The University of Northern Iowa wrestling team had their first competition of the season last Saturday at the Harold Nichols Cyclone Open in Ames, Iowa.

Eleven UNI wrestlers took part in the competition, with six wrestlers placing in the top six of various weight classes, including a number of freshmen who got their first taste of collegiate wrestling.
Dylan Peters, a freshman three-time state champion at Denver-Tripoli, won the 125-pound weight class. Peters started the day off by pinning Chad McCannon from Iowa Central in 2 minutes, 45 seconds, and would go on to win every match of the day, finishing 5-0.

Joe Colon, a returning NCAA national qualifier, finished first in the 133-pound weight class, ending the day with a perfect 5-0 record.

Tyler Willers, also competing at 133 pounds, placed sixth, finishing 3-3. Two of his victories came by pins in 5 minutes, 56 seconds and 6 minutes, 1 second. Willers is a freshman from Leclaire, Iowa, where he competed for Pleasant Valley High School and won two state championships.

Gunnar Wolfensperger, another state champion from Denver-Tripoli, ended the day with a 3-3 record, with all of his wins coming by decisions. He finished sixth place in the 141-pound weight class.
Zach Witte, a former two-time state champion for Cedar Rapids Prairie High School, ended his first collegiate meet with a 7-1 record and a third-place finish at 157 pounds. He won two matches on technical falls and two more by decision. He also beat teammate Curt Maas 3-1.

Blaize Cabell finished in fifth place in the 197-pound weight class for the second year in a row. He ended the day with a 5-1 record. His wins included a technical fall over teammate Kyle Beale and one pin in 4 minutes, 13 seconds.

The other Northern Iowa competitors were Tyler Patten (1-2), Curt Maas (1-2), Kyle Beale (0-2), Aaron McMurphy (1-2) and Jared DeGeeter (0-2).

The Panthers’ next meet is Saturday in Moorhead, Minn., at the Cobber Open.