University of Northern Iowa
Iowa State
Panthers, Cyclones set to collide in senior day wrestling dual
2/15/2025 11:25:00 AM | Wrestling
UNI hosts in-state rival Iowa State with ten seniors set to be recognized. Tickets available for purchase.
No. 4 UNI wrestling (12-1 / 6-1 Big 12) vs. No. 14 Iowa State (11-4 / 5-1 Big 12)
- 1 p.m. CT | Feb. 16, 2025
- McLeod Center | Cedar Falls, Iowa
- FloWrestling / CFU Channel 15 (Jeff Bradley: Play-by-Play / Jim Miller: Analyst)
- LIVE RESULTS (TrackWrestling)
- TICKETS
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- Days after earning its highest national team ranking in 37 years, the fourth-ranked UNI wrestling team will take to the mat inside the McLeod Center for the final time this season as the Panthers battle in-state conference rival and 14th ranked Iowa State on Sunday afternoon.
Competition is slated to begin at 1 p.m. CT with live coverage of Sunday's dual available on FloWrestling and CFU Channel 15 with Jeff Bradley and Jim Miller on the call. Live results can also be found online through TrackWrestling. In anticipation of high attendance, doors will open to fans 90 minutes prior to the dual.
Tickets can be purchased online through the UNI Ticket Office, by calling 319-273-4849 or through email at tickets@uni.edu.
As part of UNI's senior day celebration, the Panthers will honor their senior class prior to the start of their final home competition. This year's senior class includes Evan Yant, Wade Mitchell, Kaleb Olejniczak, Adam Allard, Colin Realbuto, Cael Happel, Kyle Gollhofer, Lance Runyon, Parker Keckeisen and student manager Hunter Philpott.
Iowa State leads the all-time series 62-20 and has won the previous six matchups. The Panthers last win over the Cyclones came in Feb. 2019 at home, 22-13. Iowa State bested UNI in Ames last season, 27-14.
Northern Iowa earned five bonus point victories and eight total wins in its last outing, a 33-6 rout of North Dakota State in Fargo last Saturday. Sitting at 12-1 overall and 6-1 in Big 12 duals, UNI will look to reach 13 wins for the first time since going a perfect 13-0 in 2013-14.
The Panthers come in ranked fourth in the National Wrestling Coaches Association's (NWCA) weekly rankings, its highest mark since 1988. Iowa State meanwhile opened the season ranked sixth, but have fallen to 14th.
Sunday's dual is expected to see a handful of competitive rematches, including at 133 pounds with Julian Farber and No. 4 Evan Frost. Cael Happel (141 pounds) looks to stay unbeaten all-time against No. 9 Jacob Frost, while Colin Realbuto is expected to face off with sixth-ranked Paniro Johnson at 149 pounds. Ryder Downey and Cody Chittum (157 pounds) are expected to face off in a rematch of last year's Big 12 title bout, as Parker Keckeisen (184 pounds) takes on No. 10 Evan Bockman, a Utah Valley transfer who he defeated at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational earlier this season.
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Panthers in the rankings [NCAA] (Intermat/FloWrestling) [As of 2/13/25]
- 125 | Trever Anderson [29] (#29/22)
- 133 | Julian Farber [19] (#17/22)
- 141 | Cael Happel [4] (#4/5)
- 149 | Colin Realbuto [10] (#15/10)
- 157 | Ryder Downey [3] (#5/5)
- 165 | Jack Thomsen [19] (#20/19)
- 174 | Jared Simma [15] (#19/17)
- 184 | Parker Keckeisen [2] (#2/2)
- 197 | Wyatt Voelker [11] (#13/11)
- HWT | Lance Runyon [14] (#14/14)
SCOUTING IOWA STATE
The reigning Big 12 Conference champion Cyclones visit Cedar Falls in the second of a three dual road trip to close out the regular season. Iowa State defeated No. 11 South Dakota State on Friday by a score of 20-15 and will visit No. 25 Missouri on Feb. 22.
Iowa State has won its last five duals against UNI dating back to 2020 by an average margin of 5.6 team points. UNI's last victory over the Cyclones came on Feb. 21, 2019 at home, 22-13.
The Cyclones return seven of their nine NCAA qualifiers from last season including reigning conference champions Anthony Echemendia (141 pounds), who has since moved up to 149 pounds, and Younger Bastida (heavyweight). ISU placed fourth at the national championships in Kansas City last March, its best finish since placing third in 2010 in Omaha.
Head coach Kevin Dresser is in his eighth season with Iowa State, closing in on 100 dual wins with the Cyclones. Dresser, the reigning Big 12 Coach of the Year, spent 11 seasons as the head coach at Virginia Tech, having produced eight Big 12 champions, 13 All-Americans and two NCAA champions.
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PROJECTED MATCHUPS [NCAA] (Intermat / FloWrestling rankings listed)
- 125 | [29] #29/22 Trever Anderson (UNI) OR Kyle Gollhofer (UNI) vs. Ethan Perryman (ISU)
- 133 | [19] #17/22 Julian Farber (UNI) vs. [4] #5/5 Evan Frost (ISU)
- 141 | [4] #4/5 Cael Happel (UNI) vs. [9] #11/9 Jacob Frost (ISU)
- 149 | [10] #15/10 Colin Realbuto (UNI) vs. [6] #6/6 Paniro Johnson (ISU)
- 157 | [3] #4/4 Ryder Downey (UNI) vs. [8] #11/10 Cody Chittum (ISU) OR Carter Fousek (ISU)
- 165 | [19] #20/19 Jack Thomsen (UNI) vs. Aiden Riggins (ISU)
- 174 | [15] 19/17 Jared Simma (UNI) OR Nick Fox (UNI) vs. [23] #17/25 MJ Gaitan (ISU)
- 184 | [2] #2/2 Parker Keckeisen (UNI) vs. [11] #10/14 Evan Bockman (ISU) OR Caleb Helgeson (ISU)
- 197 | [11] #12/12 Wyatt Voelker (UNI) OR Kalob Runyon (UNI) vs. Nate Schon (ISU)
- HWT | [14] #15/15 Lance Runyon (UNI) OR Adam Ahrendsen (UNI) vs. [28] #27/30 Daniel Herrera (ISU)
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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
