University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
Jim Koch Open
Panther wrestlers rack up five titles at Jim Koch Open
12/2/2023 8:05:00 PM | Wrestling
UNI secures 24 bonus point victories in 35 match wins. Panthers return home for Dec. 10 home dual against Columbia.
KENOSHA, Wisc. --- UNI wrestling claimed five championships on Saturday afternoon as the Panthers competed at the Jim Koch Open in eastern Wisconsin, their first appearance at the event since 2018.
In just their second all-time appearance at the tournament, the Panthers posted a combined record of 37-14 with 11 pins and 24 bonus point victories. Northern Iowa has now recorded a combined record of 78-20 with 20 falls and eight titles in its last two trips to the Jim Koch Open.
Bringing home the title at 141 pounds, Connor Thorpe notched two significant major decision victories, improving his record to 5-2 for the season. At 157 pounds, RJ Weston cruised to the top spot on the podium with three falls and a technical fall win, his second open title of the season.
Jack Thomsen and freshman Izzy Moreno shared the podium at 165 pounds after tying for the 165-pound title, while freshman CJ Walrath dominated the 184-pound competition, scoring a pair of pins and one major decision for his second open title this year.
Garret Rinken came up just short of a championship at 125 pounds, opening the day with his first career fall against Anthony Isek. Cael Rahnavardi earned himself a place in the finals before ultimately just falling short to Theo Cha of Minnesota. Rahnavardi improves to 6-2 on the season. Kalob Runyun (197 pounds) finished with a tie for first-place as well, earning a major decision victory, paired with a three minute, 46 second pin of Jeremiah Larson (Maryville) in his opening bout.
In the 125-pound field, Bowen Downey notched his first pin of his collegiate career against Sam Shafer (Maryville) in three minutes, 40 seconds to tie for fifth-place, while Brandon Paez grabbed an 11-2 major decision over Jason Strope (McKendree) en route to a tie for third-place. Kalab Olejniczak (157 pounds) picked up his second pin of the year in four minutes, 47 seconds against Noah Villarreal (McKendree) to tie for third, as Adam Ahrendsen (197 pounds) grabbed his fourth fall of the season in a win over Monterial Johnson.
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 (Intermat/FloWrestling rankings listed)
125 | Bowen Downey (2-3) | 6th Place
- L - Brandon Movari (Minnesota), 3-2
- W - Quincy Hulverson (Minnesota), 9-0 MD
- W - Sam Shafer (Maryville), Fall 3:40
- L - Brandon Paez (UNI), 3-2
- L, Brandon Movari (Minnesota), 605
125 | Garret Rinken (3-1) | 2nd Place
- W - Anthony Isek (Unattached), 7:00 Fall
- W - Quincy Hulverson (Minnesota), 9-2
- W - Caelen Riley (Illinois), 6-1
- L - Shane Corrigan (UW-Parkside), 15-4 MD
125 | Brandon Paez (2-2) | 4th Place
- W - Jason Strope (McKendree), 11-2 MD
- L - Shane Corrigan (UW-Parkside), 8-6
- W - Bowen Downey (UNI), 3-2
- L - Caelen Riley (Illinois), 8-3
141 | Connor Thorpe (3-0) | 1st Place
- W - Ashton Anderson (Findlay), 10-6
- W - Troy Dolphin (UW-Parkside), 13-1 MD
- W - Rhett Koening (Minnesota), 11-2 MD
149 | Cael Rahnavardi (3-1) | 2nd Place
- W - Jayden Schwartz (Davenport), 16-4 MD
- W - Charlie Fifield (Illinois), 1-0
- W - Jalen Spuhler (UW-Parkside), 5-1
- L - Theo Cha (Minnesota), 5:59 Fall
157 | #32/31 RJ Weston (4-0) | 1st Place
- W - Jamarco Moore (Davenport), 2:55 Fall
- W - Braeden Scoles (Illinois), 6:02 Fall
- W - Kaleb Olejniczak (UNI), 18-1 TF
- W - Ben Durocher (UW-Parkside), 1:46 Fall
157 | Kaleb Olejniczak (3-2) | 4th Place
- W - Noah Villarreal (McKendree), 4:47 Fall
- W - Logan Swaw (Illinois), 7-3
- L - RJ Weston (UNI), 18-1 TF
- W - Bailey Thelen (UW-Parkside), 19-4 TF
- L - Braeden Scoles (Illinois), 11-5
165 | #33/NR Jack Thomsen (3-0) | T1st Place
- W - Cole Ritter (Maryville), 16-4 MD
- W - Cooper Wettig (Illinois), MFF
- W - Brady Schuh (UW-Parkside), 10-2 MD
165 | Izzy Moreno (3-0) | T1st Place
- W - Lowell Arnold (UW-Parkside), 18-1 TF
- W - Cory Peterson (McKendree), 8-3
- W - Time Stapleton (Minnesota), 16-1 TF
165 | Wade Mitchell (1-2)
- W - Evan Morris (Maryville), 2:38 Fall
- L - Tim Stapleton (Minnesota), 7-4
- L - Cole Ritter (Maryville), 8-5
184 | CJ Walrath (3-0) | T1st Place
- W - Ridge Schutte (McKendree), 3:56 Fall
- W - Bradley Mayse (Unattached-Grand Valley State), 2:29 Fall
- W - Brayden Mirjavadi (Unattached-Grand Valley State), 15-3 MD
197 | Kalob Runyon (2-0) | T1st Place
- W - Jeremiah Larson (Maryville), 3:42 Fall
- W - Chase Stegall (UW-Parkside), 10-0 MD
197 | Adam Ahrendsen (5-1) | 3rd Place
- W - Tunde Oroye (UW-Parkside), 6-3
- L - John Gunderson (Unattached), 12-0 MD
- W - Kaden Hooker (UW-Parkside), Inj. default
- W - Monterial Johnson (Unattached), 6:50 Fall
- W - Chase Stegall (UW-Parkside), 8-7
- W - Joseph Braunagel (Illinois), 21-15
197 | Drew Fox (0-2)
- L - Monterail Johnson (Unattached), 7-2
- L - Michael Tal-Shahar (Wisconsin), 4-1
Players Mentioned
