UNI wrestling repeats at NWCA national dual champions

Saturday, January 10

Cedar Falls, Iowa

9 a.m.

University of Northern Iowa

Bloomsburg

Photo by: Allyson Schwab

UNI wrestling repeats at NWCA national dual champions

1/10/2026 6:22:00 PM | Wrestling

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Panthers top Bloomsburg, Drexel and No. 8 South Dakota State to cap undefeated weekend inside the UNI-Dome.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- The 17th ranked UNI wrestling team successfully defended its National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA)/USMC Division I Men's National Dual Meet title on Saturday, picking up wins over Bloomsburg, Drexel and No. 8 South Dakota State inside the UNI-Dome.

Capping an undefeated weekend with five total dual victories, Northern Iowa rolled past the Dragons by a score of 42-6, followed by a 22-16 victory against Drexel. The Panthers' final dual of the weekend came down to the final bout at heavyweight with UNI prevailing for a 20-14 win over its Big 12 Conference rival in the Jackrabbits.

HOW IT HAPPENED vs. BLOOMSBURG
Trever Anderson defeated Gavin Martin at 125 pounds with technical fall victory. After fighting off Martin's strong defence, Anderson was able to lock in a title for back points securing the 16-0 match. Garret Rinken rallied with the tech fall win, earning a 19-1 victory over Gavin Mundy at 133 pounds.

Cory Land brought the heat over Richie Woods at 141 pounds. Sweeping in for a takedown in the first thirty seconds of the match, Land brought Woods to his back pinning him in the first period. At 149 pounds Caleb Rathjen earned a 14-3 major decision over Jay Chase, keeping the momentum rolling for the Panthers after clinching the first takedown of the match.

Cael Rahnavardi went head-to-head against William Morrow at 157 pounds. Following a scoreless first period, Rahnavardi fought out from bottom to secure an escape in the second. Starting on top in the third, Rahnavardi rode Morrow for the entire period to win 2-0.

At 165 pounds, Jack Thomsen dominated with fast pace against Vasilios Dimou with a 18-0 tech fall victory. Izzy Moreno received a forfeit for the Panthers at 174 pounds, while at 184 pounds, CJ Walrath battled Connor Hudak. After clinching the first takedown, Walrath earned five more points during the second period en route to the 22-5 technical fall victory.

Carson Babcock controlled the 197 pound bout versus Coy Raines, securing a 4-1 victory, defending rapid attacks from Raines in the third period. In the heavyweight match-up, Grant Stromberg would come up short against Mason Rebuck after getting pinned in the second period.

HOW IT HAPPENED vs. DREXEL
Anderson dropped his bout to Desmond Pleassant, 8-5 at 125 pounds, while Farber picked up a 17-0 technical fall over No. 33 Kyle Waterman at 133 pounds. At 141 pounds, Cory Land fell to Jordan Soriano, 10-8 in a tight match after giving up a takedown in the final seconds.

With over six minutes of riding time, Ethan Basile held a strong offensive edge against Deon Pleasant at 149 pounds. Earning four near fall points in the first period, Basile earns three additional back points in the second period. With three more near fall points, Basile fought off strong attacks from Pleasant in the last seconds of the match to secure the 14-0 major decision victory. At 157 pounds, Rahnavardi dropped his bout against Luke Nichter, 13-5.

Downey battled back after conceding a first period takedown to defeat Cody Welsh, 12-5 at 165 pounds. Jared Simma defeated ranked challenger No. 18 Jasiah Queen 5-3 at 174 pounds, while Nick Fox picked up a 9-1 major decision victory over Ethan Wilson at 184 pounds.

Wrapping up the action for the Panthers, John Gunderson brought the energy against Ibrahim Ameer for his first dual win of the season and his first career victory over a ranked opponent. Coming out with a takedown in the first thirty second Gunderson maintained his lead to finish 8-2 at 197 pounds.

HOW IT HAPPENED vs. SOUTH DAKOTA STATE
Bowen Downey fell to No. 21 Brady Roark at 125 pounds, 6-2, while Farber controlled his match to defeat Cael Seaton 12-6.

Freshman Max Brady makes his collegiate dual debut for the Panthers at 141 pounds defeating No. 15 Julian Tagg. The pair each grabbed a takedown in the first period tying the score 4-4 into the second. Giving up an escape, Brady got a pair of takedowns sending him into a 10-7 lead. Brady got an escape, but gave up a takedown, defending off shot attempts from Tagg Brady finished the match with a 12-10 victory.

