Lance Runyon claims final bout, helps No. 13 University of Northern Iowa edge No. 14 South Dakota State on criteria

CEDAR FALLS – In all of Lance Runyon’s years of wrestling, he’s never taken the mat in the final match with a dual on the line.

He had spent the past four years as a 174-pounder for the Panthers and never experienced that role. The University of Northern Iowa redshirt senior heavyweight can cross that off his list.

“Wait until the last match of the dual and it may come down to you is going to take some time getting used to, for sure,” Runyon said. “But it was definitely fun.”

Runyon delivered in his first time in that scenario. He posted a 7-2 decision over Luke Rasmussen, tying the dual score and helping the No. 14 Panthers secure tiebreaker criteria in a 16-15 victory over No. 13 South Dakota State on Sunday at the UNI-Dome.

Each team won five matches but UNI held a 62-51 advantage in total match points, which was the difference.

“There’s no bonus points,” UNI Coach Doug Schwab said. “I’m trying to think of the last meet you guys saw and there was no bonus points. It doesn’t happen a whole lot.

“Highly-contested and real quality teams. I don’t think either side is going to think that was one of our best performances, but I think there is a lot to build off from here.”

The match progressed with teams exchanging wins. It became apparent that it would come down to his bout and he said he welcomes the challenge.

“As long as I don’t use it to put pressure on myself and getting stressed about it,” Runyon said. “You still have to go out there and scrap for seven minutes, so it’s not getting worked up about it’s on me (or) this is make or break. At the end of the day, if you scrap for every point, wrestle hard for seven minutes and leave the result up to God it’s going to take care of itself.

Runyon (6-0) got his first taste at heavyweight, winning the Grand View Open on Nov. 15. He took the mat with the Panthers needing a decision to force criteria. Runyon controlled from start to finish, scoring a takedown in the late seconds of the first and adding a reversal in the second and third periods.

“Lance closing that match out, great job,” Schwab said. “He’s the man. He’s a really good wrestler. He wrestles like a 174-pounder at heavyweight and I think that’s a huge advantage to us because he understands a lot of wrestling positions but he’s also giving up 40, 50 pounds in any given situation. You try to manage that a little bit.”

Runyon and Schwab talked during the offseason. His drop to 174 might have left him susceptible to injuries he’s dealt with the last couple seasons. They decided to bulk up instead of cutting down, especially with the graduation of NCAA qualifier Tyrell Gordon. Now he’s stepping on the scale at 223 with his warmup clothes on, answering who would man that weight class.

“I know how good of a wrestler he is,” said Schwab, who added, “You saw that shot he hit. That was a beautiful attack. You can’t let it get to be a strength or size battle. It has to be a wrestling battle. The more it’s a wrestling battle the more those guys are in trouble. He can handle it.

“We’ve got a pretty damn good heavyweight.”

UNI (1-0, 1-0 Big 12 Conference) held an early edge, getting decisions from Cory Land (133), Cael Happel at 141 and 157-pounder Ryder Down for a 9-6 lead at the midway point. NCAA champion and second-ranked Parker Keckeisen scored two takedowns for a vital 8-3 decision over No. 4 Bennett Berge.

University of Iowa transfer Drake Rhodes (157) and Zach Glazier at 197 and former Southeast Polk prep Cade DeVos (174) gave the Jackrabbits (1-1, 0-1) a 15-12 lead, entering the final match.

“I’m just glad guys were ready to go,” Runyon said. “They were scrapping through everything. We came to win today.”

AT CEDAR FALLS

UNI 16*, South Dakota State 15

(Individual takedowns in parentheses)

125 pounds – Tanner Jordan (SDSU) dec. Kyle Gollhofer, 7-4 (2,1); 133 – Cory Land (UNI) dec. Derrick Cardinal, 9-7 (2,0); 141 – Cael Happel (UNI) dec. Julian Tagg, 4-1 (1,0); 149 – Colin Dupill (SDSU) dec. Adam Allard, 7-6 (2,1); 157 – Ryder Downey (UNI) dec. Cobe Siebrecht, 8-1 (2,0); 165 – Drake Rhodes (SDSU) dec. Jack Thomsen, 12-7 (3,1); 174 – Cade DeVos (SDSU) dec. Jared Simma, 7-6 (1,1); 184 – Parker Keckeisen (UNI) dec. Bennett Berge, 8-3 (2,0); 197 – Zach Glazier (SDSU) dec. Wyatt Voelker, 4-3 (1,0); Hwt. – Lance Runyon (UNI) dec. Luke Rasmussen, 7-2 (1,0)

*-UNI received one point for winning tiebreaker criteria for total match points.

MEET STATISTICS

Takedowns – UNI 12, SDSU 9. Reversals – UNI 3, SDSU 5. Escapes – UNI 14, SDSU 12. Nearfall points – UNI 2, SDSU 0. Penalty points (awarded) – UNI 1, SDSU 0. Riding-time points – UNI 3, SDSU 1. Total match points – UNI 62, SDSU 51.

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com