UNI PANTHERS (0-0-1)
Wt. Name Year Hometown 07-08 Record
125 Caleb Flores R-Fr. Rosemead, Calif. 0-3
133 Trent Washington Fr. Omaha, Neb. 8-1
141 C.J. Ettelson Sr. Hudson, Iowa 3-2
149 Charlie Ettelson So. Hudson, Iowa 7-2
Nick Pickerell R-Fr. Albia, Iowa 7-3
157 Jarion Beets R-Fr. Cedar Rapids, Iowa 1-2
Seth Pugh R-Fr. Columbus Junction, Iowa 8-4
165 Moza Fay Jr. Anamosa, Iowa 8-1
174 Alex Dolly Sr. Mishawaka, Ind. 6-1
184 Danny Dunning Sr. Waterloo, Iowa 4-2
Andy O'Loughlin R-Fr. Independence, Iowa 5-6
197 Andrew Anderson Jr. Sioux City, Iowa 7-1
285 Dustin Bauman R-Fr. Stratford, Wis. 4-4

HAWKS-PANTHERS TO BATTLE THURSDAY
UNI will travel to Iowa City on Thursday to take on the No. 1-ranked Hawkeyes. The dual will begin at 6:30 p.m. in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The Hawkeyes are coming off a 20-13 win over then-No. 1-ranked Iowa State in Ames last Sunday.

"It's always tough when you wrestle in Carver," head coach Brad Penrith said. "But I think we'll go there and compete. We won't be intimidated. We wrestled well last year against Iowa in our McLeod Center opener."

Iowa scored an 18-15 victory over the Panthers last season. Iowa has won 31 straight duals against UNI. UNI's last dual win against the Hawks came in the 1973-74 season, when the Panthers notched a 17-15 victory.

Fans in the Cedar Valley can listen to the match live on KWAY (99.3-FM) radio with Benjamin Hupke and Benji Dolly on the call.

IOWA STATE-UNI MATCH SET FOR IPTV
Sunday's match against Iowa State will be broadcast live state-wide on Iowa Public Television beginning at 2 p.m. Tim Johnson (play-by-play) and Jim Gibbons (analyst) will call the dual.

CLOSE CALLS IN CEDAR FALLS
The last two matchups between UNI and Iowa State in Cedar Falls have been tight with the Cyclones coming out victorious on both occasions. Iowa State edged the Panthers 24-15 in 2005 and 19-16 in 2003. Iowa State has won the past four meetings between the schools, including a 38-3 win last season in Hilton Coliseum. ISU leads the all-time series, 47-17.

LIVE AUDIO/VIDEO FOR UNI-IOWA STATE MATCH
Sunday's match between UNI and Iowa State can be seen and heard live on the Panthers' website - www.UNIPanthers.com - by accessing the UNI Panthers All Access. Benjamin Hupke (play-by-play) and Benji Dolly (analyst) will have the call.

Fans in the Cedar Valley can listen to the match live on KWAY (99.3-FM) radio.

The University of Northern Iowa and CSTV Networks, Inc. have teamed up to create a broadband channel, UNI Panther All-Access. For a nominal fee, fans can get live streamed audio and video of most home games of UNI volleyball, football, men's and women's basketball and wrestling, as well as some road contests. For more details or to sign up, please go to UNI's official athletic website at www.unipanthers.com.

UNI IN NATIONAL POLLS
The Panther wrestling team is moving up in the national polls after a promising start to the season in a 16-16 tie against the nationally-ranked Wisconsin Badgers.

UNI is ranked No. 24 in the nation according to The Wrestling Report's top 25 poll.

The Panthers are No. 25 in the weekly W.I.N. rankings.

UNI also joined the USA Today/InterMat/NWCA poll at No. 25.

YOUNG GUN
True freshman Trent Washington (Omaha, Neb.) is getting his collegiate wrestling career off to a tremendous start.

Washington (8-1 overall) scored a 14-11 victory on Saturday over Wisconsin's No. 18-ranked Zach Tanelli.

