Loder leads Panthers into Midlands

University of Northern Iowa's Ryan Loder returns to the place that ignited a successful freshman season. Loder is No. 2 on the "top contenders" list for 184 pounds for the two-day 49th Ken Kraft Midlands Championships wrestling tournament, beginning Thursday at Northwestern's Welsh-Ryan Arena in Evanston, Ill.

Below is a news release on Midlands and Panthers wrestling from UNI sports information department:

http://www.unipanthers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=26200&ATCLID=205352818

Select UNI Panther wrestlers will join other elite wrestlers at the 49th annual Ken Kraft Midlands Championships Thursday and Friday. Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., hosts the tournament, which will be held at Welsh-Ryan Arena.

NEWS

LODER NAMED MIDLANDS "TOP CONTENDER"

Five members of the UNI wrestling team took home first place finishes after competing at the Jim Fox Open Dec. 17. Joe Colon (133), Adam Perrin (141), Jarrett Jensen (157), Cody Caldwell (174) and Cody Krumwiede (285) each captured championships in their respective weight classes.

All twelve Panther wrestlers who competed at the Jim Fox Open placed in the top six in their divisions.

FIVE PANTHERS EARN TOP FINISHES AT JIM FOX OPEN

Ryan Loder (184) was named a "top contender" for the upcoming Midlands Championships. The sophomore is ranked No. 2 in the tournament's the 184-pound division. Ranked No. 1 is Lehigh's Robert Hamlin. Hamlin is also ranked No. 1 in the nation by InterMat.

PANTHER POINTS

LODER AMONG THE NATION'S BEST

UNI's Ryan Loder (184), rated No. 6 in the latest InterMat rankings, is one of five ranked wrestlers in his weight class who have competed in at least five matches and have remained undefeated throughout. Loder has one win over a fellow ranked opponent, Central Michigan's Ben Bennett, who was 184-pound's No. 9 wrestler at the time.

COLON MAKES HIS SEASON DEBUT AT JIM FOX OPEN

As a freshman at Iowa Central Community College, Colon won the 2010 NJCAA National Championship at 125 pounds. He was also named the tournament's "Outstanding Wrestler."

Redshirt junior Joe Colon overcame an injury and competed for the first time this season at the Jim Fox Open Dec. 17. Colon breezed through his opponents, taking first place in the 133-pound division with two pins and a tech fall.

VALUABLE EXPERIENCE

Panther wrestling's first-year competitors have gotten plenty of experience at the college level so far this season. Eight of UNI's eleven true freshmen have wrestled in at least fifteen matches thus far.

Many have experienced much success too.

Eight Panther freshmen have finished in the top three of an open tournament at least once. All of those eight also have a first place finish at an open competition.

Adam Perrin (141) and Jarrett Jensen (157) both lead the team in wins with 23 and 21, respectively.