UNI wrestling, Max Thomsen face tough test against Virginia Tech

CEDAR FALLS — Max Thomsen owns high expectations for this season.

The Northern Iowa redshirt freshman doesn't want to talk about them. He prefers his actions speak for themselves.

'I have my goals and they're extremely high,' said Thomsen, a four-time state champion from Union. 'I'm going to keep those to myself. ...

I'm more about showing you on the mat than talking about it.'

Thomsen and the 22nd-ranked Panthers have a chance to make a substantial statement Friday night, hosting No. 6 Virginia Tech at the West Gym starting at 7 p.m. Thomsen, ranked 14th, is expected to face No. 6 Solomon Chishko at 149 pounds.

'Their 149-pounder was an All-American as a freshman last year,' UNI Coach Doug Schwab said. 'Obviously, we'll get a chance to see where Max is at.'

Thomsen is 6-0 overall, following a 20-4 record unattached last season. He claimed a title at the Grand View Open and has two dual victories. Thomsen posted a pin and major decision in UNI's home-opening duals against Nebraska-Kearney and Utah Valley.

'Max looked good,' Schwab said. 'I really like how he's competing. He's competing very composed, but very relentless, too, in positions and attacking.'

Chishko will be a tougher test than Thomsen has faced this season. The Hokies sophomore is 3-0 and won 30 matches last year, placing sixth at 141 at the NCAA Championships. Thomsen can prove he belongs in the all-American discussion.

Thomsen has seen freshmen make their mark, including teammate Bryce Steiert who was two wins away from the podium last year at 157.

'It really put a fire in my stomach, being like I want my turn right now,' Thomsen said. 'I'm ready to go. Now, it's here.'

The Hokies own a 3-2 series lead. Virginia Tech has seven wrestlers ranked by trackwrestling.com, which is two more than UNI. Schwab joked that they are all big matches since there are only 10 weights.

'They finish off strong,' Schwab said. 'Their upper weights are really solid, but they are really solid throughout.

'Our guys have to look at it as a huge opportunity to make a statement individually to the nation, and then as a team to the nation that we have a team that is ready to be one of the best teams in the country, and we're not going to wait to do it.'

The dual could mark the return of two-time All-American 125-pounder Dylan Peters, who is working back from offseason knee surgery. If he takes the mat, Peters would likely take on third-ranked Joey Dance.

'He's getting closer and closer,' Schwab said. 'The thing is you love a guy who wants to be out there.

'Dylan is a very calculated kid. He's not a spur-of-the-moment, jump-into-things (person). If he knows he is ready you have to feel that he knows he is ready.'

The Panthers have impressed Schwab so far. They have continued to try to score points, looking for bonus-points victories. They will need a similar approach against a Hokies team poised to make another trophy run at the national tournament.

'Obviously, we're going to have to that do again and then keep raising our level,' Schwab said. 'Virginia Tech is a good team."

IOWA HOSTS IOWA CITY DUALS

Third-ranked Iowa will host Iowa Central Community College and Cornell College for the Iowa City Duals on Friday at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The Hawkeyes will wrestle Iowa Central at 9 a.m. and the Rams at 10:30. Cornell and Iowa Central will face each other in the final dual of the day.

Iowa is 25-0 in the Iowa City Duals. The Hawkeyes have combined for a 242-8 record in the event.

'This is important this weekend,' Iowa Coach Tom Brands said of the Iowa City Duals and admitted it's not highly competitive. 'You have to be ready every time out.'

The field has been bigger in the past. Last year, Iowa added a Big Ten opponent (Maryland) before taking on Iowa City Duals foes. Upcoming duals prevented them from doing it again.

'We didn't push it because we have Purdue, South Dakota State and Iowa State, coming right after that,' Brands said. 'This is one of those things where the balance of the schedule comes into play.'

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