The Northern Iowa (UNI) wrestling program is entering a period of transition as they look ahead to the 2025-26 season. Following a coaching departure and the loss of key wrestlers, the program is set to undergo significant changes.
Lee Roper recently left his associate head coaching post to lead Oklahoma State’s regional training center. That leaves head coach Doug Schwab in a rebuilding phase after a memorable 14-1 dual season where the wrestling team set the all-time McLeod Center attendance record for any sport (7,348 on Feb. 16, 2025).
“We had a coach take another position, and I hope all our guys get those opportunities,” Schwab said. “When you have the best help in the country, people are going to continue to come after those guys. “Lee got an opportunity, and he felt like it was the right situation for him. You never want to lose guys but sometimes that’s the nature of college athletics. I think we were together for 10 years, and we had minimal turnover.”
UNI loses 36.5 of 45.5 national tournament points, most notably All-Americans Parker Keckeisen and Carter Happel, to graduation. Keckeisen completed his career as the greatest Northern Iowa wrestler of the modern era after placing in the top three at nationals all five years (3-3-2-1-2) and winning the 2024 NCAA Championships.
And Schwab will do everything he can to keep Keckeisen in Cedar Falls. “If he wants to be the guy in 2028, we need to provide everything he needs to move forward and improve,” Schwab said. “(Parker) wants to stay here, and we’re making sure that happens. He’s obviously a highly sought after individual - not just by how he competes, but by how he raised the level of everyone around him. It’s number one on my priority list that he stays here in some capacity.”
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Coaching Staff and Team Performance
The Panthers finished ninth at the 2025 NCAA D1 Championships - marking the first single-digit finish since 1962.
Below is an overview of Northern Iowa’s upcoming season. “There may be some moving pieces,” Schwab said. “We may have some guys move up or move down but it has to be a lifestyle choice. We lost some people you can’t replace but two guys can score more points than one guy so we might have to have a few guys step up.”
2025-26 Northern Iowa Overview:
- Head coach: Doug Schwab (16th season)
- Assistants: Randy Pugh, Drew Foster, Brett Robbins
- 2025 NCAA tournament finish: 9th
- 2025 NCAA tournament record: 22-19
- 2025 NCAA tournament points: 45.5
- 2025 Big 12 tournament finish: 2nd
- 2025 dual record: 14-1 (7-1 in Big 12)
- Returning national qualifiers (7): Trever Anderson, Julian Farber, Caleb Rathjen, Ryder Downey, Jack Thomsen, Jared Simma, Wyatt Voelker
- Returning All-Americans: 0
- Last NCAA champion: Parker Keckeisen (2024)
- Highest NCAA team finish: 1st (1950)
- Highest NCAA team finish under Schwab: 9th (2025)
- Most national placers in a season under Schwab: 3 (2014)
Here is a breakdown of the roster by weight class:
- 125 Pounds: Trever Anderson, JR
Anderson reached the Round of 12 at the 2025 NCAA Championships following a 19-13 season. He defeated 2024 NCAA champion Richie Figueroa, 17-8, during a consolation round at nationals.
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- 133 Pounds: Julien Farber, SR
Farber is a two-time national qualifier who finished the 2025 season 18-8. He could get pushed by Greco Cadet World silver medalist Cory Land, but Land might move up to 141 after an injury-plagued start to his college career.
- 141 Pounds: Carter Freeman, FR or Cory Land, JR
Freeman was 17-3 during his redshirt campaign. Land was 13-4 and 2-1 in varsity duals at 133. “Freeman has shown signs of being a really good wrestler,” Schwab said. “He might be building into another weight class, too. If they stay on the lifting plan then they’ll build themselves into those weight classes.”
- 149 Pounds: Caleb Rathjen, SR
Rathjen transferred from Iowa after sitting behind All-American Kyle Parco last season. He went 1-2 at the 2024 NCAA Championships. “Rathjen showed two seasons ago that he can compete with anybody at 149,” Schwab said.
- 157/165 Pounds: RJ Weston, SR or Ryder Downey, JR or Jack Thomsen, SR
Schwab has three quality options for two weights. Downey might move up to 165 after a Round of 12 finish in 2024 and a Round of 16 finish in 2025. Thomsen is a two-time national qualifier after transferring from South Dakota State. “Ryder is one of the best guys in the country, but he has to do it in March,” Schwab said. “You’re going to have battles at weight classes, and that’s part of it.”
- 174/184/197 Pounds:
Schwab has a carousel of options between Nick Fox, Jared Simma, CJ Walrath, John Gunderson, and Kalob Runyon.
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Simma is a two-time national qualifier who might move up to 184. Gunderson is a career backup who made the 2024 U23 Freestyle World team. He could slot in at 184 or 197. “I’m waiting to see what these guys do throughout the spring and summer,” Schwab said. “Some guys want to move up a weight but weighing the weight and being strong at the weight are two different things. I’m trying to make sure these guys are on the plan and sticking to it.”
- 285 Pounds: Wyatt Voelker, JR
Voelker moved to heavyweight after two NCAA tournament appearances at 197 pounds. “We have to make sure he stays mobile as his weight moves up,” Schwab said.
Building a Championship Wrestling Program
Facility Upgrades and Fundraising
Facilities are always a topic after the team was booted from the historic West Gym due to perceived structural damage. The building was eventually torn down, leaving Schwab scrambling for a new facility. Northern Iowa found a home at USA Mat Club - an off-campus facility owned by Shawn Kelly. The team trains there full time, but a timeline for a new proposed wrestling room isn’t in place.
“We’re still in the fundraising phase,” Schwab said. “I’m more concerned about the people and keeping those people than I am about the building. The building doesn’t matter if we don’t keep the people.
“If we can’t raise money after this season, then we’ll have a hard time raising the money in any year. It will never be my number one priority because we’ve proven we can win with where we’re at because we have the people we need.”
UNI Wrestling has a storied legacy spanning 100 years. The University is working with architects to develop more detailed plans for the facility. Preliminary costs to provide similar square footage as the wrestling space in the West Gym are being determined.
This project will be solely financed by private gifts. With the support of the Panther wrestling community, we will build a facility that enables our student-athletes to compete at the highest level for years to come.
