Photo Credit: Jacqueline Cordova/CycloneFanatic
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – In front of the largest crowd in McLeod Center history, head coach Doug Schwab and the Panthers finally got their sweet revenge by taking down No. 14 Iowa State 26-10, marking their first win over the Cyclones since 2019.
Head coach Kevin Dresser didn’t mince words after the dual, giving credit to UNI while acknowledging the gap between the two teams.
“Hats off to UNI, coach Schwab, his staff and his team,” Dresser said. “It was obvious that their personnel today was much, much better than our personnel.”
The Cyclones struggled throughout the dual, unable to keep up with a mature and experienced squad. Northern Iowa won seven of the 10 bouts.
“We just didn’t have the horses to go with their horses,” Dresser added. “That’s a pretty mature team, and they’ve been around for a while. It was their day and it wasn’t our day.”
Despite the tough dual, there were bright spots for the Cyclones, including a pivotal win by No. 11 Cody Chittum at 157 pounds. Chittum avenged his Big 12 title match loss to UNI’s Ryder Downey with a 4-2 decision, securing the only takedown in the third period.
“Great win for Cody Chittum,” Dresser said. “Beating that guy, that Ryder Downey, I think has a really high IQ for a wrestler. Chittum put the pressure on him. Chittum is high energy. If you’re not well conditioned, you’re going to have a hard time with Cody Chittum.”
At heavyweight, No. 27 Daniel Herrera provided another highlight, defeating No. 14 Lance Runyon 3-1 with a late third period takedown.
“He’s keeping his name in first place for the most improved guy at the banquet at the end of the year. He just keeps getting better and better and better,” Dresser said of Herrera. “I think that kid at heavyweight for UNI — I know he’s a small heavyweight — but man, can that kid wrestle in a lot of positions. I think we used our size really well in that match and got him tired.”
The loss snapped Iowa State’s three-dual win streak, but Dresser remains focused on growth as the postseason looms.
“This is going to prepare us for March,” Dresser said. “Our Big 12 tournament is going to be really good, and we’ve got to be ready.”
The Cyclones will close out their regular season next Saturday at Missouri, with the dual starting at noon on UCF Fight Pass.
MATCH-BY-MATCH RESULTS
No. 14 Iowa State 10, No. 4 UNI 26
133: #5 Evan Frost (ISU) maj. dec. #17 Julian Farber (UNI), 8-0
141: #4 Cael Happel (UNI) dec. #11 Jacob Frost (ISU), 10-7
149: #15 Colin Realbuto (UNI) dec. #6 Paniro Johnson (ISU), 10-7 SV-1
157: #11 Cody Chittum (ISU) dec. #5 Ryder Downey (UNI), 4-2
165: #20 Jack Thomsen (UNI) dec. Aiden Riggins (ISU), 7-3
174: #19 Jared Simma (UNI) dec. #17 MJ Gaitan (ISU), 7-4
184: #2 Parker Keckeisen (UNI) TF Caleb Helgeson (ISU), 24-8 (4:26)
197: #13 Wyatt Voelker (UNI) dec. Evan Bockman (ISU), 7-2
285: #27 Daniel Herrera (ISU) dec. #14 Lance Runyon (UNI), 3-1
125: Kyle Gollhofer (UNI) WBF Osmany Diversent (ISU), 6:02
Post Dual Press Conference:
