UNI looks to get “Panther train” back on track

CEDAR FALLS — University of Northern Iowa Coach Doug Schwab considered last season as one to forget.

He quickly corrected himself, noting it's better to remember how the Panthers took a step backward after making big strides in his first four years as head coach.

'Obviously the season didn't go the way we wanted,' Schwab said during the team's annual media day Wednesday at West Gym. 'Get a couple guys to the round of 12 (and) get only four guys to the national tournament. You end up .500 in your dual season, but more than anything how we competed isn't what I think of UNI wrestling and what I think of the Panther train and what we're about.

'A lot of those things didn't happen. You take some inventory and you go back to work. The spring and summer was really good.'

The Panthers will try to build off a productive off-season, attempting to improve an 8-8 dual record and 34th-place finish at the national tournament without an All-American. UNI does return four national qualifiers, including Dylan Peters who was an All-American in 2014.

'It wasn't an awful year but it wasn't the year that we wanted,' two-time NCAA qualifying heavyweight and former Independence prep Blaize Cabell said. 'It was definitely a little hard to swallow at times, but I feel the strides that this team has made in the off-season — everybody coming in here scrapping and working out, getting better, people at weights pushing each other — I feel like this team this year is going to be pretty electric. It's going to be exciting to watch.'

The message is simple for the Panthers. Schwab has emphasized production and momentum. The latter was a key part to their 13-0 dual record in 2013-14. Schwab doesn't want them concerned with wins as much as the work they do during practice and in competition.

'Worry about output,' said Schwab, who has a 50-29 record with five All-Americans and 23 NCAA qualifiers. 'Put out as much as you can, try to score as many points as you can, try to be an entertaining wrestler and compete a certain way.'

The Panthers have assembled a deep roster, meshing a strong recruiting class in its first season with experienced starters. Young talent is pushing older teammates, who are rising to the challenge.

'I've seen a jump,' Schwab said. 'I think this year is probably going to be some of the best mix that we've had of younger and older guys.'

Peters, Cabell, Cody Caldwell (184) and two-time qualifier Cooper Moore have national tournament experience. Senior Jarrett Jensen is dropping from 157 to 149. Kyle Lux (174) could see time in the lineup. Jared Bartel and Cody Krumwiede will compete at 197.

Red-shirt freshman Josh Alber (133) and true freshman Bryce Steiert (157) could make an immediate contribution.

Peters placed sixth at 125 at the 2014 NCAA tournament. Unfortunately, he didn't win a match there last season. Schwab said it was a '1-in-100' performance from him.

'Sometimes those things happen,' Schwab said. 'The big thing with any true competitor is how they (recuperate) from that. Do they stay down here or are they able to build themselves back up? It's not easy.'

Peters returned to the practice room the Monday immediately after nationals. The finish was tough to accept, but it drove him during the off-season.

'When it was hot during the summer, we were out on the track,' Peters said. 'There were days when my body was sore and I don't feel like coming in, but you didn't get what you wanted. There's no need to take a day off or rest. There's guys out there out-training and outworking you.'

Moore and Cabell were a match away from placing at the national tournament. Both won their first two matches. Moore recorded two straight pins, decking Virginia's fourth-seeded Nick Sulzer.

'It was not an ideal season last year,' Moore said. 'Obviously, the ending to my NCAA tournament wasn't near what I wanted to do. It was very disappointing compared to my first day of competition.'

Moore will have to wait a little longer than most, suffering another elbow injury similar to the one that hampered him at the end of last season. he will miss the first few weeks of competition, although Schwab said he doesn't have an actual timeline for his return to competition.

'We want to get him back healthy,' Schwab said. 'He's been getting back out drilling now. It's getting closer. If we pressed him, yeah, he could go, but no national titles are won in November.

'We're building him for the future. We were able to focus on some things that maybe he wouldn't have spent time doing.'

Schwab said the Panthers are eager to compete. They will get their chance Nov. 15, facing Hofstra, Oregon State and Rutgers at the Journeyman Duals. UNI will have its chance to get the Panther train rolling forward again.

'There is definitely a fire lit up under everybody right now,' Peters said. 'We didn't get what we wanted. It wasn't an improvement year, so people are coming in here working hard.'

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