Washington said his approach was to score early and often against the junior Tanelli.

"That's the kind of wrestler I am," Washington said. "I want them to know right away that I will wrestle, especially since I was a freshman and he was a junior in this match. I wanted him to know that I was here to wrestle and was not going to be intimidated."

Washington won the 133-pound title at the season-opening Loras Open. He followed that up with a second-place finish at the Kaufman-Brand Open in Omaha, Neb., on Nov. 17.

His only loss this season came in the 133-pound title match at the Kaufman-Brand Open to Oklahoma State true freshman Jamal Parks, 5-2.

Washington tallied a three-year prep mark of 106-5 as a wrestler at Boys Town High School in Nebraska.

ANDERSON KNOCKS OFF #4-RANKED BADGER
UNI junior Andrew Anderson scored the biggest upset against the Wisconsin Badgers with a thrilling 4-3 victory over No. 3-ranked Dallas Herbst at 197 pounds. The match was knotted at 2-2 in the third period when Herbst was whistled for locking hands and a point was awarded to Anderson. Herbst still had a riding time point in tow, before Anderson netted an escape with only eight seconds left in the match.

"I knew (Herbst) was going to be tough on top and he had me tied up real good," Anderson said. "I was working the whole time and at one point he let up a little. I took advantage of his mistake and snuck out for the win. It was a pretty big match and the highest ranked wrestler I've ever wrestled. I had a good feeling about it coming in because I've wrestled him before. I knew it was going to be close."

Penrith pointed to Anderson's effort as a key to the Panthers' total team effort.

"Andrew hadn't beaten his opponent (No. 4-ranked Dallas Herbst) and toward the end it didn't look promising but Andrew exploded and he kept wrestling," Penrith said. "Andrew really earned his win."

STRONG START AGAINST 10TH-RANKED BADGERS
The University of Northern Iowa wrestling squad got the home season underway in promising fashion on Dec. 8 with a 16-16 tie against the No. 10-ranked Wisconsin Badgers in the McLeod Center.

UNI head coach Brad Penrith said he was happy with the result of Saturday's dual against the highly-ranked Badgers.

"We had our opportunities against a top-rated Wisconsin team that is well-coached," head coach Brad Penrith said. "We made some mistakes in our first dual meet that we need to improve on, but we also took a lot of positives away from this too. Sometimes in the first dual meet you have a lot of jitters and nerves. But the team came out and wrestled well. We'll learn from our mistakes. This shows we could have a good team by the end of the season."

FIFTEEN UNI NATIONAL CHAMPIONS RETURN FOR BIG EVENT
Fifteen wrestlers who won national titles while wrestling for the University of Northern Iowa will be the stars of a very special celebration at the Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum (DGIWIM).

The event, called the UNI Night of Wrestling Champions, will be held Dec. 16 following the UNI-Iowa State wrestling meet at the McLeod Center. The meet is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. with the celebration to follow at 5 p.m. at the museum. All 15 NCAA champions will be recognized at dual intermission.

"This is a great way to honor the greatest athletic tradition in Northern Iowa history," said Kyle Klingman, associate director of the wrestling museum. "As far as we know, nothing like this has ever been done to honor past UNI wrestling champions. Since the museum is all about history we felt this was a great way to recognize some of the sport's greatest champions. We can't stress enough that this event is open to the public."

The event is co-sponsored by the UNI Panther Wrestling Booster Club and DGIWIM.

"I am really excited and honored that we are able to have this many champions come back and participate in our champions night," said Ty Kimble, president of the UNI Wrestling Booster Club. "I've had the fortune of seeing all these national champions since 1966 and it's going to be exciting to see the majority of these guys who were national champions for UNI. It should be a fantastic night for fans, wrestlers, and obviously myself."

The celebration will recognize athletes who participated at Iowa State Teachers College, State College of Iowa, and the University of Northern Iowa. The school was known as ISTC from 1909 through 1961, was changed to SCI in 1961 and finally to UNI in 1967.

