UNI opens WWC wrestling schedule this weekend

The UNI opens its Western Wrestling Conference dual competition against Northern Colorado on Friday at 7 p.m. and Air Force on Sunday at 2 p.m.

The Panthers have won four WWC dual titles in five years in the conference, including a 5-0 mark last year in UNI Coach Doug Schwab's first season.

UNI news release:

The University of Northern Iowa wrestling squad hosts two conference foes this weekend to open up their 2012 Western Wrestling Conference dual season.

vs NORTHERN COLORADO - Jan. 6 (7 p.m.)

UNI will commence its Western Wrestling Conference regular-season title defense Friday, as the Panthers host Northern Colorado. The Bears come to the West Gym for UNI's first home dual of the 2011-12 season. Wrestling starts at 7 p.m., and admission is only $1.

vs AIR FORCE - Jan. 8 (2 p.m.)

The Panthers are also set to host the Air Force Falcons Sunday in another WWC dual. Wrestling starts at 2 p.m. at the West Gym. Iowa Public Television is scheduled to broadcast the competition live.

NEWS

LODER FINISHES THIRD AT MIDLANDS CHAMPIONSHIPS

Ryan Loder took third place in the 184-pound division at the prestigious Midlands Championships Friday. Loder defeated Purdue's Braden Atwood in the consolation final with a 10-2 major decision.

Loder lost his first match of the season in the semifinals, falling to Ben Bennett of Central Michigan by a 6-3 decision. Bennett got some revenge on Loder, who defeated him at the Northeast Duals nearly a month ago. Going into the match, Loder and Bennett were ranked sixth and seventh nationally, respectively.

Loder is now 20-1 this season. The sophomore, rated No. 2 in the 184-pound bracket, was 4-1 at Midlands, topping opponents from Stanford, Eastern Michigan and Virginia Tech in addition to Purdue's Atwood.

COLON BURSTS ONTO THE SCENE AT MIDLANDS

Redshirt sophomore Joe Colon placed seventh at Midlands. Colon was unranked in the 133-pound bracket coming into the tournament, yet topped two rated opponents before losing in the consolation bracket quarterfinal. Colon then came back and defeated another nationally-ranked wrestler, pinning Steven Keith of Harvard (No. 9) and capturing the seventh-place finish. One of Colon's earlier victories was over nationally-ranked Bryan Ortenzio of Penn, ranked No. 13 by InterMat.

In the latest InterMat rankings, Colon is rated No. 12 in the 133-pound weight class. The former NJCAA national champion was not rated up until this week, having only competed in one open tournament after overcoming an early-season injury.

PANTHER POINTS

MATCH-UP HISTORIES

NORTHERN COLORADO

The Panthers are 6-0 all-time versus the Northern Colorado Bears. The first meeting between the two teams occurred in 2006, following the formation of the Western Wrestling Conference. In their most-recent dual, which occurred last season, UNI defeated UNC 32-6.

AIR FORCE

UNI holds a 4-1 advantage in its all-time series with Air Force. Last season, the Panthers topped the Falcons by a score of 25-12. UNI has won four-consecutive duals versus Air Force in a match-up that had its first meeting in 2002.

WESTERN DOMINANCE

The Western Wrestling Conference has five completed seasons to its name. UNI has captured the WWC dual title four times. Last season, the Panthers finished with a 5-0 conference record. A 19-13 victory over No. 24-ranked Wyoming in their final regular season dual secured the conference championship.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS

NORTHERN COLORADO

The Bears are 1-1 in dual action this season, topping Campbell and falling to Drexel, both at the Fighting Camel Duals in Buies Creek, N.C. Senior Gabe Burak (165) leads the Bear squad. The Penn-transfer, rated No. 14 in the latest InterMat rankings, placed fourth at the prestigious Cliff Keen Invitational in Las Vegas last month.

AIR FORCE

The Falcons' first dual match is Jan. 6 at Coe College. Up to that point, Air Force has only competed at opens and invitationals. Most recently, the Falcons placed ninth in the team standings at the Reno Tournament of Champions Dec. 18. Their top wrestler, junior Cole VonOhlen (149), finished second in his weight class, as he was edged by No. 2-ranked Jamal Parks of Oklahoma State. VonOhlen is currently ranked No. 5 by InterMat.

LODER AMONG THE NATION'S BEST

UNI's Ryan Loder (184), rated No. 6 in the latest InterMat rankings, has one of his weight class' best records at 20-1. Loder has one win over a fellow ranked opponent, Central Michigan's Ben Bennett, who was 184-pound's No. 9 wrestler at the time.