At 149 pounds, Basile continued the momentum with an impressive offensive performance against Logan Swensen earning a 15-0 technical fall victory in the second period. Rahanvardi dropped his bout at 157 pounds against No. 20 Cael Swensen, falling 19-4.

Ryder Downey swept through his match up against Jecob Herm earning a 7-0 victory at 165 pounds. At 184 pounds Izzy Moreno dropped his match 7-2 against No. 16 Moses Espinoza-Owens.

At 184 pounds, Nick Fox put up a strong third period finish over Brock Fettig earning a 4-2 victory with a takedown in the final thirty seconds of the match.

John Gunderson dropped his bout at 197 pounds, 7-3 against No. 6 Bennett Berge. Adam Ahrendsen battles No. 20 Luke Rasmussen in an intense match Ahrendsen secured four near fall points in the first period, followed by a second period ride out, then snagged a takedown early in the third to secure a 10-7 victory.

UP NEXT
The Panthers return to dual action on Thursday, Jan. 22 when they return to Big 12 competition against Arizona State. Competition is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. CT inside the McLeod Center with live coverage of the event can be found on FloWrestling.

Tickets can be purchased online through the UNI Ticket Office, by calling 319-273-4849 or through email at tickets@uni.edu.

FINAL RESULTS (#Intermat/Flowrestling rankings listed)

No. 17 UNI 42, BLOOMSBURG 6

125 | #26/20 Trever Anderson (UNI) tech falls Gavin Martin (BLO), 16-0 TF
133 | Garret Rinken (UNI) tech falls Gavin Mundy (BLO), 19-1 TF
141 | #10/9 Cory Land (UNI) falls Richie Woods (BLO), Fall 1:17
149 | #32/20 Caleb Rathjen (UNI) maj. dec. Jay Chase (BLO), 14-3 MD
157 | Cael Rahnavardi (UNI) dec. William Morrow (BLO), 2-0
165 | Jack Thomsen (UNI) tech falls Vasilios Dimou (BLO), 18-0 TF
174 | Izzy Moreno (UNI) def. Unknown (BLO), FF
184 | CJ Walrath (UNI) tech falls Connor Hudak (BLO), 22-5 TF
197 | Carson Babcock (UNI) dec. Coy Raines (BLO), 5-1
HWT | Mason Rebuck (BLO) pins Grant Stromberg (UNI), Fall 3:48

No. 17 UNI 22, RV DREXEL 16

125 | Desmond Pleassant (DU) dec. #26/20 Trever Anderson (UNI), 8-5
133 | #25/18 Julian Farber (UNI) tech falls #NR/33 Kyle Waterman (DU), 17-0 TF
141 | Jordan Soriano (DU) dec. #10/9 Cory Land (UNI), 3-0
149 | Ethan Basile (UNI) maj. dec. Deon Pleasant, 14-0 MD
157 | Luke Nichter (DU) dec. Cael Rahnavardi (UNI), 13-5 MD
165 | #7/7 Ryder Downey (UNI) dec. Cody Walsh (DU), 12-5
174 | #13/19 Jared Simma (UNI) dec. #18/14 Jasiah Queen (DU), 5-3
184 | Nick Fox (UNI) maj. dec. Ethan Wilson (DU), 9-1 MD
197 | John Gunderson (UNI) dec. #32/NR Ibrahim Ameer (DU), 8-2
HWT | Nate Schon (DU) def. Unknown (UNI), FF

No. 17 UNI 20, No. 8 SOUTH DAKOTA STATE 14

125 | #22/21 Brady Roark (SDSU) dec. Bowen Downey (UNI), 6-2
133 | #25/18 Julian Farber (UNI) dec. Cael Seaton (SDSU), 12-6
141 | Max Brady (UNI) dec. #22/15 Julian Tagg (SDSU), 12-10
149 | Ethan Basile (UNI) tech falls Logan Swensen, 15-0 TF
157 | #20/18 Cael Swensen (SDSU) maj. dec. Cael Rahnavardi (UNI), 19-4 MD
165 | #7/7 Ryder Downey (UNI) dec. Jacob Herm (SDSU), 7-0
174 | #17/16 Moses Espinoza-Owens (SDSU) dec. Izzy Moreno (UNI), 7-2
184 | Nick Fox (UNI) dec. Brock Fettig (SDSU), 4-2
197 | #7/6 Bennett Berge (SDSU) dec. John Gunderson (UNI), 7-3
HWT | Adam Ahrendsen (UNI) dec. #20/20 Luke Rasmussen (SDSU), 10-7

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.