UNI improved to 5-2 overall and 3-0 in the MAC with a 17-16 win over No. 13 Central Michigan (2-1 / 1-1 MAC).
The dual win against CMU came down to criteria as the final score was 16-16, and each team had won five matches. It came down to the point differential at each match, and UNI was awarded the final point to stay undefeated in the Mid-American Conference.
"We had some guys step up," said Schwab. "I thought our guys responded well, but it shouldn't have come down to criteria. That's how much I believe in our guys. There were three or four matches that could have gone our way."
Drew Foster knocked off the reigning MAC champion at 184 pounds, and JJ Everard beat the fourth-ranked MAC heavyweight to help give the Panthers a win.
MATCH BY MATCH
No. 8 Colin Heffernan got CMU out to a 4-0 lead with a major decision over Dan Kelly, who made his career dual debut at 157 pounds.
Bryce Steiert jumped out to a 6-2 lead after the first period in the 165-pound matchup. His six takedowns throughout the match gave him the 14-6 major decision to tie up the team score at 4-4.
"He was in on a lot of attacks and put a lot of points on the board," said Schwab. "Kelly was right in there at 125. We just have to find a way to finish. But Steiert came back to put the points back up there."
Taylor Lujan, 174 pounds, fell behind 2-0 midway in the first but got a reversal to tie it up 2-2 and send it into the second period. Lujan escaped, and he got a takedown in the final seconds of the second to lead 5-2 to start the third. C.J. Brucki of CMU would get an escape early in third to close the gap, 5-3. Lujan fought off Brucki and got the 6-3 win once riding time was added.
It was scoreless after the first period at 184 pounds between No. 15 Drew Foster and No. 14 Jordan Ellingwood. CMU grabbed an escape to lead 1-0 to start the third. Foster tied it up with an escape 30 seconds into the final period. Foster's takedown in the final 10 seconds gave him the 3-1 win.
"That guy (Ellingwood) is hard to get to, and Foster gave himself a shot in the second," said Schwab. "He was aggressive, but he needs to get to both sides. But he found a way to win. He just keeps getting better."
Holschlag wrestled his third dual of the season to be the fifth Panther to compete in two different weights this season in duals. He moved up from 184 pound to compete at 197 pounds. CMU's Austin Severn got the 4-3 decision to close the gap in the team score for the Chippewas, 10-7.
Everard knocked off the fourth ranked heavyweight in the MAC. He got two takedowns and an escape to go on to win 5-2 and extend the team lead to 13-7.
"JJ had a beautiful single and drove through the guy," said Schwab. "He did it so well and looked awesome. It was a high-level attack, and he could score more often. He can widen that gap. The momentum is on his side."
Jay Schwarm had a tough battle against 2016 NCAA qualifier Brent Fleetwood, who is ranked fourth in the MAC. He took third at the MAC championships last year. Riding time and a takedown gave Fleetwood the 3-2 decision.
Josh Alber fell behind at 133 pounds when he gave up an escape, but a penalty point in the second period tied it up 1-1 to start the third. He got an escape early in the third to lead Corey Keener, 2-1. He extended his lead with a takedown and nearfall points to lead 6-1. He gave up another escape, so Keener closed the gap, but Alber was able to avenge two losses from last year with a 6-2 decision.
He gave the Panthers a six-point cushion headed into the 141-pound match. UNI led 16-10 over CMU.
"I have liked what I've seen the last two matches," said Schwab. "He kept wrestling and trying to build. Even though he got a lead, he wasn't trying to hold him off."
Jake Hodges struck first at 141 pounds with a takedown in the first, but Mason Smith was able to tie it up 2-2 with a reversal before time expired. A reversal from each wrestler will keep it tied 4-4 to start the third, and that's what sent it to overtime. However, Smith got the takedown to get the 6-4 decision.
It came down to the final match at 149 pounds with a matchup between No. 8 Max Thomsen and No. 6 Justin Oliver of CMU. UNI led 16-13.
Oliver led 2-1 to start the third period. Oliver's escape early in the third gave him the 3-1 lead. Thomsen was able to hold off a last attempt at a takedown, but fell 4-1 to Oliver.
Results:
157 - Colin Heffernan (CMU) maj. dec. Dan Kelly (UNI), 12-4
165 - Bryce Steiert (UNI) maj. dec. Logan Parks (CMU), 14-6
174 - Taylor Lujan (UNI) dec. C.J. Brucki (CMU), 6-3
184 - Drew Foster (UNI) dec. Jordan Ellingwood (CMU), 3-1
197 - Austin Severn (CMU) dec. Jacob Holschlag (UNI), 4-3
285 - JJ Everard (UNI) dec. Newton Smerchek (CMU), 5-2
125 - Brent Fleetwood (CMU) dec. Jay Schwarm (UNI), 3-2
133 - Josh Alber (UNI) dec. Corey Keener (CMU), 6-2
141 - Mason Smith (CMU) dec. Jake Hodges (UNI), 6-4 SV1
149 - Justin Oliver (CMU) dec. Max Thomsen (UNI), 4-1
UP NEXT
UNI hits the road for one more dual before returning to the West Gym. The Panthers will take on the Cyclones at Iowa State Jan. 20. They will host Eastern Michigan at 1 p.m. Jan. 22 in the West Gym.
Recommended Comments
There are no comments to display.
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now