The University of Northern Iowa closed out it’s 2015-16 dual season with a win over the University at Buffalo, State University of New York. The Panthers used two pinfall wins in the first two matches of the night to help propel them to a 29-9 win over the Bulls.
Leighton Gaul got things started with a bang for UNI with a pinfall win over Kyle Akins. Gaul led 3-0 in the second before he stuck Akins. Josh Alber followed up that pinfall with one of his own, taking down UB’s Bryan Lantry and riding him for much of the first period, then working an armbar and a half nelson for the fall.
Tyler Willers gave up the first takedown in his match, but then tied it in the second with his second escape point in the second period. Buffalo’s Brandon Lapi went down to start the second, but Willers did a great job riding and used a four point near fall to hold on to win 6-5.
Bringing UNI back to the winning side of things was Bryce Steiert, who didn’t see action last week when the squad went to North Dakota State. Steiert used takedown after takedown over Alex Smythe to win by major decision, 13-3.
#9 Cooper Moore looked good in his return to the mat after sustaining an injury against Tanner Weatherman in the Iowa State dual. Moore wasn’t as active on offense as Steiert was, but he was able to connect on a couple shots and looked good on top, riding Rrok Ndokaj out in the second period. Moore’s defense was excellent as he did not give up a single point en route to an 8-0 victory.
Taylor Berger bumped up to wrestle at 174 in place of Kyle Lux. Berger gave up a takedown in the first and third periods to drop a 5-2 decision to UB’s Muhamed McBryde.
Drew Foster had the closest match of the night, winning 7-5 in sudden victory over Joe Ariola. Foster gave up a takedown in the third period to fall behind 5-4, but he had riding time locked up to force the match to overtime. Foster came out right away with a takedown to win the match.
At 197 pounds Cody Krumwiede dropped a 2-0 decision to James Benjamin, who is now on a three-dual winning streak, which includes a pinfall win over Shawn Scott of Northern Illinois.
Blaize Cabell continued his winning ways – he hasn’t dropped a MAC conference dual in two years – with a blank blank win over blank blank. Cabell used two takedowns in the first period to take a 4-1 lead into the second before scoring two more in the third an winning the match 9-6.
The win brings UNI to 4-9 overall and 3-5 in the MAC Conference for the year. They move up into sixth place in the conference, which is a bit disappointing considering where expectations were coming into the year. They have one more chance to get their names out there at the MAC tournament in two weeks, and we’ll have full previews of each weight coming in the next couple of weeks, as well as full coverage of the tournament from Ypsilanti, Michigan!
UNI 29, Buffalo 9
125 – Leighton Gaul (UNI) won by pinfall over Kyle Akins (UB) in 3:42
133 – #16 Josh Alber (UNI) won by pinfall over Bryan Lantry (UB) in 4:47
141 – Tyler Willers (UNI) won by decision, 6-5, over Brandon Lapi (UB)
149 – Colt Cotton (UB) won by decision, 9-6, over Adam Perrin (UNI)
157 – Bryce Steiert (UNI) won by major decision, 13-3, over Alex Smythe (UB)
165 – #9 Cooper Moore (UNI) won by major decision, 8-0, over Rrok Ndokaj (UB)
174 – Muhamed McBryde (UB) won by decision, 5-2, over Taylor Berger (UNI)
184 – Drew Foster (UNI) won by decision, 7-5, over Joe Ariola (UB) in sudden victory
197 – James Benjamin (UB) won by decision, 2-0, over Cody Krumwiede (UNI)
285 – #16 Blaize Cabell (UNI) won by decision, 9-6, over