UNI wrestling: Voelker and Gunderson represent Team USA at World Championships

TIRANA, Albania --- UNI wrestlers Wyatt Voelker and John Gunderson represented the United States this past week at the United World Wrestling (UWW) U23 World Championships in Albania.

Voelker, a redshirt sophomore and Manchester, Iowa native competing in the 97-kilogram Greco-Roman competition, faced off against Christos Chatsatourov of Greece in the qualifying rounds, but ultimately fell by a 6-4 score. This year marked Voelker's second straight World Championship appearance after clinching the U23 national title this past summer in Ohio. He previously placed fifth in the 87-kilogram Greco-Roman bracket at the 2023 U20 World Championships in Jordan.

Gunderson, a Baraboo, Wisconsin native wrestling in the 86-kilogram freestyle competition, opened his World Championships with a win over Emre Ciftci of Turkey on advantage of classification points, before falling to Arslan Bagaev (Independent) by an 11-0 score. The Panther senior bounced back in his first repechage match with a 7-5 victory over Miko Elkala of Finland by a score of 7-5, before falling just short of reaching the bronze medal match in a loss to Georgia's Vladimeri Gamkrelidze, 5-0.

Both Voelker and Gunderson will return to action as the UNI wrestling team opens to the 2024-25 season on Saturday, Nov. 16 at the Grand View Open.

Panther fans can purchase new season tickets, as well as single dual tickets for the upcoming year of action on the mat through unipanthers.com, or by contacting the UNI Ticket Office at 319-273-4849 or by email at tickets@uni.edu.

FULL RESULTS

WYATT VOELKER (97 kg | Greco-Roman)

L - Christos Chatsatourov (Greece) | 6-4 VPO1

JOHN GUNDERSON (86 kg | Freestyle)

W - Emre Ciftci (Turkey) | 11-11
L - Arslan Bagaev (Independent) | 11-0 VSU
W - Miko Elkala (Finland) | 7-5 VPO1
L - Vladimeri Gamkrelidze (Georgia) | 5-0 VPO

UNI wrestling action can be followed all season long on social media on Facebook (University of Northern Iowa Wrestling), X (@UNI_wrestling) and on Instagram (@uni_panther_wrestling). Check out the latest Panther news and information online at UNIpanthers.com.

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