The Northern Iowa Panthers wrestling team represents the University of Northern Iowa and competes in the Big 12 Conference. The Panthers are one-time Division I National Champions and four-time National Runners-up. The team is coached by Doug Schwab.
| Northern Iowa Panthers | |
|---|---|
 | |
| University | University of Northern Iowa |
| Head Coach | Doug Schwab |
| Conference | Big 12 |
| Location | Cedar Falls, IA |
| Nickname | Panthers |
| Colors | Purple and old gold[1] |
| Team national championships | |
| 3 | |
| National championship years | |
| NCAA Single Division – 1950 NCAA Division II – 1975, 1978 | |
The University of Northern Iowa Wrestling team, founded in 1923, won the NCAA (Single division) national championship in 1950 and the NCAA Division II national championships in 1975 and 1978. They competed in the Western Wrestling Conference until 2012, when UNI became an associate member of the Mid-American Conference since the Missouri Valley Conference is a non-wrestling conference. The Panthers continued to compete in the MAC through the 2016–17 season, after which they moved to the Big 12.[2]
Doug Schwab is the current head coach for the Northern Iowa Wrestling Team. Mission Statement - To communicate with UNI wrestling fans to support, encourage, promote a successful UNI wrestling tradition.[3]
Team accomplishments
edit- NCAA (Single division) Team Champions: 1950[4]
- NCAA (Single division) Team Runner-Up: 1946, 1947, 1949 and 1952
- NCAA (Single division) Team Third Place: 1937
- NCAA Division II Team Champions: 1975 and 1978[5][6]
- NCAA Division II Team Runner-Up: 1970, 1972, 1974 and 1980
- NCAA Division II Team Third Place: 1963, 1967, 1969, 1976, 1977 and 1979
Olympians
edit| Northern Iowa wrestlers in the Olympics | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Name | Country | Style | Weight Class | Place |
| 1932 Los Angeles | Maynard Harman |  United States
|
Freestyle | – | ALT |
| 1948 London | Bill Nelson | United States
|
Freestyle | – | ALT |
| 1948 London | Bill Koll | United States
|
Freestyle | 67 kg | 5th |
| 1948 London | Gerry Leeman | United States
|
Freestyle | 57 kg | Silver |
| 1952 Helsinki | Bill Smith | United States
|
Freestyle | 73 kg | Gold |
Notable Northern Iowa wrestlers
edit- Olympic Gold Medalist (1952) and two-time NCAA champion (1949, 1950) – Bill Smith
- Olympic Silver Medalist (1948) and NCAA champion (1946) – Gerry Leeman
- Pan American Games Gold Medalist (1975) – Mike McCready
- Pan American Games Gold Medalist (1993) – Justin Greenlee
- Pan American Games Silver Medalist (1990) – Mark Pustelnik
- NCAA All-American (1932) and member of 1932 U.S. Olympic freestyle team – Maynard Harmon
- Three-time NCAA Champion (1946, 1947, 1948) and member of 1948 U.S. Olympic freestyle team, finishing 5th – Bill Koll
- Three-time NCAA Champion (1947, 1949, 1950) member of 1948 U.S. Olympic freestyle team – Bill Nelson
- Three-time NCAA Champion (1949, 1950, 1951) – Keith Young
- Three-time NCAA Division II Champion (1976, 1977, 1978) – Gary Bentrim
- Three-time NCAA Division II Champion (1978, 1979, 1980) and six-time All-American – Kirk Myers[7]
- NCAA Division I Champion 149 pounds (2000) – Tony Davis
- NCAA Division I Champion 184 pounds (2019) – Drew Foster[8]
- NCAA Division I Champion 184 pounds (2024) – Parker Keckeisen
References
edit- ^ University of Northern Iowa Athletics Style Guide (PDF). January 25, 2021. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
- ^ Ryder, Nic (June 8, 2017). "Official: UNI and Fresno State Joining Big 12". IAWrestle.com. Retrieved June 9, 2017.
- ^ "University of Northern Iowa Athletics - 2016-17 Wrestling Coaching Staff".
- ^ "University of Northern Iowa Wrestling 1950 Championship Team". Rod Library, University of Northern Iowa. Retrieved 2014-02-25.
- ^ "University of Northern Iowa Wrestling 1975 Championship Team". Rod Library, University of Northern Iowa. Retrieved 2014-02-25.
- ^ "University of Northern Iowa Wrestling 1978 Championship Team". Rod Library, University of Northern Iowa. Retrieved 2014-02-25.
- ^ "Six-Time All-Americans (Div. I and Div. II)". University of Northern Iowa. Retrieved 2014-02-27.
- ^ Nelson, Jim. "NCAA wrestling championships: Foster is a champ!". Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier. Retrieved 2019-03-24.