Welcome to the UNI Panther Point of View. Tune in each week for a deeper point of view from UNI coaches, student -athletes and UNI insiders.
UNI Panther Pep Talk was started in January 2017 to introduce fans to the wrestling team and share stories about past teams that have shaped UNI wrestling. This introduction explains what you will hear in the episodes to follow.
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Meet UNI wrestling redshirt freshmen Max Thomsen and Taylor Lujan. Both earned four state titles. They joined UNI's Josh Alber, who was 177-0 as a high school prep. So how much does that success of four state titles in high school translate into college? Hear from both of the competitors and their coach, Doug Schwab.
Sandy Stevens has witnessed how wrestling has saved lives. For 34 years, Stevens was known for announcing the NCAA Division I Championships. She has been the voice at multiple world championships, numerous independent and high school tournaments along with a pair of Olympic games (1984 – Los Angeles; 1996 – Atlanta). She tells the story of how wrestling helped her husband fight cancer and overcome the odds from being raised in a disadvantaged neighborhood.
UNI wrestling: Three-time NCAA qualifier Cooper Moore started his senior year as just the second Panther to ever earn consecutive MAC titles. The 165-pounder suffered a severe injury that lingered his junior year. He returned to the mat focused on an All-American title, but injury ended his career. He continues to play a vital role for his teammates and younger brother, Paden. Sons of Jay and Rhonda Moore, the siblings were raised in Minnesota with their four older sisters and younger brother who also wrestles in Division I.
The love of wrestling runs deep in Josh Alber’s family. The youngest of three, he has carried on the tradition. Alber’s family is hard to miss at UNI events. They travel long distances through Midwest storms to support the panthers, and that pack will get bigger this summer. Family ties also led Alber’s to compete at UNI. Alber was a four-time state champion at the prep level. He went undefeated with a 177-0 record and became 15th wrestler from Illinois to seize four state championships. He set the Illinois record for most-consecutive wins. Losing was not something he learned in high school. Despite all his success in high school, he redshirted his freshman year at UNI, sitting out team competition.
UNI WRESTLER BRYCE STEIERT WILL COMPETE IN HIS SECOND NCAA TOURNAMENT IN THE SAME PLACE FROM WHICH HE DREW INSPIRATION TO START WRESTLING. HE’S TAKEN PRECAUTIONS TO AVOID SOME OF THE INJURIES THAT ARE KEEPING SOME STUDENT-ATHLETES FROM COMPETING AT NATIONALS. STEIERT’S BROTHER WRESTLES FOR WARTBURG COLLEGE, A DIVISION III COLLEGE IN HIS HOMETOWN, WAVERLY, IOWA, AND HE HAS SEEN HOW THOSE INJURIES CAN AFFECT A COLLEGE CAREER. HE HAS SPENT A LOT OF TIME WATCHING AND TRAINING WITH HIS BROTHER, ANDREW. AFTER BEING RANKED AT 157 POUNDS, STEIERT MADE THE JUMP TO THE NEXT WEIGHT CLASS. HE WORKED HIS WAY BACK INTO THE RANKINGS AND EARNED A SEED FOR THE NCAA TOURNAMENT AT 165 POUNDS.
UNI's Jacob Holschlag and Drew Foster shocked some fans in the 2017 season. Foster had moved up to wrestle at the 184-pound weight class as a redshirt freshman, but very few realized how good he would be as a sophomore. He earned All-America honors at his first NCAA tournament. Redshirt freshman Jacob Holschlag had a similar search for his weight class. He bounced from weight to weight before securing a spot at his first NCAA tournament in the 197-pound weight class in 2017.
UNI wrestling celebrates a year of hard work at the 2017 banquet. Congratulations to all the award winners.
Each UNI wrestling coach gets to pick someone for the Coaches Appreciation Award. Randy Pugh chose graduating senior Jared Bartel. Head coach Doug Schwab includes his own message to the Panther, and Bartel gives his farewell message to fans.
In high school, Mark Jolcover suffered a severe neck injury that was expected to end his wrestling career. He returned to the mat to compete on the UNI wrestling squad. He did eventually retire from competition, but he continued to be a vital part of the Panther team. He has since graduated and is looking to pursue a career in ministry. He will spend part of his 2017 summer on a mission trip in Africa.
