University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
Wisconsin
PANTHERS DROP SEASON OPENER TO #17 WISCONSION, 20-14
11/30/2004 7:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Nov. 30, 2004
CEDAR FALLS, IA -
The University of Northern Iowa wrestling squad dropped their first dual of the season, 20-14 against the Wisconsin Badgers in Madison, Wis. The Panthers opened up a 6-0 lead with help from Michael Shedek and Chris Helgeson. The Badgers then went on to take the next four matches before Nick Baima and Eric Hauan put together back-to-back wins. After a loss at 184, the Panthers were down three heading into the final match. Sean Stender could not overcome a pesky Badger contender as UNI suffered its first loss of the season.
Michael Shedek struck first in the heavyweight match with a takedown on Lee Kramer for a 2-0 lead. In the second period, Kramer fired back with an escape to cut Shedek's lead in half. In the third period it was all Shedek as he rolled to a 5-1 decision to put the Panthers up 3-0. The 125 match pitted Chris Helgeson versus Collin Cudd. Cudd scored an early takedown but Helgeson responded with an escape and takedown to end the first period, 3-2. Helgeson marked an escape in the second and went into final period with a 4-2 advantage. Cudd earned an escape to narrow Helgeson's lead but the junior from Lake Mills (IA) held on with a takedown, capping off a 6-3 win.
The Panthers led 6-0 heading into the 133-pound match. Patrick Sharp got his first start in a Panther uniform, but it did not go well for the junior college transfer. Sharp found himself down 14-2 against last year's Big Ten champion at 125, Tom Clum. Clum finished the match with an 18-3 victory to close the UNI lead to one.
The 141-weight battle saw Mark Manchio and Tyler Laudon wait till the second period to get on the scoreboard. Manchio earned back points on Laudon to get a 2-0 lead, but Laudon fired back to end the period with an escape. In third period, Manchio and Laudon would trade escapes and takedowns until a Manchio reversal put the score at 6-5. Laudown edged an escape, sendng the match into overtime. In the extra period, Laudon prevailed 8-6 off his third takedown of the match.
The Panthers found themselves down 8-6 at this point with Jeff Harrison and Craig Henning squaring off at 149. Harrison struck first with a takedown and Henning rebounded with an escape going into the second period trailing by one. Henning would repeat in the period and even the match 2-2. The final period saw Henning come out strong to open a 6-4 lead. Later, a Harrison escape put the senior down one, but it would not be enough, as he would drop the match 6-5.
Chris Bitetto found himself back in the starting lineup at 157 for the Panthers, as he would face off against Tyler Turner. These two started slow as the first period ended scoreless. In the second, Bitetto racked up an escape point going into the third period with a 1-0 advantage. Turner would score on a reversal when Bitetto evened the score on an escape. In the end, Turner took advantage of riding time to win the match 3-2.
Former 157 national qualifier Nick Baima has moved up a slot this season. The sophomore seemed to enjoy every bit of it today as he ran up 8-0 advantage on Jake Donar in the first period. The second period would look a lot like the first as Baima opened up with six more unanswered points before Domar scored an escape. On Baima's third takedown of the day the match was called, as Baima picked up a tech fall, winning 16-1.
With the win, the Panthers found themselves still trailing, down 14-11 with all-American Eric Hauan up next to battle. Wisconsin's Kelly Flaherty found himself in trouble early on with two Hauan takedowns. Flaherty escapeed twice but Hauan continued to work Flaherty for another takedown to end the match 6-2.
UNI leveled the score at 14 heading into the 184 match. Freshman Alex Dolly saw his first collegiate start against Matt Maciag. Maciag started strong with a takedown and back points to get an early 5-0 lead. An escape in the second put Maciag up one more heading into the third. After a Maciag takedown, Dolly scored an escape to put the score at 8-1. Dolly marked his first takedown in the third, but it wouldn't be enough as he dropped the match 9-3 after Maciag's riding time.
The 197 match between Sean Stender and Ryan Flaherty was the last match of the afternoon. With UNI trailing 17-14, the Panthers needed a big win from their senior. Flaherty struck first with a takedown while Stender responded with an escape heading into the second period. Stender opened the period with a quick escape to even the match at 2. Flaherty responded with escape in the third when Stender racked up a takedown. Flaherty again responded with an escape to even the score 4-4. As the two continued to battle, Flaherty put together a takedown to seal the match and the win for Wisconsin.
With the loss, the Panthers fall to 0-1 on the season while Wisconsin improves to 2-0. The Panthers will return home for the UNI Open on December 5th. Their next dual is against Iowa on December 9th at 7:00 p.m. in the UNI-Dome.
HWT - Michael Shedeck (UNI) dec. Lee Kraemer (UW) 5-1
125 - Chris Helgeson (UNI) dec. Collin Cudd (UW) 6-3
133 - Tom Clum (UW) tech fall. Patrick Sharp (UNI) 18-3
141 - Tyler Laudon (UW) dec. Mark Manchio (UNI) 8-6 sv
149 - Craig Henning (UW) dec. Jeff Harrison (UNI) 6-5
157 - Tyler Turner (UW) dec. Chris Bitetto (UNI) 3-2
165 - Nick Baima (UNI) tech fall. Jake Donar (UW) 16-1
174 - Eric Hauan (UNI) dec. Kelly Flaherty (UW) 6-2
184 - Matt Maciag (UW) dec. Alex Dolly (UNI) 9-3
197 - Ryan Flaherty (UW) dec. Sean Stender (UNI) 6-4
