UNI Wrestling: Lujan Looks Beyond the Ranking
2/12/2019 9:00:00 AM | Wrestling
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The number in front of wrestlers' names doesn't have the same effect on UNI wrestling's Taylor Lujan as it did when he was a freshman.
"When I was a freshman, these big top-five, top-10 matchups seemed like a bigger deal than they are now," Lujan said. "Now it's just a match."
The redshirt junior out of Carrollton, Georgia, is 5-1 in conference duals with three of those wins coming against ranked opponents at 174 pounds.
When it came time to pick a college, Lujan says the decision wasn't too difficult for him once he discovered UNI.
"We were always prepared that I was going to move away," Lujan said. "I came here on a visit and was like 'This is it.'"
One thing that's helped Lujan since joining the Panthers is a sense of familiarity on the coaching staff. UNI assistant Lee Roper coached him in high school and has known Lujan since he was 14 years old.
"We've been together so long, and I had no idea he was coming here," Lujan said. "He's a guy I can always go and talk to. When I moved up here, he moved up here too. It was a big change for both of us."
Lujan was the first Panther in UNI history to be named Big 12 Wrestler of the Week. Since arriving at UNI, Lujan has defeated 13 wrestlers ranked in the nation's top 20.
For the second time in a three-week span, a UNI Panther was named Big 12 Wrestler of the Week. Lujan's win over No. 5 Joe Smith of Oklahoma State earned him his second weekly conference honor and gave Lujan his fourth top-20 win of the season.
Lujan has been named Big 12 Wrestler of the Week three times since UNI joined the Big 12 last year.
"I didn't really know until I saw something my sister posted on Facebook," he said.
Lujan has always had the support of his family by his side throughout his career, none more so than from his twin sister.
"Growing up, we were always together," he said. "She was probably my best friend until I got to (college). We actually got a little closer, because she started doing the score keeping for the wrestling meets."
Lujan also holds the distinction of being the only Panther to win both a Mid-American Conference title as well as a Big 12 title, but it doesn't compare to what he covets most.
"I want to be national champ and be an All-American," he said. "Those are the two big ones. Be on top of the podium with the trophy."
Lujan does plan on continuing to wrestle for a little while longer once he's done at the collegiate level and then take what he's learned at UNI and apply it to his own life.
"I want to move back home and start working construction, which is a lot of fun since a lot of us on the team are construction management [majors]," he said. "So that's the path we're leaning toward after college."
Lujan and the rest of the UNI Panther wrestling team now look to the last dual of the season when UNI hosts in-state rival Iowa State 7 p.m. Feb. 21.
Tickets are still available for $10 online at UNIPanthers.com/tickets or by calling (319) 273-4849.
Fans are expected to wear purple as the team honors the seniors in their last competition at the West Gym.
"When I was a freshman, these big top-five, top-10 matchups seemed like a bigger deal than they are now," Lujan said. "Now it's just a match."
The redshirt junior out of Carrollton, Georgia, is 5-1 in conference duals with three of those wins coming against ranked opponents at 174 pounds.
When it came time to pick a college, Lujan says the decision wasn't too difficult for him once he discovered UNI.
"We were always prepared that I was going to move away," Lujan said. "I came here on a visit and was like 'This is it.'"
One thing that's helped Lujan since joining the Panthers is a sense of familiarity on the coaching staff. UNI assistant Lee Roper coached him in high school and has known Lujan since he was 14 years old.
"We've been together so long, and I had no idea he was coming here," Lujan said. "He's a guy I can always go and talk to. When I moved up here, he moved up here too. It was a big change for both of us."
Lujan was the first Panther in UNI history to be named Big 12 Wrestler of the Week. Since arriving at UNI, Lujan has defeated 13 wrestlers ranked in the nation's top 20.
For the second time in a three-week span, a UNI Panther was named Big 12 Wrestler of the Week. Lujan's win over No. 5 Joe Smith of Oklahoma State earned him his second weekly conference honor and gave Lujan his fourth top-20 win of the season.
Lujan has been named Big 12 Wrestler of the Week three times since UNI joined the Big 12 last year.
"I didn't really know until I saw something my sister posted on Facebook," he said.
Lujan has always had the support of his family by his side throughout his career, none more so than from his twin sister.
"Growing up, we were always together," he said. "She was probably my best friend until I got to (college). We actually got a little closer, because she started doing the score keeping for the wrestling meets."
Lujan also holds the distinction of being the only Panther to win both a Mid-American Conference title as well as a Big 12 title, but it doesn't compare to what he covets most.
"I want to be national champ and be an All-American," he said. "Those are the two big ones. Be on top of the podium with the trophy."
Lujan does plan on continuing to wrestle for a little while longer once he's done at the collegiate level and then take what he's learned at UNI and apply it to his own life.
"I want to move back home and start working construction, which is a lot of fun since a lot of us on the team are construction management [majors]," he said. "So that's the path we're leaning toward after college."
Lujan and the rest of the UNI Panther wrestling team now look to the last dual of the season when UNI hosts in-state rival Iowa State 7 p.m. Feb. 21.
Tickets are still available for $10 online at UNIPanthers.com/tickets or by calling (319) 273-4849.
Fans are expected to wear purple as the team honors the seniors in their last competition at the West Gym.
Players Mentioned
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