Panther wrestling drops opening dual to Columbia

Sunday, December 10

Cedar Falls, Iowa

2 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

Columbia

Panther wrestling drops opening dual to Columbia

12/10/2023 5:56:00 PM | Wrestling

FINAL RESULTS & SCORESHEET Photo Gallery

Five Panthers make collegiate dual debuts in loss to Lions. UNI returns to the mats at the Collegiate Duals on Dec. 19 in Nashville.

Officials - Eric McGill, Jake Frias
Attendance - 2,782

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- Five Panthers made their first dual starts of their collegiate careers on Sunday afternoon inside the McLeod Center as UNI wrestling dropped its first dual of the 2023-24 season to the Columbia Lions by a score of 28-21.

The Lions picked up six victories over the Panthers including three pins. Northern Iowa opened the afternoon with a pin at 125 pounds, and also saw top-ranked Parker Keckeisen (184 pounds) remain undefeated on the season with a 20-point technical fall victory. Tyrell Gordon also made his season-debut in impressive fashion, closing the dual out with his first pin in nearly two full calendar years.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Opening the day up at 125 pounds, Trever Anderson took an early lead on No. 27/20 Nick Babin with a first period takedown to gain a 3-0 advantage before extending his margin to seven points with a four-point nearfall. Battling in the second frame, Babin made a comeback securing an early takedown and a four-point nearfall levelling the score at 7-7. In a dramatic turn, Anderson snatched a pin in five minutes, 12 seconds, his second fall of the year and first career win over a ranked opponent.

The Panthers would drop their next three matches, with No. 17/21 Julian Farber falling at 133 pounds to No. 11/11 Angelo Rini in an 8-3 decision, while No. 6/7 Cael Happel came up short as he was pinned by Kai Owens after grabbing an early 4-1 lead before getting caught in a cradle. Happel's loss marks the first time he has been pinned in his collegiate career. Cael Rahnavardi made his first collegiate dual start at 149 pounds, but fell to Richard Fedalen by fall in one minute, 15 seconds.

No. 12/12 Ryder Downey put the Panthers back on pace at 157 pounds. Leading 4-2 in the third period, Downey then earned a pair of significant takedowns wrapping up the bout with an 11-2 major decision victory. In his first appearance in a collegiate dual, RJ Weston came up short, being pined by Kyle Mosher at 165 pounds in three minutes, 11 seconds. Jared Simma put up a tough fight at 174 pounds against Lennox Wolak, dropping a 6-5 decision.

At 184 pounds, Keckeisen dominated from start to finish and scored a career-high 25 points in an impressive 25-5 technical fall win over No. 31/22 Aaron Ayzerov to remain unbeaten this year. Nine of Keckeisen's ten victories this season have come in bonus points, with the three-time All-American extending his regular season winning streak to 20 matches dating back to last season.

Making just his second career dual appearance, Kalob Runyon (197 pounds) challenged No. 27/33 Jack Wehmeyer early, but ultimately came up short in a 13-5 major decision loss.

Rounding out the dual at heavyweight, Gordon came on strong late in the third period to secure his first victory of the year with a pin of Billy McChesney in two minutes, 48 seconds. Gordon's fall is his first since pinning Bowen McConville (South Dakota State) in six minutes, 44 seconds at the 2021 UNI Open.

FINAL RESULTS (Intermat/FloWrestling rankings listed)

#16 UNI 21, Columbia 28

125 | Trever Anderson (UNI) pins #27/20 Nick Babin (COL), 5:20
133 | #11/11 Angelo Rini (COL) dec. #17/21 Julian Farber (UNI), 8-3
141 | Kai Owen (COL) pins #6/7 Cael Happel (UNI), 2:54
149 | Richard Fedalen (COL) pins Cael Rahnavardi (UNI), 1:15
157 | #12/12 Ryder Downey (UNI) maj. dec. Jaden Le (COL), 11-2
165 | Kyle Mosher (COL) pins RJ Weston (UNI), 3:11
174 | 26/13 Lennox Wolak (COL) dec. Jared Simma (UNI), 6-5
184 | #1/1 Parker Keckeisen (UNI) tech. falls #31/22 Aaron Ayzerov (COL), 25-5 (5:25)
197 | #27/33 Jack Wehmeyer maj. dec. Kalob Runyon (UNI), 13-5
285 | #9/12 Tyrell Gordon (UNI) pins Bill McChesney (COL), 2:48

UP NEXT
The Panthers will head to Nashville, Tennessee for the Collegiate Duals next Tuesday, December 19 to take on No. 5 Ohio State, No. 2 North Carolina State and Lock Haven beginning at 12 p.m. CT.