Panthers to Host 57th UNI Open Sunday
 
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Head coach Brad Penrith and the UNI wrestling program will serve as the host for the 57th UNI Open on Sunday in the UNI-Dome.
 
Head coach Brad Penrith and the UNI wrestling program will serve as the host for the 57th UNI Open on Sunday in the UNI-Dome.
 
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Complete UNI Wrestling Weekly Release in PDF Format Get Acrobat Reader

THIS WEEK IN UNI WRESTLING

Sun., Dec. 7: UNI Open (Cedar Falls, Iowa - UNI-Dome)

The University of Northern Iowa wrestling squad will host the 57th UNI Open on Sunday in the UNI-Dome. The action will get underway at 9 a.m. Final results can be accessed on UNI’s athletics website at www.unipanthers.com.

PANTHER POINTS

 

UNI HOSTS 57TH UNI OPEN SUNDAY IN UNI-DOME

The University of Northern Iowa will serve as the host for the 57th UNI Open on Sunday in the UNI-Dome. Weigh-ins are slated for 7 a.m. and wrestling will get underway at 9 a.m.

Last year’s event was cancelled as a result of an ice storm. UNI’s Moza Fay placed second in the UNI Open in both 2005 and 2006 at 157 pounds. Andrew Anderson (197 lbs.) placed 3rd in 2006 and 6th in 2005.

FAY RANKED NO. 1 BY WRESTLING REPORT
Senior Moza Fay has earned the first No. 1 collegiate ranking of his career after being tabbed the top wrestler at 165 pounds by The Wrestling Report. Fay is 3-0 on the season and also topped Ohio State’s Colt Sponseller in the NWCA All-Star Meet on Nov. 24.

UNI IN NATIONAL RANKINGS
The Panther wrestling team is ranked as high as No. 17 in the latest national rankings.

RevWrestling.com has pegged UNI at No. 17 in its latest rankings. RevWrestling predicts UNI will score 21.5 points at the national tournament.

The Wrestling Report projects UNI at No. 22 with 27.0 points at the national tournament. InterMat also has the Panthers ranked No. 22 in the nation.

W.I.N. Magazine projects UNI to score 15.5 points and place 25th at the national tournament.

FAY SCORES 13-9 WIN AT ALL-STAR MEET

University of Northern Iowa senior wrestler Moza Fay (Anamosa, Iowa) scored a 13-9 exhibition win over Ohio State’s Colt Sponseller at the 2008 NWCA All-Star Meet on Nov. 24 in St. John Arena on the Ohio State campus.

UNI head coach Brad Penrith said he was pleased with Fay’s effort in the match.

"Moza rode him hard and it kind of tired Moza out a little bit," Penrith said. "It was Moza’s first real one-hour weigh-in of the year so it’s understandable that he would get tired. Moza controlled the match. It was great match to see where he is at this of year."

Fay was the first Panther to take part in the NWCA All-Star Classic since three UNI wrestlers competed in 2004. Eric Hauan (174 lbs.), Dylan Long (141 lbs.) and Sean Stender (197 lbs.) saw action in at the 2004 NWCA All-Star Classic.

FAY CLOSES IN ON TOP-20 WIN CHART

Senior Moza Fay needs only one more win to move into 20th place on the Panthers’ all-time win list. Fay has tallied a record of 93-26 heading into the UNI Open.

FAY PINS HIS WAY TO THE TOP

Senior Moza Fay added a pair of pins to his career total at the Loras Open and has now tallied 28 falls as a Panther grappler.

Fay is tied for eighth on the Panthers’ all-time fall list with Scott Murray (1993-1997).

Kirk Myers (1978-82) holds the Panthers’ all-time pins record with 61.

KITTLESON HOLDS TEAM LEAD IN WINS

Sophomore Trevor Kittleson is tops on the team win it comes to victories this season. The St. Ansgar native has notched 13 wins this season through three tournaments.

TICKETS CURRENTLY ON SALE FOR 2009 NATIONAL DUALS

Tickets are on sale for the 2009 National Wrestling Coaches Association/Cliff Keen National Duals, which will take place Jan. 10-11, 2009, in the UNI-Dome.

Top wrestlers from each collegiate athletic division (Divison I, II, III, NAIA, JUCO and Women’s) will compete for a national dual title. The NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals is one of the largest collegiate national sporting events in the country, with more than 1,400 wrestlers and 80 teams attending.

UNI has served as the host for the event the past three years. The attendance figures have risen in each of the three seasons the event has taken place in the UNI-Dome. UNI drew 13,380 in 2006, 15,190 in 2007 and 15,818 in 2008.

The NWCA also announced a two-year extension with UNI as the host of the NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals. The two-year extension will make the UNI-Dome the host site through the 2010 and 2011 seasons.

"The staff at Northern Iowa and the representatives of the local visitors and conventions bureaus do an amazing amount of work and preparation for this event," said NWCA President Ron Mirikitani. "Just finding lodging for 80-something teams is hard enough, but they make it easy choice to continue to come back."

The 2008 NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals were named Event of the Year by the Cedar Valley Tourism Awards handed out last May.

Sixteen teams from the state of Iowa will compete, including UNI (I), Iowa (I), Iowa State (I), Upper Iowa (II), Buena Vista (III), Coe (III), Cornell (III), Dubuque (III), Luther (III), Wartburg (III), Briar Cliff (NAIA), Morningside (NAIA), Northwestern (NAIA), Ellsworth (NJCAA), Iowa Central (NJCAA) and North Iowa Area (NJCAA).

Tickets may be purchased by contacting the UNI-Dome box office at 877-216-DOME or 319-273-4849.

2009 National Duals Ticket Prices
All Session Pass $40
All Session Pass (Senior/Student)* $32
All Session Group Tickets (10+)** $32
Individual Session $25
Individual Session (Senior/Student)* $20
Individual Session Group (8+)** $20

* Must be under 18 or have a valid University of College ID
** Group sales apply to pre-sold ticket purchases only, must be received by Jan. 2, 2009 After a 20th-place finish at the 2008 NCAA Championships, this season the Panthers return six national qualifiers, including All-American Moza Fay. Your contribution to the third annual "Pledges for Pins" drive can help ensure an even greater finish for the Purple and Gold!

PLEDGES FOR PINS

Because rising costs and lower state funds have combined to severely limit university help in recent years, those who care about the UNI program have been lending support. More than $30,000 has been raised in the first two "Pledges for Pins" drives. Benefits such a wrestlers’ study and video room, which includes a TV/DVD player to watch matches and analyze recruits, have already been realized. Your commitment will make so much more possible.

Any pledge amount, from $1 up, is welcome, and you may specify a maximum number of pins for your contribution (for example, $10 for a maximum 70 pins equals $700). Last year, our wrestlers tallied 62 pins, an impressive jump from the previous year’s total of 48.

Please indicate your pledge on the enclosed card and return. All contributions are tax-deductible, and donors will receive a statement at the end of the season. Outright donations are also welcome, but PLEASE specify to the UNI Foundation that your contribution is for the Pledges for Pins project. Send to Pledges for Pins, UNI Accounting, 1221 W. 23rd St., Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0239.

WEEKLY RADIO 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. This season’s first show is set for Nov. 19.

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 on 18th Street in Cedar Falls.

 

 


 

 

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