Panther wrestling: Three medal at U23 Nationals and U20 World Team Trials

GENEVA, Ohio --- Thirteen athletes associated with the UNI wrestling team took to the mats over the weekend in northeast Ohio, competing at USA Wrestling U23 National Championships and U20 World Team Trials for the Panther Wrestling Club.

Competing in U20 freestyle competition, rising redshirt sophomore Nick Fox earned a second-place finish in the 86-kilogram bracket as the two-seed, as Cameron Geuther took third in U20 Greco-Roman action at 125 kilograms, while rising redshirt senior Connor Thorpe placed fifth to earn All-American status in the 65-kilogram field in U23 national freestyle competition.

Fox, who posted a 19-6 record this past season with open tournament titles at the Cyclone and Loras Opens, opened his weekend with a 9-3 decision over Anders Thompson (Oklahoma RTC) in the semifinal round. Facing off against top-seeded Aeoden Sinclair (Tiger Style WC), Fox would come up short in an 11-0 TF loss.

Geuther, a Manchester, Iowa native and West Delaware High School product, dropped his opening Greco-Roman bout to Torin Forsyth (Kansas) in a 2-2 decision, but quickly bounced back with an 8-3 win over Kaden Darwin (Arkansas RTC). In the third-place match, Guether made quick work of his challenger, pinning Cameron Groncki (Curby 3 WC) in just 56 seconds.

Thorpe, who went 15-9 in 2024-25 for the Panthers, rattled off four straight wins to begin his 2025 national championships with technical falls over Zimani Malomboza (Warrior RTC), Aldo Hernandez (Boone RTC) and Jordan Soriano (Dragon WC) before pinning Rhett Koenig (Minnesota RTC) in just over two minutes.

After a loss to Vince Conella (Spartan Combat WC/Titan Mercury WC), Thorpe bounced back with an impressive come-from-behind victory against Ryan Jack, a three-time NCAA qualifier and 2024 NCAA All-American and Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) champion, rallying from down 12-6 for a 22-12 technical fall. Following a 9-6 win over Jarvis Little (Boone RTC) and loss to Nash Singleton (Beaver Dam RTC), Thorpe would finish his tournament with a 16-5 technical fall win over Tahir Parkins (SKWC) in the fifth-place bout.

Rising redshirt sophomore Garret Rinken also made a run into the U23 freestyle quarterfinals, winning his first three bouts against Teagan Block (Wolves WC), Sam Cherichello (Charleston RTC) and Drew Heethuis (New Jersey RTC).

Full results from Panther Wrestling Club athletes are listed below.

FULL RESULTS (Panther Wrestling Club)

U23 Freestyle Nationals

Bowen Downey [57kg] - DNP (5-2)

W - Zane Donley (Beaver WC), 10-0 TF (1:24)
L - Colby McBride (Boone RTC), 6-3
W - Nicholas Gonzalez (Air Force RTC), 12-2 TF (2:39)
W - Isiac Paulino (Nole Wrestling RTC), 10-0 TF (4:20)
W - Travis Clawson (Clarion RTC), MFF
W - Ashton Jackson (Boilermaker RTC), 10-0 TF (1:28)
L - Drew Davis (Southern Illinois RTC), 16-10

Garret Rinken [61 kg] - DNP (3-2)

W - Teagan Block (Wolves WC), 16-5 TF (5:15)
W - Sam Cherichello (Charleston RTC), 11-0 TF (1:57)
W - Drew Heethuis (New Jersey RTC), 12-8
L - Logan Frazier (Indiana RTC), Fall 4:19
L - Troy Hohman (Wolfpack WC), 10-0 TF (2:35)

Julian Farber [61 kg] - DNP (4-2)

W - Elijah Lowe (RTC South), 12-0 TF (3:40)
W - Kasey Curtus (Brunson UVRTC), 14-2 TF (4:26)
L - Evan Tallmadge (Pittsburgh Wrestling Club), 6-5
W - Christian Guzman (Cardinal WC), 16-10
W - TK Davis (Bulldog Elite), DQ
L - Sam Smithy (Cowboy RTC/Titan Mercury WC), 12-1 TF (3:42)

Max Brady [65 kg] - DNP (5-2)

