Wrestling Weekend That Was: University of Northern Iowa seniors cap home career in front of record-setting crowd

University of Northern Iowa seniors cap home competition in memorable fashion. Iowa swept final Big Ten foes. Wamac Conference flexes its muscle again and Coe closes dual season in the Wrestling Weekend That Was.

MEMORABLE DAY FOR UNI SENIORS

UNI Coach Doug Schwab envisioned this scenario leading up to the home finale against intrastate rival Iowa State. He wanted an electric atmosphere with a packed McLeod Center, ushering off the best senior class (Only rivaled by the 2020 class) in his 15-year tenure and arguably one of the best in the storied program’s history.

Whether it was one last chance to see seniors like NCAA champion Parker Keckeisen and two-time national qualifier Cael Happel wrestle and win one last time at home, the prospects of No. 4 UNI besting No. 14 Iowa State for the first time in the seniors’ careers or the free tattoos provided by former Panther wrestler Isaiah Patton (co-owner of Honey and Vinegar Tattoos in Cedar Falls), a McLeod Center record crowd of 7,348 witnessed the 26-10 victory and the first over Iowa State since 2019.

The attendance record is for all sports in the arena, including men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball. It was a fitting way to celebrate seniors’ last home event.

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“Wrestling is beside the name of the record in this building,” Schwab said. “To me, that’s exactly how it should be. When I was thinking about this a couple weeks ago, that’s exactly what I wanted.

“That’s the way these guys need to be sent out, should have been sent out because they’ve earned it.”

The intense dual against the Cyclones, which included a heated exchange between coaches toward the end of the 149-pound that ended with Colin Realbuto’s sudden-victory win over No. 6 Paniro Johnson. UNI managed to win most of the hard-fought wins, like No. 5 Happel’s 10-7 decision over No. 9 Jacob Frost with a late takedown.

“One thing we didn’t talk about directly, but Iowa State has won the last handful of years,” Schwab said. “The seniors haven’t been on a team that’s beat them.

“Good on Iowa State’s part but that’s something that you want to stop. They wanted to be part of the class that did that. They did it today.”

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Realbuto noted that it wasn’t as much the win over Iowa State, which he said replaced the Panthers’ dual win at Oklahoma State as his best memory with the program. The climb to reach this point and tying the program’s highest National Wrestling Coaches Association dual ranking and first since 1988 makes it special.

“Ever since I’ve gotten here, we’ve been building,” Realbuto said. “I got here back in 2020 and just the level of the room has been growing at such a consistent basis. Just consistent improvements for the last four or five years. This wasn’t a this-year thing. The team has been building for a while

“This is who we are now. We’re No. 4 in the country.”

Keckeisen received a deserved standing ovation. He has thrilled UNI fans since he officially joined the lineup for the 2020-21 season. He went from no fans in the stands due to the pandemic to the largest crowd to see a sporting event in the McLeod Center.

“It means the world,” Keckeisen said about the support. “I was talking to Doug and he’s like you came on the Panther Train a boy and now you’re leaving as a man.”

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Keckeisen was his dominant self, recording a 24-8 technical fall over Caleb Helgeson in just 4:26. He improved to 19-0 this season, winning his 50 th straight match and raising his career record to 124-5 all-time. He never lost a match at home and went 36-0 in Big 12 Conference duals.

Keckeisen is likely to become a five-time All-American, adding to last year’s 184-pound title, a runner-up finish in 2023 (his last loss) and third-place finishes in his first two seasons.

“The Class of 2020 class played a pivotal role in my career,” said Keckeisen, who reflected on wise words of teammate and 2020 senior Taylor Lujan. “When you put that Panther singlet on it means something. It’s more than just you. … There’s 7,000 people behind you. There’s alumni. I saw (former teammate) Jacob Holschlag right on matside. He’s one of my good buddies. Taylor Lujan, a good buddy. It means a lot.”

RANDOM THOUGHTS ON IOWA’S SWEEP

Jesse Ybarra filled in for NCAA finalist Drake Ayala and earned a victory against Northwestern Sunday. It was just his fourth match of the season and his first dual appearance since Feb. 12, 2022 when Iowa defeated Oklahoma State, 23-9, in Bout at the Ballpark in Arlington, Texas. Ybarra beat Massey Odiotti, 7-3, at 133 pounds. … Michael Caliendo dismantled two more opponents, posting technical falls over Minnesota’s No. 10 Andrew Sparks, 21-5, and Northwestern’s No. 16 Maxx Mayfield, 19-4. Since his match against Penn State’s top-ranked Mitchell Messenbrink, No. 2 Caliendo is 4-0 and has outscored foes, 71-20, with three technical falls. … Heavyweight Ben Kueter bounced back with a decisive win to cap Sunday’s win over the Wildcats. After a tough loss to Olympic champion, two-time Hodge Trophy winner and top-ranked Gable Steveson at Minnesota, Kueter thumped the Wildcats’ Dirk Morley, 20-4. … Nelson Brands returned for his first action since Dec. 6. He defeated Aiden Vandenbusch, 21-5. Patrick Kennedy had wrestled well but has lost four of his last five. It will be interesting how the weight plays out with only a dual against Oklahoma State left before the Big Ten Championships.

WAMAC CONFERENCE QUALIFIERS

Wamac Conference teams will be well represented at the Class 2A and 3A state tournaments, beginning Wednesday at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines. The power-packed conference qualified 71 total wrestlers. Clear Creek Amana (3A) and Williamsburg (2A) led the way with 11 qualifiers apiece. Williamsburg set a team record and CCA match its team record from last season.

Independence and West Delaware each had 10, while 2024 2A runner-up Mount Vernon has nine. Ten of 12 conference programs had at two qualifiers or more.

COE BOUNCES BACK TO BEAT SPARTANS

Coe closed its regular season with a 31-14 dual win at No. Dubuque Friday. The Kohawks won seven of 10 matches, receiving pins from Ty Koedam (157) and Bryce Parke at 133. Dresden Grimm (149) and 184-pounder Jared Voss added major decisions, while L.J. Richardson posted a technical fall at 174. Coe finished 10-5 overall and 6-2 in the American Rivers Conference. The Kohawks placed second behind champion Wartburg.

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