University of Northern Iowa Athletics
UNI wrestling: Lance Runyon earns NCAA at-large berth
3/11/2025 2:07:00 PM | Wrestling
Panthers will have ten wrestlers competing at next week’s NCAA Championships for the first time in 39 years.
INDIANAPOLIS --- The NCAA on Tuesday announced its 2025 Division I wrestling at-large qualifiers with UNI's Lance Runyon announced as part of the 33-man bracket at heavyweight.
The selection of Runyon as one of four at-large Big 12 selections at heavyweight marks the first time since the 1985-86 season where the Panthers will be represented in all ten weight classes at the national championships. Northern Iowa earned nine automatic qualifiers via pre-allocated spots over the weekend at the Big 12 Championships in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Runyon, a redshirt senior from Pleasant Hill, Iowa, placed seventh at the Big 12 Championships on Sunday in his first season competing in the heavyweight class. Posting a 19-6 record with an 8-3 dual record this year, Runyon will make his third NCAA Championship appearance after previously qualifying at 174 pounds in 2021 as an at-large selection, and in 2022 after a sixth-place showing at the Big 12 Championships. He notably posted 12 bonus-point victories this season with five major decision wins, two technical fall victories and five pins with seven wins over top-30 ranked opponents.
Seeding and brackets for the 2025 NCAA Championships in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania will be announced during the annual tournament selection show on Wednesday night beginning at 7 p.m. CT on NCAA.com.
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UNI's 2025 NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFIERS
- 125 | Trever Anderson (7th at Big 12s / 1st NCAA appearance)
- 133 | Julian Farber (3rd at Big 12s / 2nd NCAA appearance)
- 141 | Cael Happel (1st at Big 12s / 3rd NCAA appearance)
- 149 | Colin Realbuto (2nd at Big 12s / 3rd NCAA appearance)
- 157 | Ryder Downey (3rd at Big 12s / 2nd NCAA appearance)
- 165 | Jack Thomsen (7th at Big 12s / 2nd NCAA appearance)
- 174 | Jared Simma (6th at Big 12s / 2nd NCAA appearance)
- 184 | Parker Keckeisen (1st at Big 12s / 5th NCAA appearance)
- 197 | Wyatt Voelker (1st at Big 12s / 2nd NCAA appearance)
- HWT | Lance Runyon (7th at Big 12s / 3rd NCAA appearance)
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
