University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational
Keckeisen claims 184-pound title at Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational
12/2/2023 7:25:00 PM | Wrestling
Three Panthers medal in largest in-season open competition. UNI returns to action on Dec. 10 for first home dual against Columbia.
LAS VEGAS --- Parker Keckeisen became the first Panther to win a title at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational in the Doug Schwab era on Saturday afternoon, winning the 184-pound title to wrap up a successful weekend of action for UNI in the desert.
Keckeisen, ranked number one in the nation in both the Intermat and FloWrestling rankings, grabbed his 13th and 14th career wins over top-ten ranked opponents on Saturday, defeating No. 7/12 Lenny Pinto (Nebraska) in an 8-4 semifinal decision, before taking down No. 9/6 William Feldkamp (Iowa State) in a 14-4 major decision. Keckeisen has now won 20 consecutive regular season matches dating back to last season.
No. 9/17 Cael Happel (141 pounds) wrapped up his tournament with a fourth-place finish after dropping a match to #3/3 sophomore Lachlan Mcneil at North Carolina, Happel is now 7-2 for this season. Julian Farber (133 pounds) posted a strong finish against #31/21 Ethan Oakley (Appalachian State), snagging a last second take down with only three seconds left on the clock for a 10-9 decision to take seventh-place in his first appearance at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational.
ÂDAY ONE RECAP
All-American and top-ranked Parker Keckeisen (184 pounds) remained unbeaten on the year, cruising to three wins on Friday, which included a 13-3 major decision against No. 10/9 Gavin Kane (North Carolina) for his 13th career win over a top-ten ranked challenger. All seven of Keckeisen's victories this season have either come by fall or in bonus-point bouts. He will face off against No. 7/12 Lenny Pinto (Nebraska) tomorrow in the semifinals, carrying with him a 19-match winning streak in the regular season.
Trever Anderson earned his first pin of the season against Massey Odiotti (Northwestern) in just three minutes, forty seconds at 125 pounds, while Ryder Downey picked up his first two wins over a ranked opponent in his collegiate career against No. 10/12 Trevor Chumbley (Northwestern) and No. 16/15 Paddy Gallagher (Ohio State).
After falling to the consolation bracket in a loss to No. 8/11 Evan Frost (Iowa State), Julian Farber (133 pounds) grabbed a pair of consolation ranked wins over No. 27/NR Jacob Van Dee and No. 26/25 Gabe Whisenhunt (Oregon State). Cael Happel also grabbed a major decision win over a ranked challenger, defeating No. 32/NR Sergio Lemley (Michigan) in a 16-7 major decision.
Jared Simma (174 pounds) tied a career-high with 17 points scored in a 17-0 technical fall win over Blake Bahna before bowing out of the consolation bracket, while Wyatt Voelker (197 pounds) went 3-2 in his first appearance at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational. Jose Valdez (285 pounds) grabbed four wins in his Las Vegas debut.
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UP NEXT
The Panthers return to action on Sunday, Dec. 10 as they host Columbia in their first dual meet of the season. Competition is slated to begin at 2 p.m. CT inside the McLeod Center, with live coverage available on FloWrestling and CFU Channel 15. Single meet tickets can be purchased at UNIpanthers.com/tickets.
UNI RESULTS AT THE CLIFF KEEN LAS VEGAS OPEN (Intermat/FloWrestling rankings listed)
125 | Trever Anderson (1-2)
- L - 20/#30 Nico Provo (Stanford), 13-6Â
- W - Massey Odiotti (Northwestern), Fall 3:44
- L - Troy Sprately (Oklahoma State), 7-2
133 | NR/#22 Julian Farber (5-2) | 7th Place
- W - Cooper Birdwell (Wyoming), 9-6
- L - #8/11 Evan Frost (Iowa State) MD, 14-3
- W - Andrew Fallon (Sacred Heart), 2-1
- W - #27/NR Jacob Van Dee (Nebraska), 9-5
- W - #26/25 Gabe Whisenhunt (Oregon State), 14-1 MD
- L - #14/9 Domenic Zaccone (Campbell), 12-3 MD
- W - #31/21 Ethan Oakley (Appalachian State), 10-9
141 | #9/17 Cael Happel (4-2) | 4th PlaceÂ
- W - Kai Owen (Columbia), Fall 3:30
- W - #32/NR Sergio Lemley (Michigan), 16-7 MD
- L - #7/7 Ryan Jack (North Carolina State), 15-6 MD
- W - #19/30Â Anthony Echemendia (Iowa State), 9-3
- W - #4/4 - Brock Hardy (Nebraska), 15-13
- L - #3/3 Lachlan Mcneil (North Carolina), 6-3
149 | Adam Allard (0-2)
- L - #9/11 Jaden Abas (Stanford), 7-2
- L -Â Jayden Scott (North Carolina), 7-2
157 | Ryder Downey (2-2)
- W - #10/12 Trevor Chumbley (Northwestern), 8-2
- W - #16/15 Paddy Gallagher (Ohio State), 8-5
- L - #4/4 Jacori Teemer (Arizona State), 7-2
- L - #8/8 Ed Scott (North Carolina State), 4-1Â
165 | Evan Yant (1-2)
- L - #2/2 David Carr (Iowa State), 19-2 TFÂ
- W -Â Joseph Mcginty (Hofstra), 8-2
- L - #10/17 Antrell Taylor (Nebraska), 11- 3 MD
174 | Jared Simma (2-2)
- W - Riley Davis (Wyoming), 11-10
- L - #13/6 Adam Kemp (Cal Poly), 4-2Â
- W - Blake Bahna (Long Island ), 17-0 TFÂ
- L - Benny Baker (Cornell), 12-2 MD
184 | #1/1 Parker Keckeisen (5-0) | 1st Place
- W - Hunter Perez (Sacred Heart), Fall 6:57
- W -Â #33/NR Jacob Armstrong (Utah Valley), 20-5 TF
- W - #10/9 Gavin Kane (North Carolina), 13-3 MD
- W - #7/ 12 Lenny Pinto (Nebraska), 8-4Â
- W - #9/6 William Feldkamp (Iowa State), 14-4 MD
197 | #23/30 Wyatt Voelker (3-2)
- W - Nikolas Miller (Hofstra) 5-2
- L - #9/8 Jaxon Smith (Maryland), 4-3Â
- W - #27/ NR Carson Floyd (Appalachian State), 21-6 TFÂ
- W - #25/25 Julien Broderson (Iowa State), 6-1
- L - #12/11 Silas Allred (Nebraska), 19-3 TFÂ
285 | Jose Valdez (4-2)
- W - Luke Rasmussen (South Dakota State), 13-4 MD
- L - #16/21 Konner Doucet (Oklahoma State), 4-1Â
- W - Damion Schunke (Arizona State), 6-2
- W - Harley Andrews (Nebraska), 3-2
- W - Nolan Neves (Columbia), 2-1
- L - #17/18 Nick Feldman (Ohio State), 19-2 TF
Players Mentioned
