Virginia Tech defeats UNI, 27-10

CEDAR FALLS - Virginia Tech Coach Kevin Dresser is familiar with wrestling seasons in Iowa.

The Humboldt native and University of Iowa NCAA champion experienced exactly what he expected when he returned.

'We love Iowa,” Dresser said. 'When you come to Iowa you're going to get this. You're going to get a cold night and a hot gym.”

He also got a victory from his sixth-ranked Hokies, who won eight matches en route to a 27-10 victory over No. 22 Northern Iowa Friday night in the West Gym.

Dresser chatted with family and friends afterward, posing for pictures. Former Iowa wrestlers Derek St. John, a former Iowa City West prep, and Mike Zadick are on Dresser's staff as well. There were plenty of familiar faces around after the win.

'I think between Zadick, St. John and myself we had about 90 people on our pass list,” Dresser said. 'We had a lot of support.”

The Hokies won every match between ranked individuals, including the opener between No. 3 Joey Dance and No. 2 Dylan Peters at 125, Dance scored two takedowns and even earned a quick nearfall for an 8-3 victory in a battle of All-Americans.

Peters made his debut after having major knee surgery to repair torn ligaments at the end of last season. Dresser said Dance wrestled well, despite being just three weeks back from his own knee surgery.

'He's just kind of getting his groove back right now,” Dresser said. 'I really thought tonight he did a pretty good job.”

Northern Iowa Coach Doug Schwab said he was confident in the choice to have Peters wrestle and Peters felt ready to wrestle.

Schwab said Peters looked better in practice and he has to transfer that to competition.

'He got into some positions where I think he could have built up and tried to score,” Schwab said. 'For one reason or another, he didn't do that. Got to get him some more time. We will see where he is at. I don't think that is an indication of what Dylan Peters is capable of.”

All-American and sixth-ranked Solomon Chishko topped Max Thomsen, 6-2 at 149, scoring two takedowns.

The Panthers lost three straight two-point decisions from 174 through 197. He said those matches are the difference between trying to keep things close and expecting to win.

'You have to put a stamp on things,” Schwab said. 'You have to put an exclamation point on things.

'I can handle the way those guys competed, because I didn't feel like they conceded things.”

UNI did get a pin from Josh Alber at 133 and a major decision from Bryce Steiert, who moved up to 165 to replace an injured Cooper Moore. Alber hit a headlock to deck Dominic Latona in 1:47, giving the Panthers a brief lead after two matches.

'That was big for us,” Schwab said. 'Just to get bonus points and get the crowd into it.”

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