University of Northern Iowa UNI ScholarWorks Athletics Media Guides Athletics 1997 1997-98 Northern Iowa Wrestling University of Northern Iowa Let us know how access to this document benefits ouy Copyright ©1997 Athletics, University of Northern Iowa Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.uni.edu/amg Part of the Higher Education Commons Recommended Citation University of Northern Iowa, "1997-98 Northern Iowa Wrestling" (1997). Athletics Media Guides. 243. https://scholarworks.uni.edu/amg/243 This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the Athletics at UNI ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Athletics Media Guides by an authorized administrator of UNI ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. T H E U N I P A NTH E R S PREPARING CHAMPIONS ON THE MAT ... WINNERS OFF THE MAT 1997·98 SCHEDULE Date Opponent Location Time Nov. 22 Nebraska-Omaha Open Omaha, Neb. 9 a.m. Nov. 28 Northern Open Madison, Wis. 9 a.m. DEC. 6 NORTHERN IOWA OPEN CEDAR FALLS 9a.m. Dec. 13 Indiana Bloomington, Ind. 5 p.m. JAN. 2 PENN STATE CEDAR FALLS 2p.m . Jan. 8 Cal State Bakersfield Bakersfield, Cal if . 7 p.m. PST Jan. 9 Cal State Fullerton Davis, Calif. 6 p.m. PST Jan. 10 Cal-Davis Open Davis, Calif. 9 a.m. PST JAN. 17 NORTHERN IOWA DUALS CEDAR FALLS 9 a.m . (UN/, Central Oklahoma, Chicago State, Eastern Illinois, Marquette, Northern Illinois, Southern Illinois-Edwardsville, Wartburg) Jan. 23 Wisconsin Madison, Wis. 7:00p.m. Jan. 31 Wyoming Laramie, Wyo. 7:30p.m. FEB. 6 MISSOURI CEDAR FALLS 7:30p.m. Feb. 13 · Nebraska-Omaha Omaha, Neb. 7:00p.m. Feb. 14 Nebraska Lincoln, Neb. 7:30p.m. Feb. 17 Northern Illinois DeKalb, Ill. 7:00p.m. FEB. 22 IOWA STATE CEDAR FALLS 2p.m . Mar. 6-7 NCAA East/West Reg ional Atlanta, Ga . 9 a.m. Mar. 19-21 NCAA Division I Cha mpionships Cleveland, Ohio All home meets in West Gym. The 1997 NCAA Championships in the UNI-Dome shattered all previous attendance records, drawing over 90,000 fans in three days. ---------- 1997-98 Northern Iowa Wrestling MEDIA IN=ORMATION Table ol Contents 1997-98 Schedule IFC 1997-98 Outlook 2-3 Coaching Staff 4-6 1997-98 Roster 7 Panther Profiles 8-15 The University of Northern Iowa 16 Administration 17 Academ ic and Athletics 18 1996-97 Results/Statistics 19 1996-97 Dual Results 20 1997 NCAA Tournament 21 1997 West Regional 22 Northern Iowa At AGlance Location : Cedar Falls, Iowa 50614 Home Facility (capacity): West Gym (2,500) Record Book 23 Founded: 1876 Conference: Independent 24 Panther Honor Roll Enrollment: 13,100 1996-97 Dual Record: 7-8 Panther All-Americans 25-27 Nickname: Panthers 1997 NCAA Finish: T41st Year-by- Year Results 28 Colors: Purple & Old Gold Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 9/2 All-Time Dual Results 29-32 President: Dr. Robert Koob Starters Returning/Lost: 8/2 Athletic Director: Chris Ritrievi Assistant Trainer (Wrestling): Jeff Marcks All-Time Lettermen 33-34 Head Coach: Mark Manning Assistant Athletic Media Relations Director, All-Time Records vs. Opponents 35 Record at UN I: First year Wrestling Contact: Kevin Kane 1997-98 Opponents 36-39 Ca reer Record: First year Office Phone: 319-273-3642 Team Honors 40 Assistant Coaches: Fax: 319-273-3602 Brad Penrith, Steve Hamilton, Joe Stephens Primary UNI Media Outlets To the Media Press facilities in the West Gym are very Pl'int limited. Only working media are allowed Kevin Evans Waterloo Courier P.O. Box 540, Waterloo, lA 50704 319-291 -1469 J.R. Ogden Cedar Rapids Gazette 500 Third Ave. SE , Cedar Rapids, lA 52401 319-398-8258 access to the press area, which is located on Dan McCool Des Moines Register P.O. Box 957, Des Moines, lA 50304 515-284-8000 the south side of the arena. Chuck Schaffner Associated Press P.O. Box 1741 , Des Moines, IA50306 515-243-3281 Head coach Mark Manning and team UN I, Cedar Falls, lA 50614 319-273-2157 Sports Editor Northern Iowan Maucker Union, members are available for interviews in Bectl'onic person or by telephone on most occasions. Bryan Lessly KWWL-TV East Fourth & Franklin , Waterloo, lA 50703319-291-1290 Keith Bleyer KGAN-TV P.O. Box 3131 , Cedar Rapids, lA 52406 319-395-6188 Interviews may be arranged thorugh Assistant John Campbell KCRG-TV 2nd Ave. at 51h St. , Cedar Rapids, lA 52401 319-398-8391 Athletic Media Relations Director Kevin Kane Doug Brooker Iowa Public Television P.O. Box 6450, Johnston, lA 50131 515-242-3100 (319-273-3642) or