WWC MATCHUPS SET FOR FRIDAY, SATURDAY
UNI is set to take on a pair of Western Wrestling Conference opponents this Friday and Saturday in the McLeod Center. UNI will take on Wyoming Friday at 7 p.m., and will then challenge Northern Colorado Saturday at 1 p.m.

UNRANKED OPPOSITION
For the first time this season, the Panthers will take to the mat against unranked opponents when they face Wyoming and Northern Colorado. All six of UNI's dual matches so far this season have come against opponents ranked in the top 10.

The Panthers secured a victory over No. 10-ranked Chattanooga and tied No. 10-ranked Wisconsin. UNI has suffered setbacks against No. 1 Iowa, No. 2/3 Iowa State (twice) and No. 7 Michigan.

PANTHERS OWN COMMANDING SERIES LEADS
UNI holds a 12-4 all-time series lead against Wyoming, including a current streak of 10 in a row. The Panthers are 2-0 all-time against Northern Colorado in dual action.

BIG WIN FOR ETTELSON
Senior C.J. Ettelson (Hudson, Iowa) scored one of the biggest wins of his collegiate career at the National Duals when he knocked off undefeated and No. 1-ranked Kellen Russell of Michigan, 9-3. Ettelson moved to 86-44 overall in his career and 23-18 in duals.

D-BO'S PERFECT WEEKEND
UNI's Dustin Bauman completed a perfect week with a pair of wins for the

Panthers at the 2008 NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals.

Bauman scored a 2-0 victory over Michigan's Chad Bleske in the first round of the National Duals. Bauman then recorded the Panthers' only victory against Iowa State with 4-2 sudden victory over Joe Curran.

Bauman improved to 8-8 on the season and has won three straight dual matches.

UNI ON RADIO/INTERNET
UNI Panther wrestling fans can follow Sunday's dual between the Panthers and Mocs via the radio and internet. Fans in the Cedar Valley can listen in on 99.3-FM (KWAY) and fans outside the local area can tune in via UNI's website and listen through UNI Panthers All-Access for a nominal fee. Benjamin Hupke (play-by-play) and Benji Dolly (analyst) will have the call.

MOZA PINS TO WIN
Junior 157-pounder Moza Fay (Anamosa, Iowa) leads the squad this season with 13 total wins and five falls.

Fay is ranked as high at No. 4 at 157 pounds by the Amateur Wrestling News.

Fay reached the Round of 12 at last year's NCAA Championship and will be looking to make his second trip to nationals this season.

He has a career mark of 78-24 entering this weekend's matches against Wyoming and Northern Colorado.

C.J. CLOSES IN ON TOP 20 VICTORY CHART
C.J. Ettelson will take his 86 career wins into this weekend's pair of duals. Ettelson needs six more wins to rank in the top 20 at UNI when it comes to individual victories.

Efonda Sproles (1979-82) ranks No. 20 on the Panthers' all-time victory list with 92. Kirk Myers (1978-82) and Rich Powers (1988-92) are tied at the top of the list with 134 wins apiece.

UNI IN NATIONAL POLLS
The Panther wrestling team dropped out of the USA Today/InterMat/NWCA national rankings after dropping decisions to Michigan and Iowa State.

However, UNI is ranked No. 30 in the nation in the latest Wrestling Report poll.

ANDERSON CONTINUES HIS MIDLANDS SURGE
Junior 197-pounder Andrew Anderson (Sioux City, Iowa) has taken part in three Midlands wrestling championships and placed in the top six in all three. Anderson placed fifth in 2005, sixth in 2006 and then placed sixth again in this year's tournament.

Anderson is 11-7 on the season and has vaulted into a No. 16 national ranking from the Amateur Wrestling News, W.I.N. Magazine and The Wrestling Report. Anderson is ranked No. 20 in the USA Today/NWCA/InterMat rankings as well.

One of Anderson's biggest wins at the Midlands tournament came in the consolation portion of the bracket when he knocked off highly-ranked Matt Koz of Chattanooga. Koz is a two-time national qualifier.

