a takedown and a reversal as part of a 7-3 decision over Felix Lettini at 141 pounds.
The Panthers dropped the next two bouts, but not without a fight. No. 20 Derek Holschlag grabbed a first period takedown on No. 18 Garrett Model at 157 pounds, but would be unable to score the remainder of the bout in a 5-2 loss. No. 15 Austin Yant would fall in a 13-2 major decision to No. 6 Dean Hamiti.
Lance Runyon got the Panthers back in the winner’s column at 174 pounds, scoring an escape and a pair of takedowns in a 6-2 win over Josh Otto.
No. 2 Parker Keckeisen dominated Tyler Dow in a 22-6 technical fall to improve to 18-1 on the season. Keckeisen grabbed four back points and 8 takedowns late, securing the technical fall in 6 minutes, 37 seconds.
After falling short at 197 pounds and falling behind 20-17 in the team scoring, No. 15 Tyrell Gordon went toe-to-toe with No. 10 Trent Hillger in an attempt to secure the team win in the final match of the night. Tied 1-1 going into the second, Hillger would score a late escape and hold on for the 2-1 decision.
#13 UNI 17, #19 WISCONSIN 23
RESULTS (NCAA/ (Intermat / FloWrestling rankings)
125 | #7 (6/5) Eric Barnett (UW) pins Kyle Gollhofer (UNI) Fall 0:30
133 | (NR/HM)Taylor LaMont (UW) dec. #12 (11/17) Kyle Biscoglia (UNI) 3-1 – SV-1
141 | #8 (9/8) Cael Happel (UNI) pins #29 (29/HM) Joseph Zargo (UW) Fall 3:25
149 | Adam Allard (UNI) dec. Felix Lettini (UW) 7-3
157 | #18 (18/17) Garrett Model (UW) dec. #20 (21/22) Derek Holschlag (UNI) 5-2
165 | #6 (6/6) Dean Hamiti (UW) major dec. #15 (13/23) Austin Yant (UNI) 13- 2
174 | Lance Runyon (UNI) dec. Josh Otto (UW) 6-2
184 | #2 (2/2) Parker Keckeisen (UNI) tech fall Tyler Dow (UW) 22-6, 6:37
197 |#20 (20/16) Braxton Amos (UW) major dec. Noah Glaser (UNI) 10-2
285 | #10 (10/10) Trent Hillger dec. #15 (15/17) Tyrell Gordon (UNI) 2-1
UP NEXT
UNI heads to the Big 12 Championships, March 4-5 at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
The Panthers return four top-three finishers from last year’s conference championships, including two-time defending champion Parker Keckeisen at 184 pounds. Kyle Biscoglia finished as runner-up at 133 pounds a year ago, while Colin Realbuto (149 pounds) and Austin Yant (165 pounds) both took third in their respective weight classes.
UNI finished fifth in the team standings in 2022 with 100 points.
Keckeisen’s second title at 184 pounds extended UNI’s streak at the weight class. A Panther has won a title at 184 pounds every year since joining the league in 2018. It’s the second longest active streak of any Big 12 school at a weight class.
No. 13 UNI wrestling (7-5 / 5-3 Big 12) at No. 19 Wisconsin (8-8 / 1-7 Big Ten)
Attendance: 1,410
Official: Conrad Duffey, Bart Welch
