UNI's Colon, Peters move on to semifinals

OKLAHOMA CITY - The University of Northern Iowa will have at least two All-Americans for the second straight year.

It is the first time since 2004-05 the Panthers have had multiple placewinners in consecutive years.

UNI's Dylan Peters and Joe Colon moved into the top six of their respective weights, posting wins in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships on Friday at Chesapeake Energy Arena. The Panthers were 12th in the team standings with 26 1/2 points.

"That is good for our program," UNI Coach Doug Schwab said. "(Dylan) is a freshman and he has won 20 matches in a row and is in the semifinals of the national tournament. That is great for us, great for him and the program and now that we are there let's go to the finals...

"Joe, two years ago he got beat in that round and didn't all-American. Sometimes that is a huge thing. It is going to be a scrap tonight. They have battled twice before and I know one thing has been on his mind all season and that is to win a national title. He has a chance tonight to put himself in the finals."

The Panthers have two more alive in the consolation bracket. Joey Lazor (141) lost a 5-2 decision to Penn State's third-seeded Zain Retherford in the quarterfinal. All-American Ryan Loder won his third straight consolation match, reaching the round of 12 for the fourth straight year. He was seventh last year.