The UNI Panthers fell Thursday night to the #5 Missouri Tigers, 29-12, dropping seven of the ten matches on the night. Missouri boasts ranked wrestlers at every weight but 125 and 197, and they put on a show for their hometown fans.
Josh Alber came away with the biggest win of the night for the Panthers, dropping #3 Jaydin Eierman 4-3 on a takedown with short time left in the third period. The pair went into the 2nd period scoreless, with Alber having taken a few shots but not finishing any. They were tied at 2 after that period on an escape by Alber followed by an Eierman takedown. Alber escaped to tie it up again going to the third.
Both men were more aggressive in the third, with Eierman nearly scoring a takedown on the edge with about a minute left and Alber nearly scoring but the pair going out of bounds on the restart. With about 20 seconds left, Alber was able to get in on a single leg, switch to the double and secure the upset.
At 165 pounds Bryce Steiert was able to get a solid 7-1 win over #13 Connor Flynn. Steiert scored a takedown with short time left in the first period, then rode Flynn out of the second to take a 2-0 lead into the third. After a reversal and a couple of stall points, Steiert was able to come away with the win.
Jay Schwarm took the mat first for the Panthers, he dropped a 6-3 decision to Dack Punke. Punke used a pair of double legs to score two takedowns, and despite a Schwarm third period rideout, was able to get the win.
#10 John Erneste showed why he’s ranked 10th. Jack Skudlarczyk was in on a low single, but Erneste was able to lock up a cradle and get the pinfall win in the first period.
Max Thomsen took the mat at 149 pounds and did not look like himself. Thomsen gave up a takedown to #12 Brock Mauller with three seconds left in the first period, and then gave up a four point nearfall in the second on a Mauller tilt. Trailing 6-1 going into the third, Thomsen was able to connect on just one takedown and never quite had the intensity needed at that point. Mauller won, 8-3.
#10 Jarrett Jacques won by major decision over Pat Schoenfelder. Schoenfelder did a good job of holding Jacques off for a little while, but he just proved to be too much for the Panther.
At heavyweight Izaak Shedenhelm was a little closer to #16 Zach Elam’s weight, but Shedenhelm still wasn’t able to get much offense going against the larger Elam. Shedenhelm did put on a little bit of a ride in the third period, and hit a textbook knee tap, but other than that it was all Elam. The Tiger won 10-2.
UNI will return home for the first time in a month on Sunday, as they take on Air Force in the West Gym in their third Big 12 dual of the season.
#6 Missouri 29, #14 UNI 12
125: Dack Punke won by decision, 6-3, over Jay Schwarm
133: #10 John Erneste won by pinfall over Jack Skudlarczyk
141: #4 Josh Alber won by decision, 4-3, over #3 Jaydin Eierman
149: #12 Brock Mauller won by decision, 8-3, over #9 Max Thomsen
157: #19 Jarrett Jacques won by major decision, 11-3 , over Pat Schoenfelder
165: #9 Bryce Steiert won by decision, 7-1, over #13 Connor Flynn
174: #3 Daniel Lewis won by pinfall over #8 Taylor Lujan
184: #6 Drew Foster won by forfeit
197: Wyatt Koelling won by decision, 5-1, over Tyrell Gordon
285: #16 Zach Elam won by major decision, 10-2, over Izaak Shedenhelm