Feb. 9, 2002

LARAMIE, Wyo. -

The University of Wyoming Cowboy wrestling team gave a gallant effort against the 14th-ranked Northern Iowa Panthers Saturday in Laramie before falling 24-9.

The dual began with the 197 pound match between UNI's Sean Stender and UW freshman Malcolm Havens. Havens built a 4-2 lead early in the third period but couldn't hold on as Stender would pin Havens at the 6:11 mark of the third to give the Panthers a 6-0 lead.

Cowboy junior Brad Steele would get Wyoming on the board with an 8-2 victory over Jason Payne pulling UW to within three points, 6-3. Steele jumped out to a 2-0 lead after a takedown in the first period and never looked back.

Northern Iowa took the lead again after a very close 125 pound match where Tyler Hubbard defeated Cowboy sophomore Reynold Candelaria. With the score tied at 6-6 early in the third period, Hubbard would score a takedown which proved to be the difference in the match. Candelaria, who was looking for his first victory of the season, scored an escape to pull the score to within one but came up short, losing 8-7.

In yet another close match, Poke senior Kelly McConville won a thrilling double-overtime match over Mark Manchio, 1-1, in the 133 pound match. McConville was awarded the match because he was in an offensive position when time ran out in the second overtime period. His victory once again pulled Wyoming to within three points at 9-6.

At 141, Cowboy senior Mark Hamrick took No. 9 ranked Dylan Long to overtime after scoring a reversal in the final minute of regulation to tie the score at 3-3. In the overtime it appeared Hamrick had the upper hand before Long was able to win with a takedown, winning 5-3.

Northern Iowa would win the next match at 149, when Jon Garvin defeated junior Thad Trujillo in a tight 2-0 match, extending the Panthers lead to 15-6. UW sophomore Levi Prevost picked up the Pokes final victory of the night with a 10-6 win in the 157 pound match, making the score 15-9 in favor of UNI.

"Looking back I think we should have won the first five matches," said UW head coach Steven Suder. "If Malcolm wins his match and Reynold gets his then all of a sudden this thing is very different. I'm going to be up all night thinking about had we turned one match around then we get those points and if we get another one then we get this many points and then this is a completely different deal, but that didn't happen."

The loss dropped the Cowboys season record to 4-10 while Northern Iowa improved to 7-6 on the year. UNI now leads the all-time series with Wyoming 8-4. Both teams will compete in the 2002 West Regional to be held in Fresno, Calif. on Mar. 9.

"My gut reaction to this is that we didn't lose this match we gave it away. I don't have a doubt in my mind that everyone of our guys went out and fought as hard as they could fight. They've got to get away with one of these once in a while before they believe they should get away with one of these matches against a tough ranked team." Suder said.

Making things a little more complicated for the Pokes and Panthers was that the top assistant coaches from each team had to referee the match because the original referee was stuck in Cheyenne due to bad roads from the inclement weather.

"The thing that hurts about this loss is the lack of confidence it leaves the team with. We walk away from a match that we should have won and that doesn't do much for our confidence and that's not a good thing this time of year. We've really got some soul searching to do in these final few weeks." said Suder.

The Cowboys will remain in Laramie for their next dual when they host Northern Colorado on Wednesday, Feb. 13 at 7:00 p.m. in the MulitPurpose Gym.

Complete Dual Results:

197- Sean Stender (UNI) defeated Malcolm Havens (UW), fall 6:11
HWT- Brad Steele (UW) defeated Jason Payne (UNI), 8-2
125- Tyler Hubbard (UNI) defeated Reynold Candelaria (UW), 8-7
133- Kelly McConville (UW) defeated Mark Manchio (UNI), 1-1 OT
141- Dylan Long (UNI) defeated Mark Hamrick (UW), 5-3 OT
149- Jon Garvin (UNI) defeated Thad Trujillo (UW), 2-0
157- Levi Prevost (UW) defeated Drew Kelly (UNI), 10-6
165- Nate Lawrenz (UNI) defeated Justin Salas (UW), 7-2
174- Eric Hauan (UNI) defeated E.K. Waldhaus (UW), 5-2
184- Kyle Hanson (UNI) defeated Kevin Kessner (UW), 7-2