CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – UNI wrestling got its first Big 12 win in a last-minute scheduled dual against Air Force, 27-11.
COVID protocols postponed the Northern Colorado dual UNI that had been set for tonight. Air Force invited the Panthers to the Clune Arena in Colorado Spring after AF also postponed a dual against Utah Valley due to COVID in UV’s program. Air Force had been set to compete Saturday.
UNI got bonus points in four matches and won seven of the 10 bouts.
UNI improves to 2-5 overall and 1-2 in Big 12 duals. Air Force slipped to 2-3 overall and 0-3 in the Big 12.
Kyle Gollhofer, a redshirt freshman, secured his first career dual win to open the match with a 7-2 decision over Quinn Melofchik at 125 pounds. This was Gollhofer’s second time in the dual lineup, having made his debut last week against South Dakota State.
Back-to-back, bonus-point wins at 133 pounds and 141 pounds got the Panthers out to a 13-0 lead.
Kyle Biscoglia, ranked No. 31 by Intermat, notched his 15th career fall, pinning this week’s Big 12 Wrestler of the Week, Sidney Flores in 4 minutes, 58 seconds. Biscoglia is now on a four-match win streak, and 10 of his 12 wins have come with bonus points this season.
At 141 pounds, No. 25 Cael secured riding time heading into the third period and continued to rack up the points against Air Force’s Garrett Kuchan. Happel won in a 21-9 major decision.
UNI’s Colin Realbuto (149 pounds) got his first Big 12 career dual win with a decision over Dylan Martinez. Realbuto secured riding time in the second period but trailed, 4-2, to start the third. An escape, takedown and more than two minutes of riding time gave Realbuto the 6-4 decision.
UNI extended its lead, 16-0 after four matches.
Air Force got its first win of the dual with a 4-1 decision over Kaleb Olejniczak (UNI), who made his debut in the Panther lineup.
No. 20 Austin Yant was the third Panther to earn bonus points, with a 9-0 major decision over Wilton, Iowa, native Trey Brisker. Yant got an escape in the second period and built a lead in the third with nearfall points and riding time for the win.
At 174 pounds, Dajun Johnson fell behind 12-2 in the first period to the 2021 Junior Pan Am gold medalist Sam Wolf of Air Force. Wolf went on to win by tech fall in 5:43, 18-3. This was Johnson’s first time in the lineup at 174 pounds. He’s jumped in at 184 pounds three times this year.
No. 4 Parker Keckeisen improved to 13-1 with a major decision over the Falcons’ Jake Thompson. Keckeisen notched six takedowns against Thompson for the 14-4 major decision at 184 pounds.
UNI’s Noah Glaser jumped out to an 8-2 lead in the first period of the 197-pound match. He notched six nearfall points against Kayne Hutchison, who closed the gap with a reversal and two nearfall points. Glaser kept the 8-6 lead and added an escape and two more takedowns to win his first career dual, 15-8.
The Falcons took the final match of the night. UNI heavyweight Tyrell Gordon was edged out by undefeated No. 6 Wyatt Hendrickson. Hendrickson had won his previous 11 matches with bonus points. Gordon broke that streak, but lost in a 9-4 decision.
UP NEXT
UNI will open its home dual season hosting in the West Gym next weekend. All home duals are set for 7 p.m.
#RV UNI 27, AIR FORCE, 11
125 | Kyle Gollhofer (UNI) dec. Quinn Melofchik (AF) 7-2
133 | #31 Kyle Biscoglia (UNI) pinned Sidney Flores (AF) 4:58
141 | #25 Cael Happel (UNI) maj. dec. Garrett Kuchan (AF) 21-9
149 | Colin Realbuto (UNI) dec. Dylan Martinez (AF) 6-4
157 | Giano Petrucelli (AF) dec. Kaleb Olejniczak (UNI) 4-1
165 | #20 Austin Yant (UNI) maj. dec. Trey Brisker (AF) 9-0
174 | Sam Wolf (AF) tech fall Dajun Johnson (UNI) 18-3 (5:43)
184 | #4 Parker Keckeisen (UNI) maj. dec. Jake Thompson (AF) 14-4
197 | Noah Glaser (UNI) dec. Kayne Hutchison (AF) 15-8
285 | #6 Wyatt Hendrickson (AF) dec. Tyrell Gordon (UNI) 9-4
