UNI Wrestling to Host Final Home Duals of 2016 Season

Friday, February 5

West Gym

7 p.m. - Wear purple

University of Northern Iowa

#16 Iowa State University

UNI Wrestling to Host Final Home Duals of 2016 Season

2/3/2016 9:19:00 AM | Wrestling

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#16 Iowa State (8-5 / 1-2 Big 12) at UNI wrestling (3-7 / 2-4 MAC)

7 p.m. Feb. 5, 2016
Cedar Falls, Iowa – West Gym (2,100)
TV: Panther Sports Network
Live stats

#19 Kent State (11-3 / 4-1 MAC) at UNI wrestling (3-7 / 2-4 MAC)

7 p.m. Feb. 6, 2016
Cedar Falls, Iowa – West Gym (2,100)
Live stream ($)
Live stats

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The UNI wrestling team hosts two top-20 teams at the West Gym with No. 16 Iowa State Friday and No. 19 Kent State Saturday.

"I know our guys are excited to wrestle Iowa State," said head coach Doug Schwab. "It doesn't really matter what our record is right now. Our guys are going to go out and scrap. You expect some things to happen that don't usually happen in a rivalry match."

Schwab also said having two ranked teams on consecutive days will help his team prepare for the national tournament.

"It's good to get in a big-time environment two times in a row, to have to get up two days in a row, to have weigh in two days in a row and be ready to scrap with guys that are ranked and some of the best guys in the country two days in a row," he said. "I know our guys are certainly looking forward to it."

Josh Alber will have the toughest lineup of any Panther with two top-10 wrestlers expected to compete. Iowa State has No. 8 Earl Hall and Kent State is expected to wrestle No. 9 Mack McGuire, who is ranked second in the MAC.

Cooper Moore will have the opportunity to avenge a loss to No. 8 Tanner Weatherman at 165 pounds, while Bryce Steiert will have his first crack at No. 2 Ian Miller, the 157-pound leader in the MAC. Steiert knocked off Ohio's Spartak Chino, who is second in the MAC, last weekend.

"I like how Steiert is wrestling," Schwab said. "I know he only won 2-0, but as far as how he attacked, he gave himself a few more opportunities. I like how he's competing. He's competing as well as he has all season."

Dylan Peters returned to the lineup last weekend for the first time since the Cliff Keen Invite in early December. He earned his 33^rd career fall. He is currently sixth among all Panthers for career falls. Moza Fay is fifth with 37 falls.

"It was great to get Peters back in the lineup," Schwab said. "I like where he's at. I like how he is wrestling. . He's the only All-American on our roster. I will match him up against anyone in the country. I like where he's at mentally. It's as good of a spot mentally since I have been here."

PROMOTIONS
Friday night is a purple out. Fans are asked to fill the stands with purple. In support of the event, match sponsor Hy-Vee will be giving away purple #PantherTrain shirts at the door to the first 400 fans.

NewAldaya Lifescapes is sponsoring a Defeat Dementia Night Saturday. In addition, the team will be honoring the senior wrestlers.

LAST YEAR RESULTS
IOWA STATE 24, UNI 12

174 - #13 Tanner Weatherman (ISU) dec. Curt Maas (UNI), 6-2
184 - #15 Lelund Weatherspoon (ISU) dec. Kyle Lux (UNI), 10-3
197 - #2 Kyven Gadson (ISU) maj. dec. Basil Minto (UNI), 17-5
285 - #10 Blaize Cabell (UNI) dec, Quean Smith (ISU), 5-2
125 - #5 Dylan Peters (UNI) pinned #31 Kyle Larson (ISU), 2:57
133 - #2 Earl Hall (ISU) dec. Leighton Gaul (UNI), 9-3
141 - #23 Dante Rodriguez (ISU) maj. dec. Jake Hodges (UNI), 13-1
149 - #13 Gabe Moreno (ISU) maj. dec. Gunnar Wolfensperger (UNI), 13-4
157 - #28 Jarrett Jensen (UNI) dec. Luke Goettl (ISU), 4-2
165 - #5 Michael Moreno (ISU) dec. #9 Cooper Moore (UNI), 5-2

UNI 21, KENT STATE 16

125 - #5 Dylan Peters (UNI) pinned Del Vinas (KSU), 4:17
133 - #17 Mack McGuire (KSU) dec. Leighton Gaul (UNI), 4-1
141 - #29 Tyler Small (KSU) maj. dec. Jake Hodges (UNI), 10-0
149 - Mike DePalma (KSU) pinned #32 Gunnar Wolfensperger (UNI), 1:21
157 - Jarrett Jensen (UNI) dec. #4 Ian Miller (KSU), 5-4
165 - #11 Cooper Moore (UNI) dec. Tyler Buckwalter (KSU), 7-2
174 - Curt Maas (UNI) dec. #15 Caleb Marsh (KSU), 6-1
184 - Kyle Lux (UNI) dec. Jerald Sphon (KSU), 10-5
197 - #24 Cole Baxter (KSU) dec. #30 Basil Minto (UNI), 7-3
285 - #10 Blaize Cabell (UNI) dec. #30 Mimmo Lytle (KSU), 7-5

HONORARY CAPTAINS
FRIDAY
When Don Briggs became the head wrestling coach in 1982, he had already been working at UNI for seven years. From 1974 through 1975, he was a graduate assistant. In 1975, after receiving his master's degree in physical education, he became UNI's first full-time varsity assistant wrestling coach.

