UNI Open Wrestling Fans Can Help Toys for Tots

UNI wrestling: UNI Open
9 a.m. Dec. 12, 2015
UNI-Dome; Cedar Falls, Iowa
LIVE STATS

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – UNI wrestling hosts the UNI Open this weekend before hitting the road until Jan. 29.

Fans are encouraged to bring toy donations for the Toys for Tots program.

"If there is anything we can do through our program or through UNI that can support people who need it, we certainly can do it," said head coach Doug Schwab. "That is a small thing for us. We can get something to kids who wouldn't have something without it."

Fifteen Panthers medaled at last year's tournament. Nine Panthers return on the competition roster for UNI this year. Josh Alber placed the highest of the returning Panthers. He took second at 133 pounds last year. Alber competed unattached as a freshman and lost 10-3 to Michigan State's starter Javier Gasca.

Alber is coming off a fifth-place finish at the Cliff Keen, where he knocked off his second top-20 opponent of the year by taking down No. 12 Josh Martinez of Air Force, 3-2.

"Alber has a lot of fight," said Schwab. "I like some of the things he does. He is showing some emotion. You must have some energy and fire. The teams and individuals who were winning have some of that fire, and I felt like he had some of that (at Cliff Keen)."

Alber is 12-3 overall and 0-1 in the MAC. His only losses have been to top-15 opponents: No. 15 Zach Synon of Missouri and No. 7 Earl Hall of Iowa State (two times).

Tyler Willers took second at 141 pounds, and Cody Caldwell was second at 184 pounds. Gunnar Wolfensperger returns at 149 pounds. He placed third last season at the UNI Open.

Registration is open until Friday evening, but several teams have signed up:

Grand View
Iowa Central
Iowa State
Iowa Western
Luther College
Maryville University
Menlo
Michigan State
Minnesota State-Mankato
Missouri
North Dakota State
North Iowa Area Community College
Northwestern
Purdue
South Dakota State
University of Wisconsin
Waldorf College

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