University of Northern Iowa
Cliff Keen Invite
UNI Wrestling Finishes Eighth at Cliff Keen
12/1/2012 1:00:00 AM | Wrestling
LAS VEGAS - Levi Wolfensperger and Ryan Loder led the University of Northern Iowa wrestling team to an eighth-place finish at the Cliff Keen Invitational.
The Panthers beat 14th-ranked Michigan, 19th-ranked Wyoming and Kent State, which is ranked 23rd.
"It's progress. Obviously you remember the ones that get away, but it was a good springboard from our guys," said head coach Doug Schwab.
UNI had four wrestlers place in the tournament:
- Ryan Loder (184 pounds) - 3rd
- Levi Wolfensperger (141 pounds) - 4th
- David Bonin (157 pounds) - 5th
- Cody Caldwell (174 pounds) - 7th
Loder, in his first competition of the season placed third. In his first day of competition in the 184-pound weight class, he recorded a major decision, technical fall and a pin in 2:35. He returned the second day with two decisions over 12th-ranked Casey Newburg of Kent State and 11th-ranked Jacob Swartz of Boise State. Loder is 5-1 for the season.
"For his first tournament back, he did a good job getting third," said Schwab. "He isn't happy with it. He wants to win every tournament he is in, but it is a lot to build off. I know he will better each time out. It is good to have him back.
Wolfensperger earned a pin en route to his fourth-place finish in his second day of competition. He pinned Thomas Kelliher of Wisconsin. This is the third time Wolfensperger has faced Kelliher in two weeks. Wolfensperger wrestled Kelliher won week in a dual tournament in Madison, Wis., 6-4. He beat him 14-4 in the first day of the Cliff Keen. Wolfensperger had a strong start to the tournament with a win by major decision and tech fall. He lost 4-3 in his final match of the day to 12th-ranked Devon Lotito of Cal Poly to place fourth. Wolfensperger is 8-2 on the season.
"He had a good tournament," said Schwab. "He capitalized on some attacks, but we need to find ways to do that more.
In the second day of competition, junior David Bonin defeated a competitor he lost to in the first day of the meet to place fifth in the 157-pound weight class. Bonin beat Gabe Martinez of the United States Air Force 6-0 after losing to him in overtime 2-1 on the first day. Bonin is 8-3 for the season.
"It's good that he can turn that around and face him again. He had a good opportunity to get back that momentum. He really controlled the match. It was good finish for him," said Schwab.
Cody Caldwell, a redshirt freshman, got a pin in his second day of competition before placing seventh overall at 174 pounds. He pinned Bryce Hammond (CSU Bakersfield) in 2:48. He beat Missouri's Todd Porter, who was seeded fifth, 13-9 to place seventh. His other win for the day came as a decision over Ray Hall of Colorado State - Pueblo. Caldwell is 9-2 for the season.
"For a freshman in a big tournament, he competed well. He can be very tough to handle. There are things we need to address and work on, so we look forward to improving those things at the UNI Open next week," said Schwab.
Joey Lazor was bumped after losing his match on the second day to Nathan Pennesi of West Virginia, 9-6. Tanner Hiatt medically forfeited his matches for the second day.
FROM DAY 1:
Redshirt freshmen Tanner Hiatt hard a strong start to the tournament by pinning Jake Briggs of CSU Bakersfield in 1:36. He followed it up by beating last year's 149-pound champion Eric Grajales of Michigan in a 13-6 decision. Grajales was seeded third in this tournament. He was injured in the first day of competition and did not compete Saturday.
Joey Lazor won three out of four of his matches at 141. He got a tech fall against Carter McElhany of United States Air Force (16-1) and beat McCade Ford of Wyoming 6-4. He came back in the evening session to beat John Boyle of American 6-2.
Cody Krumwiede is 1-2 for the day in the 285-pound weight class. He beat Keith Witt of Kent State, 7-1, before falling to Blake Herrin of American and Evan Knutson of North Dakota State University.
A.J. McBroom (197 pounds) and Jarrett Jensen (165 pounds) were not able to get a win today.
Cliff Keen, the tournament's namesake was a wrestler at Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State) University and then went onto coach the wrestling team at the University of Michigan. As a student-athlete, Keen was a national champion. As a coach, he saw 68 of his wrestlers earn All-American status. He is a 1976 inductee into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. Keen died in 1991 at the age of 90.
The Panthers will be in action again Dec. 8 when they host the UNI Open.
