Northern Iowa Panthers wrestling explained
| Northern Iowa Panthers |
| University: | University of Northern Iowa |
| Conference: | Big 12 Conference |
| Conference Short: | Big 12 |
| City: | Cedar Falls |
| Stateabb: | IA |
| State: | Iowa |
| Coach: | Doug Schwab |
| Nickname: | Panthers |
| Total Team National Championships: | 3 |
| Ncaa Individual National Championships: | NCAA Single Division – 1950
NCAA Division II – 1975, 1978 |
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.
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.[1]
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.[2]
Team accomplishments
- NCAA (Single division) Team Champions: 1950[3]
- 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[4] [5]
- 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
Notable Northern Iowa wrestlers
- 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[6]
- NCAA Division I Champion 149 pounds (2000) – Tony Davis
- NCAA Division I Champion 184 pounds (2019) – Drew Foster[7]
- NCAA Division I Champion 184 pounds (2024) – Parker Keckeisen
Notes and References
- News: Official: UNI and Fresno State Joining Big 12 . Nic . Ryder . IAWrestle.com . June 8, 2017 . June 9, 2017.
- Web site: University of Northern Iowa Athletics - 2016-17 Wrestling Coaching Staff.
- Web site: University of Northern Iowa Wrestling 1950 Championship Team. Rod Library, University of Northern Iowa. 2014-02-25.
- Web site: University of Northern Iowa Wrestling 1975 Championship Team. Rod Library, University of Northern Iowa. 2014-02-25.
- Web site: University of Northern Iowa Wrestling 1978 Championship Team. Rod Library, University of Northern Iowa. 2014-02-25.
- Web site: Six-Time All-Americans (Div. I and Div. II). University of Northern Iowa. 2014-02-27.
- Web site: NCAA wrestling championships: Foster is a champ!. Nelson. Jim. Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier. en. 2019-03-24.
