University of Northern Iowa
Sacred Heart
UNI wrestling cruises past Sacred Heart, Ohio on opening day of NWCA National Dual Championships
1/10/2025 2:18:00 PM | Wrestling
Panthers pin five opponents with 15 bonus point wins in two duals. UNI to face Northern Colorado in semifinals on Saturday.
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- The UNI wrestling opened the 2025 National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Multi-Division National Dual Meet Championships in dominating fashion on Friday, rolling past the Sacred Heart Pioneers by a score of 38-7, and the Ohio Bobcats by a 48-3 score.
Northern Iowa racked up 15 bonus point victories in its first two duals of the two-day event, including five pins to advance to the semifinal round on Saturday morning.
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HOW IT HAPPENED vs. SACRED HEART
After No. 32 Trever Anderson (125 pounds) began the day with a victory by forfeit, Julian Farber took on Jacob Ice at 133 pounds. With a first period takedown and four nearfall back points, Farber grabbed an early lead and secured riding time as part of a commanding 16-1 technical fall win.Â
No. 5 Cael Happel battled against Andrew Fallon at 141 pounds and grabbed a quick lead in the first period, earning a takedown before letting Fallon up for an escape. After earning a penalty point, Happel gave up another escape in the beginning of the second period before scoring three takedowns to cruise past Fallon in a 19-4 technical fall.
No. 17 Colin Realbuto kept the momentum rolling for the Panthers at 149 pounds as he took on Daniel Delusant. With a pair of first period takedowns Realbuto held control finishing on top with a 16-11 regular decision victory after a late rally from Delusant.
Cael Rahnavardi battled Felix Lettini at 157 pounds, earning an early lead with an early takedown. Rahnavardi finished the second period with a rideout, earned a third period escape and would earn riding time for a 5-1 decision.Â
No. 21 Jack Thomsen dominated at 165 pounds against Calvin Pineda with a pin in two minutes, twenty three seconds, his second fall of the season, his third as a Panther and seventh of his career.Â
Nick Fox would take on Aidan Zarrella at 174 pounds. Giving up the first takedown, Fox would pull even with Zarella before ultimately coming up short in a 5-3 loss.
No. 2 Parker Keckeisen (184 pounds) cruised through his first match of the day with a 19-3 technical fall over Hunter Perez with three third period takedowns, an escape, as well as riding time to improve to 10-0 on the season. At 197 pounds, No. 15 Wyatt Voelker continued the momentum earning another technical fall for the Panthers against Kevin Taylor by a 20-4 score. Voelker now holds seven technical fall victories in his career for the Panthers and 17 career bonus point wins.Â
Wrapping up the opening dual of the day, Adam Ahrendsen battled Brendan Gilchrist at heavyweight, giving up an early takedown. Ahrendsen would come back with an escape in the second period for a 5-3, but would fall behind by giving up a takedown and back points to Gilchrist, falling by a 14-6 score.
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HOW IT HAPPENED vs. OHIO
Anderson (125 pounds), the reigning Big 12 Wrestler of the Week, kicked off UNI's second dual of the day with an impressive win over Logan Dean, securing a pin in four minutes, twenty-four seconds. The fall marked Anderson fourth pin of the year and seventh of his career.
At 133 pounds, Farber took on TJ England with a dominating 20-2 technical fall victory. Finishing the match in the third period with a pair of takedowns and four nearfall points Farber earned his fifth bonus point victory of the season and fifth technical fall of his Panther career.Â
Happel kept Northern Iowa's strong start rolling at 141 pounds, scoring two first period takedowns en route to a 21-4 technical fall rout of Kaden Jett. Happel has now recorded four technical falls this year and eight for his career.
