Cruse Aarhus, Tervel Dlagnev, Moza Fay, Mark Rial, Brett Robbins and Sean Stender will represent the Panthers as they attempt to qualify for the World Championships in Herning, Denmark, Sept. 21-27.
Aarhus (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) earned his berth into the team trials by winning the 55 kg/121 lbs. Northern Plains Regional freestyle championship May 16. For the Panthers in 2008-09, he joined the lineup for the Michigan dual at the National Duals (Jan. 10). He then posted nine wins, including a fall the rest of the season.
Dlagnev (Arlington, Texas) found his way to Council Bluffs through his second-place finish at the 2009 U.S. Nationals in the 120 kg/264.5 lbs. weight class. So far in 2009, Dlagnev won the Ukrainian Memorial International title, placed second in the Dan Kolov International event and took third in the Takhti Cup. In 2008, he won a pair of titles (New York AC International and World University), while placing third at the U.S. Nationals. Dlagnev won the 2007 and 2008 NCAA Division II heavyweight national titles while at the University of Nebraska-Kearney for head coach Marc Bauer. Dlagnev currently serves as the Panther Wrestling Club coach.
Fay (Anamosa, Iowa) was tabbed with a wild card selection into the 2009 World Team Trials at 74 kg/163 lbs. Fay capped his Panther wrestling career with back-to-back All-America seasons at the NCAA Championships. Fay placed fifth at 165 pounds in 2008 and then secured a sixth-place finish in 2009. He finished his Panther wrestling career ranked No. 7 on the all-time wins list with 119 triumphs. Fay made three NCAA appearances and posted as a 12-7 mark in those 19 matches on the national scene. Fay totaled 37 falls in his collegiate days, which ranks as the fifth-most in UNI history. Fay was named a two-time Western Wrestling Conference Wrestler of the Year.
Rial (Fort Dodge, Iowa) will compete in the Greco-Roman portion of the World Team Trials at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. Rial placed second at the 2009 U.S. Nationals. Rial won the 2008 U.S. Nationals title and placed second at the Dave Schultz Memorial International. Rial wrapped up 2008 with a fifth-place effort at the Vehbi Emre Grand Prix in Turkey. Rial's highlights include a third-place finish at the 2005 and 2007 U.S. World Team Trials, a fourth-place finish at the 2005 U.S. Nationals, a seventh-place effort at the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials and a fourth-place finish at the 1994 Cadet World Championships. Rial was a national qualifier for UNI in 2001. He currently serves as a conditioning specialist for the UNI wrestling team.
Robbins (Bloomington, Ill.) earned his spot into the World Team Trials by winning the 70 kg/154.25 lbs. freestyle title at the 2009 ASICS University & FILA Cadet National Championships. Robbins was a perfect 6-0 in the tournament and won the title with a 0-1, 2-0, 3-1 decision over Albert White, a four-time state champion in Illinois. Robbins saw limited dual action for the Panthers in 2008-09 after missing the majority of the past two seasons following Tommy John surgery.
Stender (Eldridge, Iowa) is ranked No. 3 in the U.S. at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. and earned his spot at the World Team Trials through the National Open. Stender placed sixth in 2009 U.S. Nationals, third in 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials and sixth in 2006 and 2007 U.S. Nationals. Stender also has a strong international wrestling resume by winning the 2008 Dave Schultz Memorial International and then placing second in 2006 and fifth in 2009. Stender took third in the 2008 Kimitri Korkin International. Stender placed third a tthe 2005 NYAC Holiday Championships. He also captured the 2005 Sunkist Kids/ASU International Open. Stender was a three-time All-American at UNI, which included a runner-up finish at the 2005 NCAA Championships. Stender currently serves as a volunteer assistant coach for the UNI wrestling team after serving three seasons as a conditioning specialist for the Panthers.
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