The next stop is Cedar Falls where Doug Schwab has been doing a great job at building up the program at UNI and has another very good incoming freshman class coming in.
125 – Schwarm (Jr) <Bettendorf, IA>
Jacob Schwarm qualified for the tournament last year getting the 16 seed and went 0-2. He had a 25-12 season record.
133 – Wagner (So) <Bettendorf, IA>
Jack Wagner went 7-19 last year and didn’t qualify for the tournament. Incoming true freshman Drew Bennett <Fort Dodge, IA> (an Iowa 3A state champion) and redshirt freshman Jack Skudlarczyk <Bettendorf, IA> may also challenge here.
141 – Alber (Sr) <Dakota, IL>
Three-time qualifier Josh Alber returns for his final season (0-2 in 2018, 2-2 @133 in 2017 @133, 1-2 @133 in 2016). He had a 25-8 season record and 9 seed at the tournament. And here's a trivia tidbit for you; Alber was upset in the first round by Sa'Derian Perry from Eastern Michigan. Perry was the only AA last year that had an overall season losing record (18-19). And for the Penn State tie-in, as most of you probably remember, both Alber and Perry were beaten by Nick Lee in the wrestlebacks.
149 – Thompsen (Jr) <Union, IA>
Max Thompsen had a 28-9 season record last year and made it to the round of 12 in the tournament from the 9 seed. In 2017, Thompsen was an AA, getting 5th place from the 7 seed.
157 –Ryan (Sr) <Bettendorf, IA>
Logan Ryan went 17-10 last year and didn’t qualify for the NCAA tournament.
165 – Steiert (Jr) <Waverly, IA>
Two-time qualifier Bryce Steiert is back from a redshirt season where he went 10-1 (his only loss was to Joseph in the Scuffle and he had a win against Marsteller). He made to the round of 12 from the 11 seed @165 in 2017 and round of 16 (unseeded) @157 in 2016. Last year, Isaiah Patton (Jr) started for UNI and went 11-16 (not qualifying for the tournament).
174 – Lujan (Jr) <Carrollton, GA>
Taylor Lujan is a two-time qualifier for the tournament. He had a 30-7 record last season and made it to the round of 12 in the tournament from the 7 seed (2-2 in 2017 from the 13 seed).
184 – Foster (Sr) <Mediapolis, IA>
Two-time qualifier, one-time AA Drew Foster returns for his final season at UNI. He had a 26-6 season record and went 1-2 in the tournament from the 8 seed last year. In 2017, he placed 7th from the 12 seed.
197 – Holschlag (Jr) <Union, IA>
Jacob Holschlag was UNI's only AA from last year, placing 5th after being unseeded. After a 1st round loss to 6 seed Willie Miklus, Holschlag ran off 5 straight wins in the wrestlebacks (including a rematch with Miklus) before being pinned by Conel and then pinning 2 seed Darmstadt in the 5th place match. Holschlag went 0-2 in the tournament in 2017.
Heavy – Isley (So) <Albia, IA>
Carter Isley had a 23-13 season record last year and didn’t qualify for the tournament.
Northern Iowa returns all 6 of their qualifiers and adds a former qualifier from off his redshirt season. While they only had 1 AA last year, this team is certainly capable of placing more (returning 2 other AAs from 2017). Most of UNI’s wrestlers underperformed compared to seed in the tournament last season. However, the trajectory is nothing but up here. This team should top their 24th place/20 point performance from last season.
125 – Schwarm (Jr) <Bettendorf, IA>
Jacob Schwarm qualified for the tournament last year getting the 16 seed and went 0-2. He had a 25-12 season record.
133 – Wagner (So) <Bettendorf, IA>
Jack Wagner went 7-19 last year and didn’t qualify for the tournament. Incoming true freshman Drew Bennett <Fort Dodge, IA> (an Iowa 3A state champion) and redshirt freshman Jack Skudlarczyk <Bettendorf, IA> may also challenge here.
141 – Alber (Sr) <Dakota, IL>
Three-time qualifier Josh Alber returns for his final season (0-2 in 2018, 2-2 @133 in 2017 @133, 1-2 @133 in 2016). He had a 25-8 season record and 9 seed at the tournament. And here's a trivia tidbit for you; Alber was upset in the first round by Sa'Derian Perry from Eastern Michigan. Perry was the only AA last year that had an overall season losing record (18-19). And for the Penn State tie-in, as most of you probably remember, both Alber and Perry were beaten by Nick Lee in the wrestlebacks.
149 – Thompsen (Jr) <Union, IA>
Max Thompsen had a 28-9 season record last year and made it to the round of 12 in the tournament from the 9 seed. In 2017, Thompsen was an AA, getting 5th place from the 7 seed.
157 –Ryan (Sr) <Bettendorf, IA>
Logan Ryan went 17-10 last year and didn’t qualify for the NCAA tournament.
165 – Steiert (Jr) <Waverly, IA>
Two-time qualifier Bryce Steiert is back from a redshirt season where he went 10-1 (his only loss was to Joseph in the Scuffle and he had a win against Marsteller). He made to the round of 12 from the 11 seed @165 in 2017 and round of 16 (unseeded) @157 in 2016. Last year, Isaiah Patton (Jr) started for UNI and went 11-16 (not qualifying for the tournament).
174 – Lujan (Jr) <Carrollton, GA>
Taylor Lujan is a two-time qualifier for the tournament. He had a 30-7 record last season and made it to the round of 12 in the tournament from the 7 seed (2-2 in 2017 from the 13 seed).
184 – Foster (Sr) <Mediapolis, IA>
Two-time qualifier, one-time AA Drew Foster returns for his final season at UNI. He had a 26-6 season record and went 1-2 in the tournament from the 8 seed last year. In 2017, he placed 7th from the 12 seed.
197 – Holschlag (Jr) <Union, IA>
Jacob Holschlag was UNI's only AA from last year, placing 5th after being unseeded. After a 1st round loss to 6 seed Willie Miklus, Holschlag ran off 5 straight wins in the wrestlebacks (including a rematch with Miklus) before being pinned by Conel and then pinning 2 seed Darmstadt in the 5th place match. Holschlag went 0-2 in the tournament in 2017.
Heavy – Isley (So) <Albia, IA>
Carter Isley had a 23-13 season record last year and didn’t qualify for the tournament.
Northern Iowa returns all 6 of their qualifiers and adds a former qualifier from off his redshirt season. While they only had 1 AA last year, this team is certainly capable of placing more (returning 2 other AAs from 2017). Most of UNI’s wrestlers underperformed compared to seed in the tournament last season. However, the trajectory is nothing but up here. This team should top their 24th place/20 point performance from last season.
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