NCAA Wrestling Championships: Outlining paths for 10 UNI Panther wrestlers in Philadelphia
As Northern Iowa wrestling celebrated Parker Keckeisen's first national title, smiles and screams of joy were everywhere on the floor of the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City.
However, coach Doug Schwab still had a message for his team.
"Let's not let him (Parker) be the only one at the party next year," Schwab told the team at nationals. "We're partying with him, but I want other guys to be a part of the party."
As we approach the 2025 NCAA Championships in Philadelphia, the Panthers have put themselves in a good spot to do just that. A 14-1 dual record (best since 1991), 10 NCAA qualifiers (first time since 1986) and five wrestlers seeded 10th or better, UNI has one of the best contingents competing at nationals this season.
If the Panthers are going to be partying hard after a successful NCAAs, here are the paths they will be facing to get there and the keys for each of them.
Northern Iowa wrestling NCAA Championship contenders
Cael Happel - No. 5 seed at 141
Happel's path plays out very, very nicely.
Of his three losses on the season, two of them came to wrestlers who are on the other side of the bracket. He has another loss to Iowa State's Jacob Frost, but that was by medical forfeit and he went on to beat him twice when they actually competed this season.
As the No. 5 seed, he has beaten No. 1 seed Brock Hardy of Nebraska, he placed ahead of No. 8 seed Andrew Alirez (former NCAA champion) at Big 12s this year. The only wrestler of note on his side of the bracket that he has not wrestled or wouldn't be favored over is Josh Koderhandt of Navy (No. 4), whom he could see in the quarterfinals.
In his final go as a Panther, he's got a real path to the finals. If he can get there, it's one match for it all and who knows what could happen.
Ryder Downey - No. 6 seed at 157
Downey is another Panther with a favorable draw, with the first higher-seeded opponent that he could face being No. 3 Antrell Taylor of Nebraska in the quarterfinals. Against Taylor in a dual, he won in a 5-2 sudden victory.
If he can get through that second time, it will, in all likelihood, set him up with the winner of Iowa's Jacori Teemer (No. 18) and Cornell's Meyer Shapiro in the semifinals. Downey is unafraid to get into those wonky positions and scramble like Teemer and Shapiro occasionally.
If he can control that chaos, there's a path to the finals and who knows what could happen from there.
Parker Keckeisen - No. 2 seed at 184
Keckeisen has a 55-match winning streak during in-season competition, winning a title at 184 with an undefeated record last year. His only loss in the last two seasons was in an exhibition with four-time NCAA champion Carter Starocci of Penn State at the NWCA All-Star Classic (4-1 sudden victory for Starocci), who is his top opponent for a national title in his final season.
That will be the storyline all tournament long, and perhaps the finals matchup of the season and beyond. However, keep an eye on his semifinals match with a potential bout with Minnesota's Max McEnelly (No. 3). The talented redshirt freshman took Starocci to overtime and will provide a worthy test to Keckeisen and potentially thwart the Keckeisen vs. Starocci rematch.
If Keckeisen finishes stop the podium, he's a Dan Hodge Trophy contender and will end his career as one of the best Panther wrestlers of all time.
Northern Iowa wrestling NCAA All-American contenders
Colin Realbuto - No. 10 seed at 149
Realbuto's got a bit extra to wrestle for, with his infant daughter Georgia watching him from afar.
He'll have the Citadel's Carson DesRosier first (No. 23, 25-5), who has had a strong year but hasn't wrestled top-tier competition. If Realbuto advances, he'll likely draw Illinois' Kannon Webster (No. 7), who just reached the Big Ten finals and beat Penn State's Shayne Van Ness (No. 3) along the way. With an upset there, he'd likely have a rematch with Nebraska's Ridge Lovett (No. 2) for a spot in the semifinals.
Realbuto's got some nice wins and battles this year, but he's going to have to be ready from the jump to get onto the podium in his final season.
