What a dual it was: UNI Wrestling vs. Oklahoma State—two wrestling powers that tussled with each other, making the fans get up from their seats right from the beginning to the very end. The Panthers pushed David Taylor’s Cowboys, but Oklahoma State came out on top, 22-14  But what happened following the match was just as important, if not more. Even though they lost, the Panthers had a much bigger influence off of the mat, taking away something so much bigger than the result of the match itself.

While the final score might have been disappointing, UNI Wrestling was able to turn this event into a huge success for their program. With a packed crowd, national exposure, and a long list of opportunities for growth, this match proved that sometimes the greatest rewards come from the moments that don’t make it into the box score. So, what exactly did UNI gain from this loss?

The financial impact of UNI wrestling’s showdown with Oklahoma State

Even though UNI Wrestling fell 22-14 to Oklahoma State, the Panthers came away with a financial windfall most college programs can only dream about. The dual was held at the McLeod Center, where a record crowd of 6,030 fans came through the gates. And with tickets set at $20, that amounts to approximately $140,000 in revenue. This is a clear demonstration of how even when the competition doesn’t end in victory, the financial payoff can be significant.

The event’s national exposure, as ESPN was there to broadcast the dual, took this financial success one step further. As one of the most high-profile wrestling programs in the country, UNI Wrestling entered the homes of millions through ESPN exposure to expand its visibility and potential for future sponsorships.
To date, the financial success and media exposure have set the stage for not only future events but also proved a fact that real benefits of collegiate wrestling transcend anything measured with wins versus losses.

Hard-fought bouts and key moments define UNI’s showdown with Oklahoma State

Although UNI wrestling fell to Oklahoma State 22-14, the dual was anything but one-sided, with its fair share of intense competition and bright moments for the Panthers. Highly competitive, UNI won four of the first six bouts and were in striking distance for much of the night.

The dual opened with an Oklahoma State win as Troy Spratley took a 10-5 decision over UNI’s Trever Anderson at 125 pounds. But the Panthers wasted little time getting back into the match, rattling off three straight to take the lead. Julian Farber won by major decision, 13-4, at 133 pounds over Cael Hughes, taking aggressive takedowns. At 141 pounds, Cael Happel topped Oklahoma State’s  No. 4 ranked Tagen Jamison in a thrilling 4-1 sudden victory in overtime. It marked his fourth straight win over Jamison. To cap off the streak, Colin Realbuto earned a hard-fought 6-4 decision over Carter Young, sealing a key win for the Panthers and giving UNI an early advantage.

However, Oklahoma State’s depth began to show later in the bouts while taking five of the final six matches. The Cowboys steamrolled with Caleb Fish’s sudden victory at 157 pounds took a 7-4 win over Ryder Downey; Cam Amine earned a 10-2 major decision against Jack Thomsen at 165 pounds. At 174 pounds, Dean Hamiti crushed UNI’s Jared Simma with a 16-4 major decision to push Oklahoma State’s lead further.

The moment in the night for UNI came at 184 pounds as Parker Keckeisen throttled No. 3 Dustin Plott 15-4 for a major decision, making it 5-0 in a perfect career series against Plott. It was one of the few moments of brightness from the Panthers in the night and provided a much-needed shot in the arm to the McLeod Center.

Even with Keckeisen’s win and strong showings earlier in the dual, the Cowboys sealed the victory with Luke Surber‘s 4-3 decision at 197 pounds over Wyatt Voelker and Wyatt Hendrickson’s technical fall at 285 pounds, dominating Lance Runyon 19-4 in just under five minutes.

UNI Wrestling’s loss to Oklahoma State was tough, but it proved to be a major win off the mat. With a record-breaking crowd and ESPN exposure, the Panthers pulled in $140,000 from the event, a testament to the fact that success in college athletics is about more than wins and losses. The exposure and financial support gained from this high-profile matchup will go a long way in fueling future growth for the program, proving that even in defeat, there are valuable opportunities for success.