University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
CSU Bakersfield
UNI wrestling seeks to defend title at 2026 NWCA National Duals
1/8/2026 1:09:00 PM | Wrestling
Panthers to compete in five duals in the UNI-Dome this weekend. Tickets now available for purchase.
No. 17 UNI wrestling (3-4 / 2-0 Big 12) vs. Cal State Bakersfield (0-4 / 0-0 Pac-12)
- Friday, Jan. 9, 2026
- 4 p.m. CT
- Cedar Falls, Iowa | UNI-Dome (Mat 21)
- WATCH (FloWrestling)
- LIVE RESULTS (FloWrestling)
- TICKETS
No. 17 UNI wrestling (3-4 / 2-0 Big 12) vs. Ohio (4-1 / 1-0 MAC)
- Friday, Jan. 9, 2026
- 6 p.m. CT
- Cedar Falls, Iowa | UNI-Dome (Mat 23)
- WATCH (FloWrestling)
- LIVE RESULTS (FloWrestling)
- TICKETS
No. 17 UNI wrestling (3-4 / 2-0 Big 12) vs. Bloomsburg (8-7 / 0-1 MAC)
- Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026
- 9 a.m. CT
- Cedar Falls, Iowa | UNI-Dome (Mat 23)
- WATCH (FloWrestling)
- LIVE RESULTS (FloWrestling)
- TICKETS
No. 17 UNI wrestling (3-4 / 2-0 Big 12) vs. RV Drexel (5-2 / 1-0 EIWA)
- Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026
- 11 a.m. CT
- Cedar Falls, Iowa | UNI-Dome (Mat 22)
- WATCH (FloWrestling)
- LIVE RESULTS (FloWrestling)
- TICKETS
Â
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- The 17th ranked UNI wrestling team will take to the floor of the UNI-Dome beginning Friday afternoon as the Panthers look to defend their Division I team title at the NWCA/USMC Multi-Division National Dual Meet Championships.
Northern Iowa will face off against Cal State Bakersfield at 4 p.m. CT and Ohio at 6 p.m. CT on Friday, as well as Bloomsburg at 9 a.m. CT and Drexel at 11 a.m. CT on Saturday morning in Pool B action. A third Saturday dual against an opponent from Pool A will also be held in the afternoon for final placement. Live coverage and results can be found on FloWrestling.
Tickets for this year's event can be purchased online through the UNI Ticket Office, by calling 319-273-4849 or through email at tickets@uni.edu. All tickets can be purchased for either a $45 daily pass or $70 tournament pass, with spectators asked to enter the UNI-Dome through the northwest entrance.
UNI enters this weekend's action after winning the Division I men's title at the event last year, rolling past Sacred Heart, Ohio, Northern Colorado and South Dakota State last January. This year's event, which features two pools of five Division I teams, will also feature wrestling programs from the men's Division II, Division III and NAIA levels, as well as the women's NAIA, combined NCAA levels and Division III levels
Northern Iowa will look to bounce back after a difficult showing at No. 6 Nebraska last Saturday in a 30-6 dual loss. Ryder Downey (165 pounds), the reigning Big 12 Wrestler of the Week topped No. 7 LJ Araujo in 3-0 sudden victory decision, while Trever Anderson also won at 125 pounds.
UNI also sent athletes to the Soldier Salute last weekend with five Panthers medaling in the top-eight. Izzy Moreno finished in third-place at 174 pounds with Jack Thomsen (165 pounds) taking fourth, Bowen Downey (125 pounds), Max Brady (141 pounds) seventh and Jace Hedeman (133 pounds) eighth.
PROJECTED PANTHER LINEUP (#Intermat/FloWrestling rankings)
- 125 | #26/20 Trever Anderson OR Bowen Downey
- 133 | #25/18 Julian Farber OR Garret Rinken
- 141 | #10/9 Cory Land OR Connor Thorpe
- 149 | Ethan Basile OR #32/20 Caleb Rathjen
- 157 | RJ Weston OR Cael Rahnavardi
- 165 | #7/7 Ryder Downey OR Jack Thomsen
- 174 | #13/19 Jared Simma OR Izzy Moreno
- 184 | Nick Fox OR #28/26 CJ Walrath
- 197 | John Gunderson OR Carson Babcock
- HWT | #11/10 Wyatt Voelker OR Adam Ahrendsen
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
