2026-27 UNI wrestling lineup, season projection

Northern Iowa wrestling is looking to rebound from a 31st-place finish at last season's NCAA Championships with a host of previously injured wrestlers and key contributors returning to the fold.The Panthers lost 141-pounder Cory Land and heavyweight Wyatt Voelker to season-ending injuries last season, along with a number of wrestlers battling ailments throughout the regular season and postseason. As a result, the Panthers had zero NCAA All-Americans.Veterans Land, Voelker, 165-pounder Ryder Downey, 125-pounder Trever Anderson, 174-pounder Jared Simma and a intriguing crop of talent are hoping to take UNI wrestling back to form in the 2026-27 season."I know we're not getting probably a whole lot of love right now, but the good thing is we still have the whole say in that," UNI wrestling head coach Doug Schwab said.Here's a look at the options the Panthers will have for their lineup, as well as a season projection.2026-27 UNI wrestling lineup projectionBold denotes returning postseason starter.125 - Trever Anderson133 - Garret Rinken/Jace Hedeman141 - Cory Land/Max Brady149 - Carter Freeman/TBD157 - Kyler Knaack/TBD165 - Ryder Downey174 - Jared Simma/Waylon Cressell184 - Nick Fox/Waylon Cressell/CJ Walrath197 - Kalob Runyon/John Gunderson/Waylon Cressell285 - Wyatt VoelkerLongtime starter Trever Anderson returns at 125 pounds. After making the Round of 12 at the 2025 NCAA Championships, Anderson did not qualify for NCAAs in 2026. At his best, he can contend with anyone at his weight as he enters his final year in the program.At 133 pounds, expect native Iowans Garret Rinken (Nashua-Plainfield) and Jace Hedeman (Union Community) to contend for the starting job. Rinken was 18-4 last year, with a win over 2024 NCAA champion Richard Figueroa. Hedeman was 11-7, but also made the U23 national finals in freestyle this offseason. Cory Land returns at 141 pounds, but will miss the first few weeks after another injury setback, Schwab said. As they await his return, they'll look to Max Brady, who was solid in relief of Land last season as a true freshman with two top-25 ranked wins.149 and 157 pounds have ample options for the Panthers, but no returning starters. When asked at media day about who has stood out, Schwab pointed to another pair of Iowa natives in Carter Freeman (Waukee Northwest, 149 or 157 pounds) and Kyler Knaack (157 or 165 pounds). Both had outstanding prep careers as three-time state champions with success nationally, but neither has made a splash in college yet. This will be one of the handful of weights to watch as the season unfolds, with several wrestlers looking to make their mark from sophomores Logan Paradice (149) and Jayden Rinken (149/157), junior Chris Labrecque (149/157) and a handful of talented freshmen like four-time Iowa state champion Blake Fox (149).Ryder Downey returns at 165 pounds, the leader of the team and consistent performer for the Panthers over the last four years. He has yet to become a NCAA All-American, but his success suggests that a podium finish is well within reach.Jared Simma enters his final year at 174 pounds as a former Round of 12 finisher at NCAAs in 2024. However, this will also be a weight to watch for freshman Waylon Cressell to make an impact if called upon. He is listed as a 174/184/197 pounder and draws high praise from Schwab."We got a guy like Waylon Cressell who won everything under the sun as a senior, showing that he can compete with anybody and everybody in the country on any level," Schwab said. "With the five-for-five now, there's no reason to ever even think of redshirt, redshirts are gone." Also at 184 pounds is Nick Fox, who returns as a NCAA qualifier despite battling injuries last year. The former Osage star is the leading returner, but Schwab said 184 pounds is Cressell's preferred weight. CJ Walrath also received praise from Schwab for his offseason. This is another highly contested weight, but one UNI fans should have confidence in given the depth and history the Panthers have had at the weight.197 pounds is another weight with ambiguity. Southeast Polk alum Kalob Runyon started the first three duals for UNI at the National Duals Invitational, but suffered a season-ending injury. John Gunderson filled the weight from there, but did not qualify for NCAAs at 197 pounds. Wyatt Voelker rounds out the lineup at heavyweight. He had a season-ending injury with a torn labrum, but started out last year nicely in a move up to heavyweight. He has legitimate All-American potential as heavyweight clears out nationally with several high-profile graduations.2026-27 UNI wrestling season predictionThe Panthers' season will rest on its leaders in Anderson, Land, Downey, Simma and Voelker. All have shown the potential to be NCAA All-Americans at points in their careers, and they become as important as ever this season as leaders of the team. If health is in their favor and strides are made, that's where the Panthers' bulk of potential team points at NCAAs will come from.If the Panthers have wrestlers seize starting spots at places like 133, 149, 157, 184 and 197, UNI should make a substantial leap from a tie for 31st at the 2026 NCAA Championships.Prediction: Three NCAA All-Americans, top-20 finish at the NCAA ChampionshipsEli McKown covers high school sports and wrestling for the Des Moines Register. Contact him at Emckown@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @EMcKown23.This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: 2026-27 UNI wrestling lineup, season projection