It was a complete flip from last seasons meeting between the Panthers and the Tigers. At least the result was.
The visiting team had no fear, came into hostile territory, and won the dual by wrestling a complete match. That all stayed the same.
The Panthers took it on the chin though, suffering a 23-9 loss to the Missouri Tigers. UNI closes out their dual season at 6-5 overall on the year, and 3-2 in their new home of the Big 12 conference. Today’s dual had 1,577 people in attendance, not bad for the day of Iowa High School State Tournament finals.
Today’s dual had some close matches, but like Doug Schwab said UNI just didn’t have an answer for Missouri.
(Part two of Schwab’s interview will be posted later tonight)
The dual started off well enough with Jay Schwarm taking down Barlow McGee 7-4. The match was close the entire way, but McGee was penalized twice in the second period for fingers in the eye of Schwarm. That wasn’t the difference – a final take down in the third was – but it kind of set the tone for the rest of the dual.
#10 Drew Foster got the Panthers back on the board with an 6-3 win over #14 Canten Marriott. Foster had a takedown in the first period, then again in the third. His coaches would like to see him be a little more aggressive, and so would he.
Willie Miklus, a native Iowan from Southeast Polk, secured a 8-4 win over Jacob Holschlag. Miklus wrestled well from the bottom position to neutralize Holschlag’s ability to turn opponents. Miklus wrestled smart from his feet, and got two takedowns in the second to secure his win.
Carter Isley would close the dual out on a good note for Panther fans, getting an 8-3 win over Wyatt Koelling. Koelling looked to be one of the few heavyweights who are smaller than Isley and it was good to see him get on his offense and get a win.
#9 Max Thomsen had the second-ranked Jaydin Eierman on the ropes until nearly the last second, as Eierman scored a takedown with just 5 seconds left to get the 4-3 win over the Panther. Taylor Lujan had a similarly exciting bout at 174 pounds, but at the end of the match couldn’t come away with a win. Lujan lost 13-10 to #3 Danniel Lewis.
Josh Alber fell 12-6 to #2 Jaydin Eierman. The two were tied at 3 after the first period, but a 4 point nearfall in the second pushed Eierman to the win. Jack Wagner and Logan Ryan at 133 and 157 lost by major decision, while Isaiah Patton got the nod at 165. Patton would fall by decision, 8-4, on a short time takedown and 2 point nearfall.
UNI will next be in action in two weeks, at the Big 12 Tournament in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Also, for those wondering, there was no keg at the dual today.
#7 Missouri 23, #13 UNI 9
125: #19 Jay Schwarm dec over Barlow McGee, 7-4
133: #10 John Erneste maj dec over Jack Wagner 13-3
141: #2 Jaydin Eierman dec #9 Josh Alber 12-6
149: #5 Grant Leeth dec #11 Max Thomsen 4-3
157: #5 Joey Lavallee maj dec Logan Ryan 13-1
165: #20 Connor Flynn dec Isaiah Patton 8-4
174: #3 Daniel Lewis dec #7 Taylor Lujan 13-10
184: #10 Drew Foster dec #14 Canten Marriott 6-3
197: #4 Willie Miklus dec #11 Jacob Holschlag 8-4
285: Carter Isley vs Wyatt Koelling 8-3