Jared Simma - No. 19 seed at 174
At No. 19 and 21-13 on the year, it may be a bit weird to see Simma here, but it's so hard to count this guy out.
As the No. 28 seed last year, Simma ran all the way to the quarterfinals and nearly defeated former national champion Shane Griffith to get to the semifinals. While he lost in the bloodround and was one win short of becoming an All-American, he still had one of the best runs of the tournament.
With his first round opponent being North Carolina State's Matthew Singleton (No. 14), he'll be the underdog from the jump. That effort he brought to Kansas City in 2024 will need to brought to Philadelphia for 2025.
Wyatt Voelker - No. 7 seed at 197
The Big 12 Champion at 197 pounds is starting to get his flowers for a stellar 2024-25, up to 24-4 on the year.
If he gets through No. 26 Brock Zurawaski of Rider in the first round, things will get tough with a likely matchup with Minnesota's Isaiah Salazar (No. 10) in the second round. Salazar placed sixth at NCAAs last year. A tough win there would set up a bout with No. 2 Stephen Buchanan of Iowa in the quarterfinals if seeding held. Also in his half of the bracket is former national champion AJ Ferrari, who could be waiting in the semifinals.
The 197 class is a tough weight, but the sophomore has had a really good season and could draw some eyes with a strong tournament.
Looking to surprise for Northern Iowa wrestling at the NCAA Championships
Trever Anderson - No. 22 seed at 125
Anderson is appearing in his first NCAAs, coming in with a knack for big wins in his career like he has done against Nebraska's Caleb Smith (No. 9) just this year. This season, he has not lost in bonus-point fashion to any opponent, despite a tough schedule.
Regardless, he's got a tough road beginning with No. 11 Nicolar Rivera of Wisconsin, who defeated Anderson in a 13-8 decision earlier this year. If he can get that match back, Jett Strickenberger of West Virginia (No. 6) is likely next. He beat Anderson by decision this year as well.
Julian Farber - No. 18 seed at 133
Farber has a tough road ahead of him, facing two-time All-American Anthony Noto of Lock Haven (No. 15) in the first round. If he can pull off the upset there, returning NCAA finalist Drake Ayala of Iowa (No. 2) is the next likely opponent.
A lot of work could need to be done on the backside for Farber to have a successful NCAAs, but his third-place finish at Big 12's suggests he can do so.
Jack Thomsen - No. 19 seed at 165
Thomsen is back at NCAAs, once again with a tough road. First, he'll have South Dakota State's Drake Rhodes, who beat Thomsen by decision at the beginning of the season. If Thomsen can reverse that result, his next likely opponent is Michael Caliendo of Iowa (No. 3), who has been one of the best wrestlers in the nation.
Thomsen will either have to do some stellar work in consolations or pull some big upsets early.
Lance Runyon - No. 18 seed at 285
Runyon is wrestling undersized at the weight as a 165-pounder when he arrived at UNI several years ago, but has had a good year nonetheless at 18-7.
First, he'll have Trevor Tinker of Cal Poly, whom he beat by major decision at the Cliff Keen Invitational earlier this year. If he can win again, he would then likely have Wyatt Hendrickson of Oklahoma State, who dominated Runyon in the dual earlier this year.
Barring a shocker there, his work will need to be done in consolations, where matchups are key for the newly turned heavyweight.
Eli McKown covers high school sports and wrestling for the Des Moines Register. Contact him at Emckown@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @EMcKown23.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: UNI wrestling matchups for the NCAA Wrestling Championships
-
NCAA championship brackets released, 3 CSUB wrestlers learn seedings, opposition
The NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships will take place March 20-22 in Philadelphia, but the bracket draws involving the three Cal State Bakersfield wrestlers who qualified in the 125-, 197- ...Yahoo Sports - 3d -
Cowboys ready for first NCAA Championships in David Taylor era
David Taylor and his staff have been working for next week since the moment they landed in Stillwater. The 2025 NCAA DI wrestling championships will be March 20-22 at Wells Fargo Center in ...Yahoo Sports - 3d -
Penn State wrestling in NCAA Championships: What makes Mitchell Mesenbrink so dominant?
