UNI makes strides with deeper and more competitive wrestling room

CEDAR FALLS — Northern Iowa Coach Doug Schwab was dressed in a Panthers hoodie and sweatpants before the official start of the wrestling team's annual media day.

Then, he left West Gym briefly, donning a black suit coat with a dri-fit shirt, sweats and wrestling shoes for his return. The jacket didn't last long after the news conference. Work awaited and the wrestlers don't shy away from it.

Schwab has watched the Panthers make strides in the offseason, creating competition and depth in the wrestling room. With some key returners and a promising group of underclassmen, UNI will attempt to improve on a 4-10 dual record and 25th-place finish at the national tournament.

'Seeing these guys grow and develop in the last six months has been real exciting,' Schwab said. 'I think it's been the biggest growth spurt we've had as a group since I've been here. A lot of it has to do with the group of kids that you have in the room right now and the standards they're setting for themselves on and off the mat.'

The Panthers have six wrestlers in the preseason rankings, including two-time All-American Dylan Peters (125), who is making his way back from ACL surgery in the spring, and NCAA qualifiers Josh Alber (133), Bryce Steiert (157), Cooper Moore at 165 pounds and heavyweight J.J. Everard, who transferred from South Dakota State.

Redshirt freshman and former Union four-time state champion Max Thomsen was part of an impressive recruiting class, which includes Steiert, that came to campus last year. Schwab said the young guns have raised everyone's level and the expectations. They were an important part of the offseason gains.

'Those guys are setting a really high standard,' Schwab said. 'If you saw what they did all summer, lifting and working. Some of these guys, I bet, were looking forward to school because some of them were getting up early lifting, working all day and doing something else to get themselves better.

'That is where it has to be led from. It can't be fueled from me. It's got to be fueled from the team and it's been fueled from those guys. Now, they're just raising their level.'

They have energized the wrestling room and could make an impact as a starter or by providing depth. UNI hasn't had that luxury in the past but it is getting better. The middleweights are a good example with Steiert, who competed as a true freshman last year, and redshirt freshman Paden Moore fighting for the 157 spot. Taylor Lujan is a front-runner at 174. Jacob Holschlag and Drew Foster will vie at 184, while Jared Bartel and Tyler Hoffman battle at 197.

'Now that we have depth, you're just pushing each other to the top, which is great' Steiert said, 'It's happening all across the board, so it's good.'

Peters will miss the first two dates, but the Panthers now have multiple options.

'Someone is going to have to step up for a while for him,' Schwab said. 'You have a guy like Tanner Rohweder or Jay Schwarm, who are ready to do that. They are both chomping at the bit.'

Schwab said the focus is on growth throughout the year instead of wins. He isn't going to set any limits on what they can accomplish and the wrestlers won't either. Schwab said they have the potential to field the best lineup he has had.

'I know what I feel and I know what I see and we have some of the best guys in the country in this room,' Schwab said. 'We have a whole mess of them. Once they start really understanding it and prove it out in the West Gym, Southern Scuffle, Iowa State, wherever we go or St. Louis, then they will really know.'

Schwab added, 'The work's been done. It's all set up. Now, it's just going out and performing.'

THOMSEN GETS HIS SHOT

Union four-time state champion Max Thomsen is expected to be the 149-pound starter for the Panthers. The redshirt freshman is ranked 19th nationally by InterMat and 20th by Flo Wrestling.

'I'm excited to put that product that everyone worked for and got me to where I am to put on the mat,' Thomsen said. 'Show everybody what I've got.'

Thomsen placed in four open tournaments, winning three titles including the UNI Open. He finished 3-2 at the Midlands Championships, falling to Northwestern NCAA champion and then-No. 3 ranked Jason Tsirtsis by a point. He was 20-4 overall.

'I grew all aspects of my game,' Thomsen said. 'From physically getting stronger to technically better on bottom, top and on my finishes and setups.'

UNI Coach Doug Schwab said Thomsen has a strong work ethic and has to learn to relax.

'The work has been done,' Schwab said. 'That guy has worked his tail off and he's worked his tail off since he was a little kid.

'Now, it's just let's enjoy the process a little bit. Let's actually go out and enjoy competing and not have the stress of the world weigh on you.'

BIG CHANGE

UNI heavyweight J.J. Everard has some big shoes to fill, replacing three-time NCAA qualifier Blaize Cabell. Everard was a national qualifier for South Dakota State in 2014. He transferred before last school year and red-shirted last season.

Everard has waited his time and now is poised to step into the lineup.

'It's been kind of long but also quick,' Everard said about the year in wait. 'It feels like yesterday when I got here, but I'm excited. I'm ready to go.'

Everard was 20-4 last year, winning two open tournaments. He was 20-14 as a junior, reaching the 2014 NCAA Championships. He said he wrestles similar to Cabell, utilizing his athleticism to scramble and shooting low-leg attacks. Everard said he has learned from Cabell, who is a member of the Panthers Wrestling Club and qualified for the 2016 Olympic Trials.

'Blaize is a reason why I came here,' Everard said. 'You have to train with people better than you and guys that can teach you things.

'He's still he so I'm training with him still.'