In the long history of the school there have been 13 Division I national champions who have won 21 titles, and 14 Division II national champions who have won 22 titles. Twenty-two former NCAA champions are still living and to date 15 have replied that they will attend both the meet and the reunion.

"What a unique and great opportunity to get these great champions back all at once," UNI head wrestling coach Brad Penrith said. "These are the men who shaped and formed our institution and our wrestling program. It's something that's long overdue and with the help of the Dan Gable Wrestling Museum and their staff's continued efforts to preserve the history of wrestling, these great champions will not be forgotten."

Gerry Leeman won the national title in 1946 and is the senior member of the group. A longtime coach at Lehigh University, he currently resides in Cedar Falls.

"I think what the museum is doing is extremely important," said Leeman. "This is great publicity for the program. I think it's noteworthy that this new facility is being used to honor past champions and to improve local wrestling."

The Division I national champions who are attending are Leeman, Bill Nelson (titles in 1947, 1948, and 1949), Bill Smith (1949 and 1950), Keith Young (1949, 1950, and 1951), Gene Lybbert (1952), and Jim Harmon (1953).

The Division II national champions who are attending are Jim Sanford (1963), Don Parker (1966 and 1967), Clint Young (1971), Jim Miller (1974 and 1975), Ken Snyder (1974 and 1975), Randy Omvig (1975), Gary Bentrim (1976, 1977, and 1978), Keith Poolman (1978), and Ken Gallagher (1980).

Julie McCready will represent her late husband Mike at the event. Mike McCready was a Division II NCAA champion in 1972 who won a total of 15 national titles in freestyle, Greco-Roman, and college.

While regular admission to the museum is $5, this event is free and open to the public. The museum gift shop will have several special items on sale for this event, including a poster and commemorative shirt.

Anyone wanting more information about the event should contact the Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum at (319) 233-0745.

TICKETS CURRENTLY ON SALE FOR 2008 NATIONAL DUALS
Tickets went on sale Nov. 1 for the 2008 National Wrestling Coaches Association/Cliff Keen National Duals, which will take place Jan. 12-13, 2008, in the UNI-Dome.

Top wrestlers from each collegiate athletic division (Divison I, II, III, NAIA, JUCO, NWCA 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 two years and has a combined attendance of more than 28,500 fans (13,380 in 2006 and 15,190 in 2007).

"We are extremely excited to have the largest collegiate athletic event at one of the most capable hosting institutions in the country," said Mike Moyer, NWCA Executive Director. "There is such a large representation of Iowa wrestling programs at the event. There are few other places in the country where we could have such a strong fan base. There has been fantastic community support and UNI has shown that is has the resources in place to put on great wrestling events."

Thirteen 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), Luther (III), Wartburg (III), Morningside (NAIA), William Penn (NAIA), Northwestern (NAIA) and Iowa Central (NJCAA).

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

2008 National Duals Ticket Prices
All Session Pass $30
All Session Pass (Senior/Student)* $22
All Session Group Tickets (10+)** $22
Individual Session $20
Individual Session (Senior/Student)* $15
Individual Session Group (8+)** $15

* 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. 4, 2008

FORMER UNI WRESTLERS STAR IN NEW WRESTLING MOVIE
A special screening of the new wrestling movie "7 Minutes" was presented at the Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum on November 30.

Former UNI wrestlers Jeff Harrison and Steve Ertl play lead roles in this film about a Division I wrestling program that is on the verge of being dropped. All of the actors who portray wrestlers in the film competed at the collegiate level.

"Wrestling is without a doubt the most misunderstood sport out there," said J.D. Oliva, producer and director of the film. "There are all types of stereotypes, and people don't realize that the sport requires an incredible amount of hard work and sacrifice."

"Mainstream America could use some education. Wrestling is growing at every level except in the NCAA, where more than 300 wrestling programs have been cut since 1972."

"7 Minutes" was shot primarily in Illinois and Wisconsin. The Chicago Sun Times published a story on the project in May and the web site for the movie (www.7minutes-movie.com) has received tens of thousands of hits.

For more information contact the wrestling museum at (319) 233-0745.

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.