directly through the , lA 50662 319-283-1234 Gary Rima KOEL Radio P.O. Box 391 , Oelwein Wrestling Office (319-273-6473). Tracey Williams KCNZ Radio 721 Shirley St. , Cedar Falls, lA 50613 319-277-1918 Kelly Neff KWLO Radio P.O. Box 1330, Waterloo, lA 50703 319-234-2200 To access UNI wrestling information on your fax machine, dial (770) 399-3066 from the handset of your machine and follow the Credits instructions. The Missouri Valley Conference The 1997-98 Northern Iowa Wrestling Media Guide was written, passcode is 682 and UNI's request numbers designed and edited by Ke vin Kane, Assistant Athletic Media Relations Director. Photography and cover design by UN/ Office of Public are: 1775 (latest release, notes, records) and Relations. 1776 (latest meet results) . 1997· 98 Northern Iowa Wrestling 1 1997·98 SEASON OUTLOOK by J.R. Ogden, Asst. Sports Editor Cedar Rapids Gazette He's enthusiastic. He's excited. And he's raring to go. But he's also realistic. Mark Manning, the seventh head coach in the storied history of University of Northern Iowa wrestling, knows the task facing him this season is formidable --the Panthers are coming off a 7-8 dual season and a 41st-place finish in the NCAA Championships they hosted last March. But the former North Carolina and Oklahoma assistant is ready to make the Panthers a force once again. "I'm going in with the attitude that I want our guys to get better every BenBat'ton tournament, every dual meet and I'm just campaign last year with a banged up but haven't tasted much success at the taking it one week .at a time," said knee. NCAA's. Manning, who replaced Don Briggs after That leaves Manning -- and new Bahr, a runnerup in the West last season. "I think we're going to be Regional last season, compiled a 21-18 competitive in every dual meet this '7 think we have a bunch of hungl'y record a year ago at 150 pounds and is year .. .(but) we're going to be a better Wl'esllel's.. They have a lot of Iotty 37-53 in his career. Barton, a regional tournament team than a dual-meet goals so they have to be willing to champ last year, won 28 of 40 matches team." pay the pl'ice in the pl'actice l'oom." last season at 177--including a victory in Manning will work with a team that - UNI head coach Mark Manning the NCAA Tournament--and is 59-42 in returns three NCAA qualifiers, although his caree r. He'll likely replace Wieland at junior all-American Tony Wieland will assistants Brad Penrith and Steve 190 this year. likely redshirt after having reconstructive Hamilton--with qualifiers Chris Bahr and Those two, plus junior Ken Bigley, knee surgery in April. He is 50-31 in his Ben Barton to build around. Both will carry the load for Manning's fi rst UNI career, but struggled through a 16-14 seniors are two-time national qualifiers, team. Bigley went 26-7 last season, mostly at 177, but was forced to wrestle heavyweight at the West Regional when he couldn't beat out Barton for a starting spot. "We have some talent," Manning said. "We just have some gaping holes." The rest of the Panther lineup will include either John Zelinski, transfer Eric Keller or Mike Kerker at 118 pounds; Mike Corsiglia at 126; Nick Flach or Keith Weber at 134; Glenn Pero, Jeff Evans or Phil Heim at 142; Jason Haag, Nate Lawrenz or Matt Barton at 158; Robert Armey, Tim Duff or Kyle Hansen at 167; and Burt Beamer at heavyweight. Chl'iS Baht' 2 1997·98 Northern Iowa W r estling 1997· 98 SEASON OUTLOOK Bahr will be challenged at 150 by Kevin Powell and Amir Alexander, and freshman Jason Payne could play a role at 190. Zelinski , Weber, Pero and Haag all wrestled extensively last year. Zelinski went 7-17, Weber 16-19, Pero 17-19 and Haag 11-13. Armey, 5-10 last season and 16-33 in his career, and Beamer, 0-4 a year ago and 23-28 in two years, also have varsity experience. Keller is a transfer from Iowa State. "I think it's a team that's going to get better as the year goes on ," Manning said. "I think we have the potential for five or six all-Americans. I think that's where the guys have to think. " "I think we have a bunch of hungry wrestlers," he added. "We have some Tony Wieland guys that want to be national champions. But Manning refuses to set goals and Iowa State. The road tests will be They have a lot of lofty goals so they that are too lofty -- for his sake and the even tougher, with dates at places like have to be willing to pay the price in 'the team's.