W - Dario Lemus (DMV RTC), 14-4 T (2:35)
W - Matthew Hart (Indiana RTC), 6-0
L - Ayden Garver (Beaver Dam Wrestling RTC), 9-7
W - Michael Pizzuto (DMV RTC), 10-0 TF (0:52)
W - Nikolaus O'Neill (Tar Heel WC), 12-10
W - Rhett Koenig (Minnesota RTC), 10-0 TF (4:17)
L - Tahir Parkins (SKWC), 10-0 TF (0:29)

Connor Thorpe [65 kg] - 5th Place (7-3)

W - Zimani Malomboza (Warrior RTC), 10-0 TF (0:49)
W - Aldo Hernandez (Boone RTC), 12-1 TF (2:07)
W - Jordan Soriano (Dragon WC), 14-4 TF (4:01)
W - Rhett Koenig (Minnesota RTC), Fall 2:01
L - Vince Cornella (Spartan Combat WC/Titan Mercury WC), 10-0 TF (0:52)
W - Ryan Jack (Wolfpack WC), 22-12 TF (4:55)
W - Jarvis Little (Boone RTC), 9-6
L - Nash Singleton (Beaver Dam RTC), 11-0 TF (1:08)
W - Tahir Parkins (SKWC), 16-5 TF (2:43)

Cael Rahnavardi [74 kg] - DNP (3-2)

W - Mason Wagner (Lion's Den WC), 12-1 TF (1:11)
L - Braeden Scoles (Illinois RTC), 12-2 TF (2:03)
W - Vinne Abbey (Warrior RTC), 12-1 TF (2:09)
W - Hunter Song (Missouri), 12-1 TF (1:59)
L - Hayden Watson (Charleston RTC), 11-9

CJ Walrath [86 kg] - DNP (2-1)

W - Fernando Villascusa (Cyclone RTC), Fall 0:47
L - Brayden Thompson (Cowboy RTC/Titan Mercury WC), 3-1
W - Kasey Ross (Burg Training Center), 7-2
L - Alton Mullinax (Spar), MFF

Carson Babcock [92 kg] - DNP (4-2)

W - Peyton Lemon (Eagles WC), 5-2
W - Max Shulaw (Cavalier WC), 11-1 TF (5:09)
L - Rune Lawrence (Pennsylvania), 8-6
W - Reid Schroeder (West Point WC), 13-2 TF (4:10)
W - Gunner Henry (Indiana), 8-2
L - Conor Maskanek (Buies Creek WC), 5-0

Cameron Geuther [125 kg] - DNP (2-2)

W - Keagan Martin (Boilermaker RTC), 11-0 TF (2:01)
L - Jarrett Stoner (Tiger Style WC), 8-5
W - Dawson Bundy (NLWC/TMWC), 15-2 TF (4:59)
L - Connor Barket (Indiana), 15-4 TF (3:00)

Adam Ahrendsen [125 kg] - DNP (3-2)

W - Max Balow (Viking RTC), 9-0
W - Hayden Filipovich (Boilermaker RTC), 0-0 VIN (3:41)
L - Brentan Simmerman (Golden Pride WC), Fall 5:33
W - Torin Forsyth (Kansas), 12-6
L - Connor Barket (Indiana), 10-0 TF (1:20)

U20 Freestyle World Team Trials

Jace Hedeman [61 kg] - DNP (0-2)

L - Dale Corbin (Wyoming Seminary College Prep), 5-4
L - Jackson Blum (Indiana RTC), 5-1

Carter Freeman [65 kg] - DNP (0-2)

L - Daniel Zepeda (Daniel Cormier Academy), 11-0 TF (2:15)
L - Smokey McClure (Brunson UVRTC), 9-3

Nick Fox [86 kg] - 2nd Place (1-1)

W - Anders Thompson (Oklahoma RTC), 9-3
L - Aeoden Sinclair (Tiger Style WC), 11-0 TF (4:14)

Grant Stromberg [125 kg] - DNP (3-2)

W - Shilo Jones (Bison WC), 6-0
W - Trayvn Boger (Protos WC), 10-0 TF (1:02)
W - Richard Thomas (Oklahoma RTC), 8-7
L - Dreshaun Ross (Sebolt Wrestling Academy), 10-0 TF (0:53)
L - Michael Mocco (ATT/Mocco Wrestling Academy), 14-3 TF (4:54)

U20 Greco-Roman World Team Trials

Cameron Geuther [125 kg] - 3rd Place (2-1)

L - Torin Forsyth (Kansas), 2-2
W - Kaden Darwin (Arkansas RTC), 8-3
W - Cameron Groncki (Curby 3 WC), Fall 0:56

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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