Northern Iowa’s Dylan Peters ready for wrestling return

The season has not been as smooth as hoped, but Dylan Peters has persevered through the bumps in the road.

Injuries have sidelined the University of Northern Iowa junior for most of the season. Peters will return for the postseason after a month away from competition.

Peters is the top-seeded 125-pounder at the Mid-American Conference Championships on Saturday and Sunday at Eastern Michigan's Convocation Center in Ypsilanti, Mich. Peters is a two-time conference finalist, winning the 2014 title, and is joined by heavyweight Blaize Cabell as the Panthers' No. 1 seeds.

Peters (12-1) opened the season with eight straight wins and then a knee injury at Cliff Keen Invitational in Las Vegas caused his first setback. After almost two months off, he came back to win four straight but his last match was Feb. 6 against Kent State.

'I think everyone knows this college season gets really long,' Peters said. 'It can be grueling for guys, so it hasn't been the most ideal way to get fresh but I've had some time off where I can get fresh, get my body regrouped and get feeling good.'

UNI Coach Doug Schwab said he could point a finger at multiple wrestlers up and down the lineup, liking how they have prepared.

'I think they are as ready as they've ever been,' Schwab said in an online interview. 'Knock on wood. Healthy as we've ever been this season. That's really what you want.'

Peters is excited to compete, especially in the MAC tournament. Watching his teammates wrestle without him did not set well with the Panthers' leader. Peters fought through the therapy and training to resume practice and competition with the team.

'It hurt real bad,' Peters said. 'It was all to get back with them. They're a driving force in your mind to get better.'

Even when Peters wasn't on the mat, he was still looking to improve. He worked with UNI assistant coach Mark Schwab, strengthening his mental approach.

'We've been working on stuff off the mat, too, being able to keep yourself composed in tough situations and being able to wrestle all seven minutes,' said Peters, who had developed solid conditioning and technique early on and in the off-season. 'We have a good foundation. We worked hard this summer, so I knew when I got hurt there would be a big setback but I had to continue to do things in other areas to get better.'

Peters still has two wins over top-20 opponents. His first match back was an 8-3 win over Central Michigan's No. 19 and third-seeded Brent Fleetwood. He also beat Missouri's 13th-ranked and second-seeded Barlow McGhee before his injury. Peters proved he could gut out victories, despite wearing a brace.

'I found a way to win, even with my knee and everything else going on,' said Peters, who beat Iowa State's Kyle Larson, 9-7. 'There are no excuses when you step out to compete. You're wrestling.'

Peters earned All-American status as a freshman, placing sixth at 125 following his MAC title. He finished a spot lower at conference and missed the podium in his second NCAA appearance. He has been pushed to recapture those postseason honors.

'It's been another big driving force behind me, continuing to work hard,' said Peters, noting the disappointment of achieving your goals as a freshman but falling short the next season. 'You can never be content or complacent. Just knowing people are working hard and you have to work hard, too.'

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