UNI Panthers fall to West Virginia in college wrestling dual

15th-ranked Panthers drop Big 12 matchup 23-13 despite four individual victories

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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The University of Northern Iowa wrestling team grabbed victories in four matches, including a thrilling come-from-behind win at 125 pounds, but fell short against No. 19 West Virginia 23-13 in a Big 12 dual meet on Saturday night. The Panthers struggled early on, falling behind before rallying late, but ultimately couldn't overcome the Mountaineers.

Why it matters

This dual loss drops the 15th-ranked Panthers to 8-1 all-time against West Virginia, as UNI looks to bounce back and prepare for a big matchup against in-state rival and 4th-ranked Iowa State on Sunday. The meet also featured the pregame jersey retirement of two-time NCAA champion and Olympic gold medalist Bill Smith, as well as the debut of the Panthers' new competition mat named in his honor.

The details

UNI got wins from Ryder Downey (165 pounds), Jared Simma (174), Adam Ahrendsen (heavyweight), and Trever Anderson (125), but struggled in the early weights as West Virginia built an early lead. Downey and Simma both picked up ranked wins, while Anderson rallied from a 6-2 deficit in the third period to pull off an 8-7 upset of the 8th-ranked wrestler at 125 pounds.

  • The dual took place on Saturday, February 15, 2026 inside the McLeod Center in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
  • The Panthers will return to action on Sunday, February 16, 2026 to face 4th-ranked Iowa State at Hilton Coliseum in Ames.

The players

Ryder Downey

A 165-pound wrestler for the UNI Panthers who picked up a 12-1 major decision victory, his 60th career win.

Jared Simma

A 174-pound wrestler for the UNI Panthers who scored an 8-5 win over the 14th-ranked wrestler in the country.

Adam Ahrendsen

The Panthers' heavyweight wrestler who won his match 8-3 against West Virginia's Brock Kehler.

Trever Anderson

The 125-pound wrestler for UNI who rallied from a 6-2 deficit in the third period to pull off an 8-7 upset of the 8th-ranked wrestler.

Bill Smith

A two-time NCAA champion and Olympic gold medalist wrestler whose jersey was retired pregame, and who the Panthers' new competition mat is named after.

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What they’re saying

“West Virginia has a solid team and they had our legs tired tonight. They controlled the space too well and scored a ton. I thought we competed well in situations, but we chased them a lot and got stunned when chasing, so we have to be better in our pursuit. We'll get our guys ready for tomorrow night to wrestle Iowa State.”

— Doug Schwab, UNI Head Coach (northiowatoday.com)

What’s next

The Panthers will look to bounce back on Sunday, February 16, 2026 when they travel to Ames to take on 4th-ranked Iowa State at Hilton Coliseum. The dual is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. CT and will be streamed live on ESPN+.

The takeaway

Despite the dual loss, the Panthers showed fight and resilience with four individual victories, including a thrilling comeback win at 125 pounds. As UNI prepares to face their in-state rival Iowa State, they'll look to build on the positives from this match and get back on track in Big 12 competition.