By Joel Wauters, UNI Athletics
MADISON, Wisc. — Parker Keckeisen closed out a dominant collegiate dual career with Lance Runyon and Colin Realbuto also adding pins in their final career duals as the fourth-ranked UNI wrestling team defeated Wisconsin on Friday night, 28-12 at UW Fieldhouse.
The victory marked the 14th dual win for the Panther Train this season, the most for the program under head coach Doug Schwab and most since winning 14 duals during the 1990-91 season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Kicking off Friday night’s action at 197 pounds, No.12 Wyatt Voelker matched up against Wyatt Ingham. Pushing the pace right off the whistle, Voelker worked to gain the first takedown securing an early lead 3-0 into the second period. After an escape, Voelker added a second takedown in the final 30 seconds of the period. In the third, he allowed Ingham to escape but maintained solid defense to secure the 8-1 victory, earning an extra point for riding time.
No. 15 Lance Runyon faced Gannon Rosenfeld at heavyweight, with the first period ending scoreless. The action heated up in the second, as the two wrestled through a scramble before Runyon locked in a cradle and secured a pin in four minutes and forty seven seconds.
In a tough matchup, No. 29 Trever Anderson faced off with No. 18 Nicolar Rivera at 125 pounds. After trying to fight off an explosive takedown from Rivera, Anderson gave up another takedown in the first period, along with five near-fall points, leaving him trailing 11-3 as they moved into the second. Anderson then controlled Rivera on top during the second period until Rivera secured a reversal in the final five seconds. In the third, Anderson started on top, working for a half, while Rivera was called twice for stalling, giving Anderson two penalty points. Despite a strong effort, Anderson ultimately fell 13-9 in the close match.
At 133 pounds, No. 19 Julian Farber squared off against No. 15 Zan Fugitt. After giving up an early takedown, Farber struggled to score, allowing Fugitt an escape and a riding time point, ultimately falling by a 5-0 score.
No. 4 Cael Happel dominated at 141 pounds against Brock Bobzien. Right from the opening whistle, Happel secured a takedown and quickly cut Bobzien to add two more takedowns in the first period. Staying aggressive, Happel tallied seven total takedowns, along with one escape and a riding time point, finishing with a 23-7 victory. This marked Happel’s 20th win of the season.
At 149 pounds, No. 10 Colin Realbuto gave up an early takedown against opponent Royce Nilo but fought back hard. Securing another takedown Realbuto turned Nilo and clinched a pin in three minutes and forty two seconds as he earned his eleventh straight victory this season to improve to 20-4.
No. 5 Ryder Downey battled Luke Mechler at 157 pounds. After Downey took a shot out of bounds the match entered the third period scoreless. Mechler chose to start the period with an alternate start, allowing Downey to escape off the whistle. With the lead, Downey quickly swept in for a takedown and secured the 5-0 victory. Downey finished the night with his 20th victory this season.
No. 20 Jack Thomsen battled Cody Goebel at 165 pounds in a hard fought match. Thomsen secured the first takedown but allowed Goebel to escape. In the final seconds of the first period, Goebel grabbed a takedown, leaving Thomsen trailing. In the second, Goebel escaped and Thomsen gave up two more takedowns, ultimately dropping the match 9-3.
Nick Fox took the mat for the Panthers at 174 pounds, facing Luke Condon. In the first period, Fox gave up a takedown and struggled to build from the bottom for the remainder. In the second period, Fox earned an escape, but Condon responded with another takedown. Fox cut Condon again in the second but was unable to finish a takedown, ultimately dropping the match 8-1 as Condon was awarded a riding time point.
Wrapping up the dual at 184 pounds, No. 2 Parker Keckeisen faced Dylan Russon in his final collegiate dual. After securing four takedowns in the first period and accumulating eight near fall points, Keckeisen clinched his eleventh technical fall of the season and 31st of his career. He extended his regular season winning streak to 53 matches, including thirteen straight bonus-point victories, earning bonus points against all but two of his opponents this year. With this victory, Keckeisen finished his impressive collegiate dual record at 46-1.
UP NEXT
The Panthers return to action at the 2025 Big 12 Championships, scheduled for March 8-9 at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
FINAL RESULTS (Intermat / FloWrestling rankings listed)
No. 4 UNI 28, WISCONSIN 12
197 | [11] #12/11 Wyatt Voelker (UNI) dec. Niccolo Collucci (UW), 8-1
HWT | [14] #15/14 Lance Runyon (UNI) pins Gannon Rosenfeld (UW), Fall 4:47
125 | [18] #18/20 Nicolar Rivera (UW) dec. [29] #29/22 Trever Anderson (UNI), 13-9
133 | [20] #15/18 Zan Fugitt (UW) dec. [19] #19/20 Julian Farber (UNI), 5-0
141 | [4] #4/5 Cael Happel (UNI) tech falls Brock Bobzien (UW), 23-7 TF
149 | [10] #10/10 Colin Realbuto (UNI) pins Royce Nilo (UW), Fall 3:42
157 | [3] #5/6 Ryder Downey (UNI) dec. Luke Mechler (UW), 5-0
165 | Cody Goebel (UW) dec. [19] #20/19 Jack Thomsen (UNI), 9-3
174 | [32] Luke Condon (UW) dec. Nick Fox (UNI), 8-1
184 | [2] #2/2 Parker Keckeisen (UNI) tech falls Dylan Russon (UW), 20-3 TF
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.