Young Panthers prove they can compete

EVANSTON, Ill. - University of Northern Iowa Coach Doug Schwab has tried to prove a point to his young wrestlers.

Either the message was received or they wanted to make their own case.

Four Panthers freshmen advanced to the quarterfinals of Northwestern's 53rd Ken Kraft Midlands Championships on Tuesday at Welsh-Ryan Arena.

True freshman Bryce Steiert (157) and 174-pound duo Taylor Lujuan and Jacob Holschlag made Tuesday night's quarterfinal round, joining red-shirt freshman and sixth-seeded 133-pounder Josh Alber, who advanced to the semifinals. True freshman Max Thomsen won his first match but lost, 4-3, on riding time against Jason Tsirtsis.

'I think our guys are understanding that they can compete with anybody right now,” Schwab said. 'They don't have to wait until next year or the year after.”

Steiert, seeded 12th, won his first three bouts, including a 6-4 victory over Nebraska's fifth-seeded Tyler Berger. He also added a major decision.

'I feel good about it,” Steiert said. 'They aren't ideal matches, battling through and just working. You're not always going to feel great. Go out and compete.”

Steiert's red-shirt was pulled off at the start of the season. Even though he is off to a sound start, he has taken his lumps. Steiert is confident in his abilities and focused on making gains with this experience.

'It's all about improving,” Steiert said. 'I know that sounds cliché, but I'm enjoying it. I found out that the more you let loose, enjoy and find out how good you can be just makes it fun.”

Holschlag, a former Union Community prep with four-time state champion Thomsen, beat Oklahoma's sixth-seeded Matt Reed, 5-2, to reach the quarterfinals. He beat the 11th seed in the first round.

'Holschlag's fighting and battling,” Schwab said. 'He's winning matches that way.

'It's a battle for seven minutes.”

Lujuan, who is seeded seventh, recorded a technical fall and major decision in his first two matches. Alber won his first two, including one by major.

'They're competing well,” Schwab said. 'You want to see them continue to do it as the competition gets better with more ranked guys.”

Schwab said the season is early and there still is time to evaluate with the possibility of shedding more red-shirts.

The young Panthers have high expectations. Steiert said if they can overcome the bumps in the road they can achieve their lofty goals.

'There's a lot of fire and passion,” Steiert said. 'I think if we can get through the rough and tough times and stick with what we love and never let our dream die. We expect to be team and national champions. We're keeping a tight fist on those dreams and goals.”

ISU'S HARRINGTON RETURNS

Iowa State red-shirt freshman Marcus Harrington returned to competition for the first time since he posted a 19-5 record last season.

Harrington was suspended for legal issues, stemming from a summer incident in Ames. He was expected to replace NCAA champion Kyven Gadson as the 197-pound starter. He opened with a 10-4 victory over Old Dominion's Austin Coburn.

'It feels good,” Harrington said. 'It really gave me an idea of what I need to work on and how I need to improve.”

He opened things up in the final two periods, taking some time to get in a groove.

'Even though it's my first competition, I've been wrestling all year,” Harrington said. 'I was just trying to go out and execute and do what I need to do to win.”

Harrington anxiously awaited this moment. He was forced to sit back as teammates battled. Harrington gained an appreciation for the opportunity and worked hard to prepare.

'It opens your eyes up to what the grind really looks like,” Harrington said. 'I wish I was out there with the guys. It really allowed me to push myself harder in practice.”

The second round resulted in a 16-3 loss to Iowa's top-seeded Nathan Burak. His match shape isn't where he wants it to be but that will progress with each match.

'My conditioning got to me a little bit,” Harrington said. 'I got caught kind of reaching.”

Broghammer gets Midlands win

Grand View heavyweight Dean Broghammer was one of three Gazette-area wrestlers in the Midlands field for out-of-state or non-NCAA programs. The 2013 West Delaware state champion joined former Linn-Mar champ and Northern Illinois 125-pounder Alijah Jeffery and former Iowa City west champion Jack Hathaway, who is Oregon State's 141-pounder.

The event is a prized opportunity, but it still is wrestling.

'It's awesome seeing all these upper-division guys, being able to wrestle them,” Broghammer said. 'Other than that, it's just like any other tournament. Just a little bit bigger. That's it.”

In his Midlands debut, Broghammer fell to Oregon State's Amarveer Dhesi in his first match, but rebounded with a 13-2 victory over Maryland's Youssif Hemida.

'It feels good to win,” Broghammer said, 'and break the stereotype that NAIA is not any better than the other (NCAA) divisions.”

Jeffery lost a tight 8-6 decision to Oregon State's No. 2 seed Ronnie Rios, dropping to the consolation bracket.

Hathaway, a 2015 NCAA qualifier, went 2-2, winning one by major decision.

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