UNI Wrestling Caps Dual Season with 29-9 Win

Friday, February 19

Buffalo, NY

6 p.m. CT

University of Northern Iowa

University at Buffalo

Photo by: Mike Dunlop

UNI Wrestling Caps Dual Season with 29-9 Win

2/19/2016 7:57:00 PM | Wrestling

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BUFFALO, New York – Seven Panthers won their matches to help UNI wrestling snap a five-dual losing streak to close out the regular season with a win over Buffalo, 29-9.

The Panthers ended their season 4-10 overall, 3-5 in the MAC. The Bulls finished with their most wins since 2004, falling to 10-9 overall, 2-6 in the MAC.

UNI jumped out to a 15-0 lead over Buffalo with falls at 125 pounds from Leighton Gaul and at 133 pounds from Josh Alber. It was Gaul's first dual win of the year and Alber's second fall in as many weeks.

At 141 pounds, Tyler Willers was tied 2-2 with Brandon Lapi. He earned four nearfall points to go up 6-2. And escape narrowed the gap 6-3 for Lapi, but Willers went on to win his first career dual, 6-5.

Buffalo got on the board with a decision at 149 pounds, but Bryce Steiert gave the Panthers its third set of bonus points at 157 pounds. Steiert was up 8-1 to start the third and had already racked up two minutes of riding time. He went on to win with a 13-2 major decision over Alex Smythe.

Cooper Moore returned to the lineup at 165 pounds for the first time since Feb. 5. At the end of the second period, Moore led 3-0 with 2 minutes, 30 seconds in riding time. Moore went on to secure his riding time and earn his fourth major decision of the season, 8-0.

At 184 pounds, Drew Foster went up 2-0 with more than two minutes of riding time after the first period. Foster locked up riding time and released Joe Ariola of Buffalo in the second period. Ariola's takedown put Buffalo up 3-2 to start the third. Foster notched two escapes in the third, but Ariola grabbed a takedown to push the match into sudden victory. Foster kept the Panthers rolling with a takedown to win 7-5.

Blaize Cabell gave up a takedown at the end of the heavyweight match, but his four takedowns and escape gave him the 9-6 decision.

UNI 29, BUFFALO 9