UNI STRUGGLES AT NATIONAL DUALS
The UNI wrestling team struggled a bit at this year's 2008 NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals. The Panthers ran into No. 7 Michigan in the first round and then had to battle No. 3 Iowa State in the first round of consolation matches.

Michigan tallied a 30-6 victory over the Panthers. UNI's C.J. Ettelson (141) and Dustin Bauman (285) were the lone Panthers to capture wins.

Iowa State then recorded a 31-3 triumph with only Bauman coming up victorious for the Panthers.

UNI has posted a mark of 7-21 in 10 all-time appearances at the National Duals.

PLEDGES FOR PINS
Fall means the UNI wrestling season is underway, but it also means its "fall-athon" time: time for our second "Pledges for Pins" drive. But first let's look at what is being accomplished with pledges for last year's team total of 48 pins that brought in nearly $25,000.

A complete makeover of both sides of the West gym's north hallway, including action shots of all UNI national champions. (View the plans at www.thesignpeople.net; click on "Artwork," then enter "wrestling" as the "magic word.")

Coach Brad Penrith's former office now serves as a wrestlers' study and video room and contains a desk for assistant Tolly Thompson. The room's new doors now open into the assistant coaches' office.

A former athletic trainer's room is being updated for the first time in about 30 years to become Brad's office.

Exposed plumbing was covered in a tiny custodial office now used for wrestling supplies.

Why is a Pledges for Pins drive necessary? Panther wrestlers compete in the first-rate McLeod center but sorely lack updated facilities in the West gym, which remains their home. This site pales in comparison to that of nearly every other Division I university, a definite recruiting disadvantage for the Panthers.

In recent years, rising costs and lower state funds have combined to severely limit help from the university itself, so those of us as who care about returning the UNI program to its stature as one of the top in the nation are lending our support.

Any pledge amount, from $1 up, is welcome. Donors may specify a maximum number of pins for their contribution; for example, $20 for a maximum 50 pins ($1,000). Outright donations are also welcome, but PLEASE specify to the UNI Foundation that these are for the Pledges for Pins project. Contributors will be sent a statement at the end of the season, and all contributions are tax-deductible.

Pledges and donations should be sent, via the enclosed card, to Pledges for Pins, UNI Foundation Accounting, 1221 W. 23rd St, Cedar Falls, IA 50614 -0239.

Last year, Panther wrestlers built an elementary school playground, moved a hospital daycare center's playground equipment, donated money for Christmas gifts for a classroom of low-income children (and sang them carols), read to children at area schools, and served as Safe Date escorts during Homecoming Week. And they did all this while posting the fifth-highest GPA in the nation, behind Duke, Stanford, Brown and Princeton! Now we can show them our spirit and concern.

NCAA DIVISION I WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS IN ST. LOUIS
The 78th Annual NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships take place March 20-22, 2008, at Scottrade Center in St. Louis.

The Gateway City will once again host the tournament for two years as it heads back to the Arch in March.

For tickets to the 2008 championships, visit Ticketmaster.com or charge by phone at 314/ 421-1888 or 866/ 646-8849 (toll free).

For more information about the 2008 Wrestling Championships visit www.NCAAsports.com or www.stlsports.org/wrestling.

Good seats are still available for the 2008 NCAA Wrestling Championships. Fans can order tickets by calling 866/ 646-8849 or logging on to Ticketmaster.com. Tickets start as low as $60.

Groups of fifteen or more can call 314/ 206-7388 for great ticket discounts and special packages.

THE Brad Penrith SHOW
The Brad Penrith Show will be broadcast each Wednesday on KWAY (99.3-FM) from 7 p.m. - 8 p.m. Benjamin Hupke will serve as the show's host.

BOOSTER CLUB MEETINGS
The UNI wrestling Booster Club meetings are held the first Wednesday of every month at the Pump Haus located at 311 Main Street in Cedar Falls.

WEEKLY PRESS LUNCHEONS
The UNI head coach Brad Penrith or a member of his coaching staff will be available at the weekly Press Luncheons held each Monday beginning at 12 noon in the back room of Pepper's Grill and Sports Pub located at 620 East 18th Street in Cedar Falls.