Realbuto (149 pounds) snagged a first period takedown on Jake Necessary, but would quickly flip the script and pin his opponent in just 85 seconds for his first pin in the last two seasons. Fourth-ranked Ryder Downey (157 pounds) would pick up another Panther technical fall against Logan Cravatas, finishing with an 18-2 score.Â
At 165 pounds, Thomsen dominated right from the opening whistle with two takedowns of Jack Lledo in his second bout of the day. After securing two more takedowns later in the match, Thomsen earned a riding time point to secure a major decision victory, 13-4 for UNI's sixth straight bonus point win..Â
No. 16 Jared Simma would get a top-ten challenger in No. 7 Garrett Thompson at 174 pounds in his first match of the weekend. After a scoreless first period, Thompson cracked the scoreboard with a second period escape before Simma evened the match at 1-1 with his own escape before Thompson scurred in for a takedown and a 4-1 lead. With 12 seconds remaining in the match, Simma flurried for a two-point reversal but would come up short 4-3 loss.
Keckeisen (184 pounds) continued his hot streak win an 18-2 technical fall with over Jeremy Olszko, his second of the day. At 197 pounds, Voelker would grab an early lead on Austin Starr before pinning his opponent 25 seconds into the third period for his fifth fall of the season.
No. 16 Lance Runyon would close out the day in style for the Panthers against No. 27 Jordan Greer at heavyweight. After securing an early takedown, Runyon stuck Greer in a cradle and secured a pin with eight seconds left on the clock in the first period, closing out UNI's impressive first day of action.
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UP NEXT
The Panthers will take on Northern Colorado in Saturday's semifinal round beginning at 11 a.m. CT on mat five inside the UNI-Dome. Live coverage can also be found on FloWrestling with live results on TrackWrestling.
Tickets can be purchased online through the UNI Ticket Office, by calling 319-273-4849 or through email at tickets@uni.edu.
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FINAL RESULTS (Intermat / FloWrestling rankings listed)
No. 7 UNI 38, SACRED HEART 7
- 125 | #32/23 Trever Anderson (UNI) def. Unknown (SHU), FF
- 133 | Julian Farber (UNI) tech falls Jacob Ice (SHU), 17-1 TF
- 141 | #5/5 Cael Happel (UNI) tech falls Andrew Fallon, 19-4 TF
- 149 | #17/15 Colin Realbuto (UNI) dec. Daniel Delusant (SHU), 17-11
- 157 | Cael Rahnavardi (UNI) dec. Felix Lettini (SHU), 5-1
- 165 | #21/18 Jack Thomsen (UNI) pins Calvin Pineda (SHU), Fall 2:23
- 174 | Aidan Zarrella (SHU) dec. Nick Fox (UNI), 5-3
- 184 | #2/2 Parker Keckeisen (UNI) tech falls Hunter Perez (SHU), 19-3 TF
- 197 | #15/13 Wyatt Voelker (UNI) tech falls Kevin Taylor (SHU), 20-4 TF
- HWT | Brendan Gilchrist (SHU) maj. dec. Adam Ahrendsen (UNI), 14-6 MD
No. 7 UNI 48, OHIO 3
- 125 | #32/23 Trever Anderson (UNI) pins Logan Dean (OHIO), Fall 6:24
- 133 | Julian Farber (UNI) tech falls TJ England (OHIO), 20-2 TF
- 141 | #5/5 Cael Happel (UNI) tech falls Kaden Jett (OHIO), 21-4 TF
- 149 | #17/15 Colin Realbuto (UNI) pins Jake Necessary (Ohio), Fall 1:25
- 157 | #4/4 Ryder Downey (UNI) tech falls Logan Cravatas (Ohio), 18-2 TF
- 165 | #21/18 Jack Thomsen (UNI) maj. dec. Jack Lledo (Ohio), 13-4 MD
- 174 | #7/9 Garrett Thompson (OHIO) dec. #17/16 Jared Simma (UNI), 4-3
- 184 | #2/2 Parker Keckeisen (UNI) tech falls Jeremy Olszko (OHIO), 18-2 TF
- 197 | #15/13 Wyatt Voelker (UNI) pins Austin Starr (OHIO), Fall 5:25
- HWT | #16/17 Lance Runyon (UNI) pins #27/27 Jordan Greer (OHIO), Fall 2:52
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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.
Players Mentioned
