CFFC Match Day results: Reigning NCAA champ Parker Keckeisen claims OW belt as Northern Iowa takes out Missouri
Missouri's Keegan O'Toole picks up major decision in homecoming despite the Tigers setback.
HARTLAND, Wisconsin – Former Askren Wrestling Academy standouts Parker Keckeisen and Keegan O'Toole each picked up individual wins in front of their family and friends, but it was Keckeisen's Northern Iowa team that took home a dual victory over Missouri at Tuesday's "CFFC Match Day: War in Wisconsin."
Hosted by University of Missouri Hall of Famer Ben Askren, the special neutral-site dual took place at Arrowhead High School, where O'Toole was a four-time Wisconsin state champion, and streamed live on UFC FIGHT PASS.
It was Missouri who struck first on the night, with 125-pounder Gage Walker picking up a 4-0 decision result over Kyle Gollhofer in the first matchup of the dual, but Northern Iowa came rolling back, winning four of the next five contests, including a 15-0 technical fall victory by Ryder Downey at 157 pounds, to build a 14-6 lead.
At 174 pounds, former two-time national champion and prior CFFC Match Day Outstanding Wrestler belt winner O'Toole, currently ranked No. 1 in the nation, claimed bonus points for the Tigers, taking home a 14-2 major decision over an outmatched Nick Fox, but it was the last points the team would score on the day.
The Panthers closed out the dual with three more victories, taking seven of the 10 matchups on the day, for a final score of 24-10, Northern Iowa's second straight victory over Missouri. In that final span of three victories was a spectacular major decision from Keckeisen over No. 10 Colton Hawks, 17-4, that earned the reigning NCAA champion at 184 pounds his 33rd consecutive victory and the night's Outstanding Wrestler award.
For Keckeisen, who quickly presented the belt to Northern Iowa Head Coach Doug Schwab, the team victory offered a revenge of sorts, after his own Nicolet High School came up short against O'Toole and Arrowhead in the state playoffs before the two Wisconsin natives began their college careers.
"I got to see one of my best friends right there next to the mat, I've got my family here – it's a surreal opportunity that I honestly never thought would happen," Keckeisen beamed before joking a change of venue might have been a better decision. "I think Nicolet would have been a cooler gym, but Arrowhead's awesome, too.
"It was pretty fun to be with my team and get a 'W' here."
Complete "CFFC Match Day: War in Wisconsin" results include:
125: Gage Walker (MIZZ) def. Kyle Gollhofer (UNI) via decision (4-0)
133: Cory Land (UNI) def. Kade Moore (MIZZ) via decision (5-2)
141: Cael Happel (UNI) def. Josh Edmond (MIZZ) via decision (4-2)
149: Logan Gioffre (MIZZ) def. Adam Allard (UNI) via decision (3-1)
157: Ryder Downey (UNI) def. James Conway via technical fall (15-0)
165: Jack Thomsen (UNI) def. Joel Mylin (MIZZ) via decision (4-2)
174: Keegan O'Toole (MIZZ) def. Nick Fox (UNI) via major decision (14-2)
184: Parker Keckeisen (UNI) def. Colton Hawks via major decision (17-4)
197: Wyatt Voelker (UNI) def. Aeoden Sinclair via decision (8-5)
HWT: Lance Runyon (UNI) def. Seth Nitzel (MIZZ) via decision (6-1)