In high school, Briggs wrestled at Jefferson High School in his hometown of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He wrestled at the University of Iowa under head coach Dave McCuskey and graduated in 1971 with a Bachelor of Arts in physical education.

During his first year as UNI's head coach, he guided the Panthers to a 17-3 record, which included a 10th-place finish at the NCAA Championships. He was named National Rookie Coach of the Year. Briggs coached the Panthers to a 164-98 record, giving him the most Division I victories in UNI wrestling history. Briggs was named the NCAA West Regional Coach of the Year 10 times.

In 1987, Briggs led the Panthers to 18 victories, the most in school history for a single season. Briggs coached 51 All-Americans and 14 national champions. The Panthers dominated the West Regional after Briggs took over, placing second from 1983 through 1985, and winning it the following 12 seasons.

Briggs stepped down as head coach of the UNI wrestling team on June 30, 1997, to teach full time in the school's Department of Health, Physical Education and Leisure Services.

SATURDAY
Gary Steffensmeier wrestled for UNI from 1988-92, earning All-America honors at 150 pounds in each of his final three seasons. He claimed his highest national finish as a sophomore in 1990 when he took second place at the NCAA Championships, and he followed up with fourth-place finishes in 1991 and 1992.

Steffensmeier concluded his career at UNI ranked No. 4 all-time in wins, holding a career record of 115-29-3. He was named to the National Wrestling Coaches Association All-Academic Team in 1991 and 1992.

As a senior in 1992, Steffensmeier became the first UNI wrestler to earn Academic All-America honors when he was named to the GTE Academic All-America third team.

LINEUPS: UNI / IOWA STATE / KENT STATE
125 pounds: #7 Dylan Peters / Kyle Larson / Del Vinas

All-American Peters pinned Iowa State's Larson (2:57) in a dual at Ames last year. He pinned Vinas (3:21) of Kent State at last year's MAC Championships. He also earned a major decision against Vinas at a regular-season dual.

133 pounds: #12 Josh Alber / #8 Earl Hall / #9 Mack McGuire

Hall leads the series 2-0 against Alber. Hall won 9-7 in their first meeting and 17-7 at the Cliff Keen. Alber went on to place fifth at the Invite. Hall took fourth. Alber was second at the Midlands Championships, and Hall was seventh.
Hall became an All-American when he finished eighth at the 2014 NCAA Championships. He fell in the Round of 12 last year.
McGuire is ranked second in the MAC. He is a three-time NCAA qualifier. He has placed third at the MAC the last two years.

141 pounds: Trevor Jauch or Jake Koethe or Tyler Willers / John Meeks or Nathan Boston / Anthony Tutolo

Meeks edged out Willers 6-4 in sudden victory at the 2014 UNI Open in the championship round. Meeks beat Koethe 11-5 at last year's Grand View Open.

149 pounds: Jake Hodges or Adam Perrin / Blayne Briceno or Dante Rodriguez / #18 Mike DePalma

Hodges lost by major decision to Rodriguez at last year's dual. Rodriguez was the runner-up at last year's Big 12 tournament, earning a bid to the NCAA Championships. DePalma is a two-time NCAA qualifier. He has placed third at the last two MAC Championships. He was fifth at the Cliff Keen Invite this year.

157 pounds: #19 Bryce Steiert / Renaldo Rodriguez-Spencer / #2 Ian Miller or Casey Sparkman

As a true freshman, Steiert hasn't faced either of his opponents for the weekend. Miller is a two-time All-American with fifth-place and fourth-place finishes in 2015 and 2014, respectively. He has won the MAC three times, earning automatic bids to the NCAA tournament.

165 pounds: #19 Cooper Moore / #8 Tanner Weatherman / #31 Tyler Buckwalter

Moore beat Buckwalter 7-2 at last year's dual and 5-4 in 2014. Weatherman pinned Moore in 46 seconds at the Cliff Keen Invite earlier this year to take seventh overall.
Weatherman is a three-time NCAA qualifier and has finished second in the Big 12 twice.

174 pounds: Kyle Lux / #19 Lelund Weatherspoon / Mike Vollant or Jairod James

Lux hasn't competed against either opponent in his career. Weatherspoon is a two-time NCAA qualifier. He was the runner-up in the Big 12 last year and won the conference championship in 2014.

184 pounds: Drew Foster / #26 Dane Pestano / #28 Cole Baxter

Foster has moved up from 174 pounds and has not faced either opponent. Baxter was fifth at the MAC Championships in 2014.

197 pounds: Jared Bartel or Cody Krumwiede / Marcus Harrington / #14 Kyle Conel

Bartel dropped a 6-2 decision to Harrington at last year's UNI Open. Krumwiede lost a match and won a match at the 2014 UNI Open against Harrington. He beat Harrington 7-4 before Harrington came back to win 9-3 and take third at the tournament.

285 pounds: #16 Blaize Cabell / #31 Quean Smith / Stephen Suglio or Devin Nye