133 - Levi Wolfensperger (8th seed): Levi Wolfensperger maj. dec. Thomas Kelliher (Wisconsin) 14-4; Levi Wolfensperger TF Esteban Gomez-Rivera (American) 18-3; Logan Stieber (Ohio State) pinned Levi Wolfensperger :58.
DAY 2: Levi Wolfensperger dec. Brian Owen (Boise State) 5-2; Levi Wolfensperger pinned Thomas Kelliher (Wisconsin) 2:09; Levi Wolfensperger dec. George DiCamillo (Virginia) 12-5; Devon Lotito (Cal Poly) dec. Levi Wolfensperger 4-3.
141 - Joey Lazor: Joey Lazor TF Carter McElhany (United States Air Force) 16-1; Tyler Graff (Wisconsin) maj. dec. Joey Lazor 17-6; Joey Lazor dec. McCade Ford (Wyoming) 6-4; Joey Lazor dec. John Boyle (Wisconsin) 6-2.
DAY 2: Nathan Pennesi (West Virginia) dec. Joey Lazor 9-6.
149 - Tanner Hiatt: Tanner Hiatt pinned jake Briggs (CSU Bakersfield) 1:36; Tanner Hiatt dec. Eric Grajales (Michigan) 13-6; Cam Tessari (Ohio State) pins Tanner Hiatt, 1:24.
DAY 2: medical forfeit for second day of tournament.
157 - David Bonin (5th seed): David Bonin dec. Charles York (Wisconsin) 9-6; David Bonin dec. Brian Harvey (Army) 6-1; Gabe Martinez (United States Air Force) dec. David Bonin, 3-1.
DAY 2: David Bonin dec. Kyle Bradley (Missouri) 8-6; David Bonin MF James Green (Nebraska); Andy McCulley (Wyoming) dec. David Bonin 4-3; David Bonin dec. Gabe Martinez (USAF) 6-0 for 5th place.
165 - Jarrett Jensen: Isaiah Jimenez (San Francisco State) dec. Jarrett Jensen, 4-3; Alex Elder (Oregon State) dec. Jarrett Jensen, 4-1.
174 - Cody Caldwell (7th seed): Magi Frazier (San Francisco State) dec. Cody Caldwell, 7-5; Cody Caldwell dec. Giuseppi Lanzi (Brown) 10-5; Cody Caldwell maj. dec. Kyle Sweedman (North Idaho College) 11-3; Cody Caldwell dec. Cameron Croy (Harvard) 9-2.
DAY 2: Cody Caldwell dec. Ray Hall (Colorado State - Pueblo) 9-6; Cody Caldwell pinned Bryce Hammond (CSU Bakersfield) 2:48; Cody Caldwell dec. Todd Porter (Missouri) 13-9 for 7th place.
184 - Ryan Loder (2nd seed): Ryan Loder maj. dec. Ophir Bernstein (Brown) 10-0; Ryan Loder TF Paul Head (California Baptist) 19-0; Ryan Loder pins Craig Scott (Cornell) 2:35.
DAY 2: Mike Larson (Missouri) dec. Ryan Loder 3-2; Ryan Loder dec. Casey Newburg (Kent State) 2-1; Jacob Swartz (Boise State)
197 - A.J. McBroom: Frankie Hurtado (CSU Bakersfield) dec. A.J. McBroom, 7-3; Bryce Barnes (Army) dec. A.J. McBroom, 8-2.
285 - Cody Krumwiede: Cody Krumwiede dec. Keith Witt (Kent State) 7-1; Blake Herrin (American) dec. Cody Krumwiede 6-3; Evan Knutson (North Dakota State University) dec. Cody Krumwiede 6-3.
Team scoring:
1. Ohio State 124.5
2. Missouri 123.5
3. Cornell 104.5
4. Oregon State 98.5
5. Nebraska 89.5
6. Boise State 76
7. Virginia 64.5
8. Northern Iowa 62.5
9. Wyoming 58
10. Navy 56
11. U.S. Air Force 53.5
12. Michigan 52.5
13. Arizona State 52
14. Wisconsin 51.5
15. CSU Bakersfield 44
16. Kent State 42
17. North Dakota State University 37.5
18. West Virginia 30.5
19. American 29.5
19. Northern Colorado 29.5
21. Cal Poly 27
22. Colorado State University - Pueblo 21
23. Utah Valley University 20.5
24. Army 19
24. Harvard 19
26. California Baptist (Calif.) 13.5
27. Nebraska-Kearney 12
28. North Idaho College 10
29. San Francisco State 9.5
29. South Dakota State 9.5
31. Western Wyoming College 7.5
32. Brown 6.5
Players Mentioned
