Excitement swirls around upcoming UNI wrestling season

CEDAR FALLS – University of Northern Iowa Doug Schwab needs an outlet for the adrenaline created by his anticipation for the upcoming season.

Get him a wrestling match, dodgeball game or push-up contest to relieve his desire for competition before his Panthers take the mat for the Cobber Open in Moorhead, Minn., on Nov. 16.

“It's getting to where I'm antsy right now,” Schwab said Wednesday during the team's annual media event at the West Gym. “It's almost to where I have to figure out where I can compete otherwise I might just explode.

“I'm ready for our guys to get out there and our guys have the same mentality right now.”

Schwab is not alone. A swell of excitement has been generated by the Panthers resurgence, energizing the fans, wrestlers and staff. UNI looks poised to improve on a 15th-place finish at the NCAA Championships in March with one of the more talented and deeper teams in recent years.

The Panthers are not focused on maintaining a top-15 finish. The goal is to continue to climb into the upper echelon of Division I programs. So, 15th place with one All-American does not mean as much as it might have at the end of the season that included a 9-5 dual mark.

“It's a great step, but we want to keep shrinking that number down,” Schwab said. “They understand that. They want more. None of them are happy with what they got last year and that's a great thing.”

It spawned greater dedication from the wrestlers, attempting to make personal gains. Schwab said he has seen a different mentality and more confidence from his wrestlers since the 2013 NCAA tournament. He considers it the best calendar year since he took over the program and it is stems from the wrestler's effort and willingness to buy into the team's vision.

“They're on board with what we're doing,” said Schwab who has coined the “Panther Train” phrase for the program. “They're on the train and they're driving the train. They're driving this train very fast.”

Off-season training has been at the heart of the movement. Numerous wrestlers stayed in Cedar Falls and routinely worked out, trying to improve. All-American Ryan Loder and senior captain Joey Lazor returned from trips home to California and Georgia, respectively, and were amazed by the participation in offseason training.

“There wasn't one guy who strayed and went home,” Loder said. “Everyone was here.”

Whether it was getting bigger and stronger to increase size and strength or refining technique, the Panthers were determined to put in the time and get better. The effort was unified.

“As a team, we were coming in and doing these things instead of individually as a couple guys,” Lazor said. “As a team, we want to get better. We are doing the things necessary.”

Loder is the most accomplished wrestler back, placing seventh at 184 pounds last year. Loder is a three-time national qualifier, reaching the round of 12 twice. He had his sights set on something better.

“He was one of the most disappointed All-Americans I have seen,” Schwab said. “He wasn't happy with being seventh. He got over a big hump and I like where he's at now. I like his leadership. I think Loder is set to have a huge senior season.”

Loder is driven by shrinking his own number. The goal is trimming seven down to No. 1.

“I tried to be on top of the podium,” Loder said. “There were a lot of good guys at 184, which everyone knows. It was a stacked weight class. A couple of minor details put me at seventh. I want to change that around this year.”

“I think about it every day. I think about it when I get tired. Maybe I shouldn't get up in the morning. He's getting up so I'll get up. Maybe that little difference is going to change from being taken down at the end to scoring the extra point.”

Levi Wolfensperger (133) and Lazor (141) were NCAA qualifiers one win away from reaching the podium last season.

Lazor was challenged by Schwab and has gained the respect of everyone in the program. He was one of the breakout performers last season.

“He's become a leader on the team,” Schwab said. “We have captains on our team. Last year I think he got a couple votes. This year, he was on almost on every single guy's ballot.

“If that doesn't tell you what our athletes think of him and how he's taken that leadership role then nothing will.”

Joe Colon has been allowed to come back to the team after being dismissed for unspecified reasons last season. Colon, a 2010 NJCAA champion for Iowa Central, qualified for the 2012 national tournament and reached the round of 12.

Top prospects include highly-touted freshmen Dylan Peters (125) and Cooper Moore (165). Sophomore Cody Caldwell (174) is also among the top returners.

“We have one All-American back,” Schwab said. “The other guys have to make a name for themselves.

“We just want to see improvement. That's the biggest thing for us.”

The Panthers are balanced and deep. Schwab said he has options and competition at every weight. He wants to have wrestlers earn a spot and then have someone constantly “breathing down their neck” to knock them out of the lineup.

“Having competition in the room breeds success,” Schwab said. “You've got to have those guys in the room to battle with each other.”

He isn't concerned of quantity over quality. The numbers also contain talent.

“Decent depth is not what we want,” Schwab said. “We want quality depth. We want guys that all can score points at the national tournament. That's what it's about.”

Loder said the competition in the wrestling room has increased the overall intensity. The team as a different feel and one he is ready to see in action.

“I don't want to put a cap on it,” Loder said about the Panthers' potential. “The difference between this year and last year is incredible. I really want to see how this team does in the next couple weeks and gauge off that. There's no limit right now.”