WSR's Krumwiede commits to wrestle at UNI

Waverly-Shell Rock three-time state placewinner and two-time 215-pound state champion Cody Krumwiede committed Friday night to wrestle for the University of Northern Iowa and new Panthers Coach Doug Schwab for the 2011-12 season.Krumwiede owns a 133-8 career mark, posting a 45-0 record last year as a junior. He also was undefeated as a sophomore, going 52-0, and placed sixth at state at 215 as freshman with a 32-8 record that season.Krumwiede, 6-foot-2, about 240 pounds, is expected to wrestle heavyweight as a senior and projected to wrestle that weight class for the Panthers."They just had the coaching that I wanted," Krumwiede said. "Good practice partners and everything. It was just a good fit."Krumwiede made official visits to UNI, Iowa State and Nebraska. He said he thought the Panthers are going in a better direction under Schwab and that the new coach has a lot of energy. Schwab's move to bring former Nebraska NCAA heavyweight champ and Janesville native Tolly Thompson back as the staff's volunteer assistant coach. He is starting his eighth season with the UNI program and first  since leaving in 2008."Tolly's a real good heavyweight coach," Krumwiede said. "He's been my coach before for freestyle stuff. I've worked with him before."WSR Coach Rick Caldwell listed a number of special traits that has elevated Krumwiede into an elite wrestler. Strength and work ethic contributed to the talented wrestler's success, but Caldwell highlighted Krumwiede's physical and mental toughness, which was displayed as a freshman when he was sandwiched in weight by state champions Eric Thompson (Hwt.) and Dylan Wrage (189) with 171-pound state placewinner Lee Averhoff in the mix. Caldwell said he never backed down from the older trio in the Go-Hawks practice room."The biggest thing to his advantage is he's a super tough kid," said Caldwell, noting his three workout partners. "That's who he wrestled every single day. He didn't fare very well against those guys, but he just kept coming back. he never turned tghem down to wrestle. He fought them tooth and nail, every inch of the mat."He takes toughness to another level."Krumwiede said he hopes that individual and team titles make the short move with him as he leaves prep wrestling at WSR for NCAA Division I wrestling at UNI."I want to win a national championship," Krumwiede said. "To win a couple would be nice, honestly."Winning a team championship would be cool too. Schwab's going to get the people in there to try and do that." In August, Iowa Central 125-pound National Junior College Athletic Association national champion and two-time Clear Lake state champ committed to UNI over ISU.Caldwell said Schwab is taking the steps to make UNI a top-tier D-I program. The buzz has already started and the two recruits have stirred up local fans. "Definitely, there's a new level of energy around the program," Caldwell said. "It's a real exciting time if you're a wrestling fan in this area."