UNI wrestling closes out dual season with loss to No. 8 Wisconsin, 24-10

Thursday, February 17

Cedar Falls, IA

7 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

University of Wisconsin

UNI wrestling closes out dual season with loss to No. 8 Wisconsin, 24-10

2/17/2022 9:23:00 PM | Wrestling

Wisconsin Scoring Sheet

By: Michelle Van Dorn

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - Despite bonus points at 184 pounds, UNI wrestling wasn't able to overcome the win streak Wisconsin had early in the dual.

UNI fell to 7-7 overall and remain 6-3 in the Big 12. Wisconsin improves to 11-2 overall.

After a scoreless first period at 133 pounds, No. 25 Kyle Biscoglia went to work on turning Ethan Rotondo. Biscoglia drew a stall call from the Badger and earned two nearfall points and built up riding time. An early third-period escape put Biscoglia up 3-0. He extended his lead with a takedown and penalty point off a second stall call on Rotondo to go up 6-0. Rotondo earned an escape near the end, but Biscoglia tacked on an extra riding time point to win 7-1, giving UNI the 3-0 team lead.

Biscoglia is now 3-2 against Rotondo with the decision. He has won 10 of his last 11 bouts and notched 13 bonus-point wins so far this season.

Wisconsin evened the team score at 3-3 with a 9-4 decision at 141 pounds.

At 149 pounds, No. 7 Austin Gomez took No. 32 Colin Realbuto to his back off a takedown, but Realbuto escaped after a restart. Gomez notched two more takedowns to take a 6-3 lead after the first period. Realbuto escaped off the whistle to stay within two points. Gomez grabbed another takedown, but Realbuto countered with a reversal. Gomez led 8-6 to start the third period, and a final escape gave Gomez the 9-6 decision. Wisconsin went ahead 6-3 in team scoring.

UNI's Derek Holschlag jumped out to a 2-0 lead with an early takedown, but No. 27 Garrett Model earned an escape and takedown as the first period expired in the 157-pound match. Trailing 6-3 off another escape and takedown by Model, Holschag earned an escape and takedown of his own to pull within one point. Model went on to win 14-8 and give Wisconsin the 9-3 team lead.

At 165 pounds, No. 13 Austin Yant faced true freshman No. 7 Dean Hamiti, who is seventh in the nation among the most dominant Division I wrestlers for bonus points earned. Seventeen of Hamiti's 19 wins have come with bonus points. Wisconsin took a 13-3 lead heading into intermission.

UNI broke the Wisconsin win streak at 174 pounds. Lance Runyon jumped out to a 4-1 lead and built up 1:35 minutes in riding time to start the second period. He saved his riding time with an escape in the second and drew a stall penalty off No. 23 Andrew McNally to lead 6-1 to start the third period. McNally was able to notch a takedown, but Runyon escaped and piled on a third takedown. He ended with 1:34 in riding time to get the 10-3 decision. In just six matches, Runyon, who remains unranked, has notched three top-20 wins at 174 pounds. UNI continued to trail 13-6 in team scoring.

No. 4 Parker Keckeisen tallied six takedowns and 2:40 in riding time for a 15-6 major decision over No. 32 Chris Weiler for his 10th consecutive win. Keckeisen's only two career losses continue to be against reigning national champion No. 1 Aaron Brooks of Penn State.

Wisconsin's Braxton Amos earned the second set of bonus points for the Badgers at 197 pounds. Amos is third on the national list for most tech falls. Amos' 13-4 major decision pushed the team score to 17-10, Wisconsin.

The Badgers sealed the dual win with a third major decision at heavyweight. No. 11 Trent Hillger, who was sixth at last year's national championships. Wisconsin led 21-10 heading into the final match of the evening.

No. 5 Eric Barnett edged out No. 18 Brody Teske in a 5-3 decision.

Wisconsin was the eighth top-25 opponent UNI has faced.

UNI is 23-26-2 in the series that dates back to 1927. Head coach Doug Schwab is 5-4 against Wisconsin.