The curious story of how Mitchell Mesenbrink came to Penn State wrestling and became a star.Yahoo Sports - 8h -
After biding time at CMU, Brighton's Mason Shrader is NCAA wrestling qualifier
Former Brighton wrestler Mason Shrader stands out in a culture in which college athletes quickly transfer when they don't have immediate success.Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Pitt-Johnstown's Isaiah Vance advances to NCAA Division II wrestling semifinals, Trevon Gray locks down All-American honors
INDIANAPOLIS – Pitt-Johnstown’s Isaiah Vance (285 pounds) won his first two matches to reach the semifinals Friday at the 2025 NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships inside Corteva Coliseum. ...Yahoo Sports - 2d -
Mavericks named to Big 9 all-league wrestling team
Mar. 14—MOSES LAKE — Multiple Moses Lake wrestlers received honors on the Big 9 all-league wrestling team, and the girls wrestling assistant coaching staff was named the assistant staff of the ...Yahoo Sports - 2d -
Report: Philadelphia 76ers to sign Oshae Brissett to a 10-day contract
The Philadelphia 76ers are reportedly signing Oshae Brissett to a 10-day contract.Yahoo Sports - 3d -
Report: Philadelphia 76ers to bring back Chuma Okeke on a 10-day deal
The Philadelphia 76ers are reportedly bringing back Chuma Okeke on a 10-day contract.Yahoo Sports - 1d -
11 area wrestlers earn Keystone State Championships titles
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – Eleven area youth wrestlers earned Keystone State Championships titles Saturday and Sunday at Bryce Jordan Center. In the boys 15-16 bracket, Berlin Brothersvalley's Dawson ...Yahoo Sports - 19h
More from Yahoo Sports
-
Expensive contract extensions coming for Arizona Cardinals
The price for wide receivers and cornerbacks is going up.Yahoo Sports - 13m -
Alabama's NCAA Tournament is "Final Four or bust" for Nate Oats
Nate Oats is about to embark on his eighth go-around of coaching a team in the NCAA Tournament. 10 seasons ago, Oats coached Buffalo to the Big Dance as a No. 14 seed. “Shoot, I was a high school ...Yahoo Sports - 13m -
Nuggets vs. Warriors Prediction: Odds, recent stats, trends , ad best bets for March 17
Denver Nuggets vs. Golden State Warriors PreviewYahoo Sports - 13m -
West Virginia governor threatens legal action against NCAA after Mountaineers’ tournament snub
Governor Patrick Morrisey called the decision a 'miscarriage of justice.'Yahoo Sports - 15m -
Dodgers vs. Cubs prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats
Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Chicago Cubs Game PreviewYahoo Sports - 15m
More in Sports
-
Expensive contract extensions coming for Arizona Cardinals
The price for wide receivers and cornerbacks is going up.Yahoo Sports - 13m -
Alabama's NCAA Tournament is "Final Four or bust" for Nate Oats
Nate Oats is about to embark on his eighth go-around of coaching a team in the NCAA Tournament. 10 seasons ago, Oats coached Buffalo to the Big Dance as a No. 14 seed. “Shoot, I was a high school ...Yahoo Sports - 13m -
Nuggets vs. Warriors Prediction: Odds, recent stats, trends , ad best bets for March 17
Denver Nuggets vs. Golden State Warriors PreviewYahoo Sports - 13m -
NCAA Tournament 2025 bracket: Top simulation predicts surprising upsets, March Madness picks, sleepers
When does the March Madness 2025 schedule start, and when are 2025 NCAA Tournament brackets due? The 2025 March Madness bracket begins on Thursday, March 20CBS Sports - 15m -
West Virginia governor threatens legal action against NCAA after Mountaineers’ tournament snub
Governor Patrick Morrisey called the decision a 'miscarriage of justice.'Yahoo Sports - 15m