UNI Wrestling Takes Down No. 21 Old Dominion, 18-16

The University of Northern Iowa Panthers wrestling team took down its first top-25 team of the season with an 18-16 win over No. 21 Old Dominion on Senior Night (February 19, 2015).

The win over the second-ranked MAC team improves UNI to 8-8 overall and 5-3 in the MAC. ODU falls to 12-5 overall, 5-2 in the MAC.

ODU jumped out to a nine-point lead before UNI’s lone senior in the starting lineup grabbed the Panthers’ first decision and started a Panther streak.

After a scoreless first period in the 197-pound match, Basil Minto rolled out of the grasp of Kevin Beazley to go up 1-0. Beazley got an escape of his own, and Minto responded with the final takedown. Minto’s decision pulled UNI within six points and set up the heavyweight match with No. 10 Blaize Cabell and Matt Tourdot.

Cabell grabbed five takedowns to get an 11-4 decision.

Cabell is the lone Panther to finish the dual season undefeated, finishing 8-0 in the MAC and 16-0 overall in duals.

The junior hasn’t lost a match since Dec. 6 at the Cliff Keen Invite. Tonight’s win extends his streak to 13 matches.

No. 5 Dylan Peters racked up more than three minutes of riding time and tied up the team score with an 8-3 decision at 125 pounds over Brandon Jeske.

Leighton Gaul would give UNI its first lead at 133 pounds. His 12-6 decision put the Panthers up 12-9.

The Monarchs’ No. 12 Chris Mecate tied up the team score with a 9-2 decision over Tyler Willers at 141 pounds. ODU went on to win the next match to give the Monarchs a four-point lead.

It came down to Jarrett Jensen at 157 pounds. He secured the team victory with a fall in 2 minutes, 14 seconds over T.C. Warner. Jensen enters the MAC tournament ranked fourth and on four-match streak, including a win over No. 4 Ian Miller of Kent State.

“For our team, there is no better example of perseverance and sticking to it and believing the work is going to pay off than Jarrett Jensen,” said head coach Doug Schwab. “His first couple of years haven’t been great, but he comes out and battles every single time. He’s going to make every guy earn every penny."

UP NEXT: UNI will head to the MAC Championships in Columbia, Missouri, to compete March 7-8 to qualify for the NCAA tournament set for March 19-21 in St. Louis, Missouri.

RESULTS (Officials: Tim Shiels and Eric Lehrke; Attendance: 1,850)

UNI 18, ODU 16