Blaize Cabell
Cabell, the No. 14 ranked wrestler at 285 pounds, did not make the trip to New York City with his coaches and teammates. It would have been his third appearance at the NCAAs, having qualified for this year's championships at Madison Square Garden by winning the heavyweight title at the Mid-American Conference championships two weeks ago.
"It's painful," Panthers head coach Doug Schwab said. "If you deal with it and have a fighting chance at nationals, it makes you feel a little better. You work you whole life for this opportunity."
"There will be more opportunities for him, but those are hard to see right now," Schwab said. "There's nothing you can do, and you don't have control."
"What's also really hard is that you wish you could be with him," Schwab continued. "You hurt right along with him, but the decision is made. You have to keep perspective. There are things that are worse. It's hard to see that right now though."
"I want people to remember how he competed and what he did for this program. He made it fun at heavyweight. I am so proud of him and how he has grown, not just as a wrestler, but as a man. We want to keep him competing and around the program."
A product of Independence, Iowa, Cabell had compiled an overall record of 20-3 this season, and was undefeated in dual meets in the MAC. Cabell completes his career in a UNI singlet with a 82-39 record.
Although Cabell was unable to make the trip, four other Panthers will be competing at the 2016 NCAAs: Dylan Peters at 125 pounds, Josh Alber at 133, Bryce Steiert at 157, and Cooper Moore at 165.
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