CEDAR FALLS – UNI’s lineup rose to the occasion and grabbed eight wins on Friday night as the Panther wrestling team rolled to a 31-6 dual win over the defending Big 12 champion Missouri Tigers inside the McLeod Center.
Grabbing their first win over the Tigers since 2020, the Panthers went on the attack against a short-handed Missouri squad recording a 25-point win, the fifth-largest victory over the Tigers in program history and largest since winning by 23 points in 1986.
After Trever Anderson earned a victory by forfeit at 125 pounds, Julian Farber launched into action at 133 pounds with a takedown and a tough ride out for the first period against Drew Stanfield. Staying ahead, Farber grabbed a second takedown, but gave up an escape to finish the second frame. With an early escape and a final takedown, Farber pulled ahead and secured the 11-1 major decision victory to give UNI a quick 10-0 lead.
In a head-to-head battle of top-25 challengers at 141 pounds, No. 6 Cael Happel fell short by one point against No. 24 Josh Edmond in their first meet up in two years. After a scoreless first period, Edmond slid in for an early takedown in the second period, rolling Happel to gain an escape. Happel was then awarded a bonus stalling point, but ultimately came up short after giving up an escape in the third to fall, 4-3.
Adam Allard secured an impressive one-point decision victory over Joel Mylin at 149 pounds.Taking the lead in the first period, Allard scored a takedown working to grab two additional nearfall points followed by a late escape by Mylin. Allard then gave up an escape and takedown to tie the score 5-5. In an effort to stay on top, Allard took the lead for good with a final escape to pick up the 6-5 win.
After giving up the first takedown of the match, No. 14 Ryder Downey (157 pounds) battled back in the second period with a pair of takedowns and four nearfall points to win 12-4 over James Conway for his ninth consecutive victory of the year. Senior Jack Thomsen (165 pounds) made his first home dual start after making his collegiate dual debut two weeks ago at Iowa State and pounced on Jeremy Jakowitsch. Taking the first strike, Thomsen came out with a takedown in the first minute of the match, to then a second to take a 6-1 into the second period. With another pair of takedowns Thomsen cruised through the third stanza and rode out the match for a 14-4 major decision finish.
No. 29 Jared Simma rolled through his match up at 174 pounds against Ellis Pfleger after giving up the first take down. With a takedown in the final seconds of the third period, Simma used his momentum to take the lead and snatched a reversal and big time back points Simma to grab a 10-4 decision win.
Top ranked Parker Keckeisen (184 pounds) improved to 5-0 all-time against Colton Hawks with a 12-2 major decision win, improving to 22-0 on the year and earning his 19th bonus-point victory of the year. Keckeisen has now won 33 consecutive regular season matches dating back to last season and now sits at 96 career wins.
No. 24 Wyatt Voelker kept the Panther Train rolling with four takedowns to secure a 14-3 major decision victory over Jesse Cassatt at 197 pounds. Following this victory Voelker now has recorded seven dual victories and only one loss.
No. 16 Tyrell Gordon would close the night out with a thriller against No. 5 Zach Elam at heavyweight, battling the 2023 All-American into overtime. Gordon would give up a two-point nearfall and would ultimately come up short in a 4-1 decision.
Officials – Jake Frias, Jeremy Chen
Attendance – 3,411
UP NEXT
The Panthers return to the mats on Sunday afternoon as they host the Wisconsin Badgers in the final dual meet of the season. Competition is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. CT inside the McLeod Center with Senior Day recognition to be held prior to the start of the meet.
FINAL RESULTS (NCAA) #Intermat/FloWrestling rankings listed
#16 UNI 31, #7 MISSOURI 6
125 | (25) #26/23 Trever Anderson (UNI) wins by forfeit
133 | (18) #25/21 Julian Farber (UNI) maj. dec. Drew Stanfield (MU), 11-1 MD
141 | (22) #24/24 Josh Edmond (MU dec. (7) #6/8 Cael Happel (UNI), 4-3
149 | Adam Allard (UNI) dec. Joel Mylin (MU), 6-5
157 | (9) #14/9 Ryder Downey (UNI) dec. James Conway (MU), 12-5
165 | Jack Thomsen (UNI) maj. dec. Jeremy Jakowitsch (MU), 14-4 MD
174 | (29) #29/30 Jared Simma (UNI) dec. Ellis Pfleger (MU), 10-3
184 | (1) #1/1 Parker Keckeisen (UNI) dec.Colton Hawks (MU), 12-2 MD
197 | (24) #24/21 Wyatt Voelker (UNI) maj. dec. Jesse Cassatt (MU) 14-3 MD
HWT | (4) #5/5 Zach Elam (MU) dec. (19) #16/13 Tyrell Gordon (UNI), 4-1 TB-1
