Don’t overlook Northern Iowa in a dual. That might be the biggest takeaway from Doug Schwab’s 15th season as head coach.

The Panthers were 14-1 during the 2024-25 campaign, downing South Dakota State (twice), Missouri, Nebraska, Arizona State, Oklahoma, and Iowa State. Their lone dual setback was a 22-14 home loss against Oklahoma State. 

North Carolina State had a solid dual season, too — dropping matches to Oklahoma State (34-3) and Virginia Tech (21-10), but winning the rest. 

The Wolfpack finished eighth at the 2025 NCAA Championships, one point ahead of Northern Iowa in ninth. 

On paper, Pat Popolizio’s Wolfpack has more national tournament firepower than the Panthers. NC State returns four All-Americans to Northern Iowa’s none, but that hardly matters in a dual. 

Popolizio won't have All-American Isaac Trumble (4th in 2025) in the line-up, giving Northern Iowa’s #10 Wyatt Voelker a big advantage at heavyweight. The Panthers would like to be behind by no more than three if it comes down to the final match.

The opening match should be interesting, with Northern Iowa’s Trever Anderson taking on 2025 NCAA champion Vince Robinson. Robinson is the favorite, but Anderson has a few nice wins, including a major decision over NCAA champion Richie Figueroa at the 2025 NCAA Championships. 

The Wolfpack is favored at four of the first five weights, and the 133-pound match between #13 Julien Farber (UNI) and #22 Zach Redding is a toss-up. 

Although it’s expected that #11 Jackson Arrington will wrestle at 157, true freshman Daniel Zepeda is listed as an option. The former high school star can use five dates without burning his redshirt. We might see the Gilroy, California, native for the first time in an NC State singlet. 

Northern Iowa needs to win at least one of the first five matches since the pendulum swings the Panthers' way in the second half. Northern Iowa is favored in three of five matches and will need to take advantage of bonus point opportunities at 165 and 285. 

Despite a big gap in the rankings at 174, Jared Simma can compete with Matty Singleton. Singleton defeated Simma, 4-2, at the 2025 NCAA Championships, but the Panther star was a Round of 12 finisher who had returning NCAA champion Shane Griffith on the ropes in the 2024 national quarterfinals. 

Every point counts in this dual, and it should be among the most competitive of the weekend. 

2025-26 Northern Iowa Overview

Head coach: Doug Schwab (16th season)

Assistants: Randy Pugh, Drew Foster, Ian Parker

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)

2025-26 NC State Overview

Head coach: Pat Popolizio (14th Season)

Assistants: Zack Esposito, Kevin Jack, Malik McDonald

2025 NCAA tournament finish: 8th

2025 NCAA tournament record: 19-14

2025 NCAA tournament points: 46.5

2025 ACC tournament finish: 3rd

2025 dual record: 11-2 (5-1 conference)

Returning All-Americans: 4 (Vince Robinson, Ryan Jack, Matt Singleton, Isaac Trumble)

Returning national qualifiers: 7 (Vincent Robinson, Zach Redding, Ryan Jack, Koy Buesgens, Jackson Arrington, Matt Singleton, Isaac Trumble)

Key Off-Season Transfer: Zach Redding (Iowa State), 

Last NCAA champion: Vincent Robinson (2025)

Highest NCAA team finish: T-4th (2018)

Highest NCAA team finish under Poplizio: 4th (2018)

Most national placers in a season under Popolizio: 4 (2018, 2021)

Series History Between Schwab and Popolizio

NC State leads, 2-0
2022: NC State, 27-12
2023: NC State, 25-16

Probable Lineups

Northern Iowa
125: #12 Trever Anderson, JR
133: #13 Julien Farber, SR
141: Cory Land, JR or Connor Thorpe, SR
149: #12 Caleb Rathjen, SR
157: #26 RJ Weston, SR or Cael Rahnavardi, SR
165: #6 Ryder Downey, JR or Jack Thomsen, SR
174: #20 Jared Simma, SR
184: #32 CJ Walrath, SO or Nick Fox, SO
197: Kalob Runyon, SR
285: #10 Wyatt Voelker, JR

NC State
125: #1 Vincent Robinson, SO or Brad Yokum, FR
133: #22 Zach Redding, SR, or Troy Hohman, JR
141: #9 Ryan Jack, SR
149: #9 Koy Buesgens, SO or Luca Felix
157: #11 Jackson Arrington, JR or Daniel Zepeda, FR
165: Will Denny, FR, or Brogan Tucker, FR
174: #6 Matthew Singleton, JR
184: Donald Cates, SR or Andrew Macchiavello, JR
197: Cason Howle, FR
285: Everest Ouellette, FR

Ranked wrestlers

NC State
125: #1 Vincent Robinson
133: #22 Zach Redding
141: #9 Ryan Jack
149: #9 Koy Buesgens
157: #11 Jackson Arrington
174: #6 Matty Singleton

Northern Iowa
125: #12 Trever Anderson
133: #13 Julien Farber
149: #12 Caleb Rathjen
157: #26 RJ Weston
165: #6 Ryder Downey
174: #20 Jared Simma
184:#32 CJ Walrath
285: #10 Wyatt Voelker, JR

Key Matchups

125: #1 Vincent Robinson (NC State) vs #12 Trever Anderson (UNI)
133: #22 Zach Redding (NC State) vs #13 Julien Farber (UNI)
149: #9 Koy Buesgens (NC State) vs #12 Caleb Rathjen (UNI)
174: #6 Matthew Singleton (NC State) vs #20 Jared Simma (UNI)

Prediction

Expect this to come down to heavyweight, with the 149-pound match between Koy Buesgens and Caleb Rathjen deciding the dual. NC State is without its star heavyweight, and that should be enough for Northern Iowa to eke out a victory in Tulsa.