Iowa State wins 4 of final 5 matches to beat UNI in front of record McLeod Center crowd

CEDAR FALLS — In front of a Northern Iowa wrestling record crowd of 5,754 at McLeod Center, third-ranked Iowa State spoiled the evening for No. 14 UNI with a 19-12 win.

“We had some really good performances, but you have to seize the moment,” UNI coach Doug Schwab said. “Those guys on the other side, they did a good job in a few of those situations. You gotta seize the moment, the opportunity, especially when you have a record crowd.”

Wins from Kyle Golhoffer, No. 8 Cael Happel and No. 20 Derek Holschlag at 125, 141 and 157, respectively, gave the Panthers a 9-6 lead at intermission.

Golhoffer got the large crowd going with an 8-6 win over Ethan Perryman that featured half of his points in the third period. After ISU’s No. 24 Zach Redding upset No. 12 Kyle Biscoglia at 133, 4-2, Happel secured a 4-3 win against Casey Swiderski by preventing an escape from on top with seven seconds left in the match.

“Happel is a gritty competitor. That dude has got great offense,” Schwab said. “(Swiderski), that guy, they’ve got some really good, young guys over there. Happel found a way to win.”

At 149, Colin Realbuto was a scratch for UNI (7-4, 5-3) and was replaced in the lineup by redshirt freshman Adam Allard, who made his collegiate debut against No. 10 Paniro Johnson. After a scoreless first period and one-point second period with a Johnson escape, Iowa State’s true freshman sealed his 3-1 win with a takedown in the final 30 seconds.

A second-period near fall sent Holschlag past No. 28 Jason Kraisser at 157, but the Cyclones (15-2, 7-0) began to get their separation after intermission, winning four of the final five matches.

UNI’s only win among the final five matches came at 184 as No. 2 Parker Keckeisen defeated No. 4 Marcus Coleman, 7-5.

“I don’t think (Coleman) earned (his) first takedown, even though it was a takedown. Obviously something happened and then Parker responds right away,” Schwab said. “That’s two and four — that’s as high level as you’re going to get — and I thought that Parker does what Parker does. He goes and scores points and he hit some incredible attacks.”

At 174, Lance Runyon lost a 3-0 lead in the third period as freshman MJ Gaitan registered a pair of takedowns and four-point near fall to score a 9-5 comeback win.

No. 4 Yonger Batisda extended Iowa State’s lead to 16-12 with a 12-6 win against UNI freshman Wyatt Voelker at 197 before No. 8 Sam Schuyler defeated No. 15 Tyrell Gordon, 4-1, at heavyweight.

“Great atmosphere, great crowd, great energy (and) I think some great wrestling,” Iowa State coach Kevin Dresser said. “We threw a couple young bucks out there. They all didn’t win tonight, but they were right in the hunt (against) good competition (and) our studs dominated.”

Iowa State hosts Illinois (6-6) at noon Sunday.

UNI wraps up its regular season next Saturday at 7 p.m. at Wisconsin (7-7).