Iowa State is making the 100 mile trek northeast on Friday evening to take on the UNI Panthers in the McLeod Center. With the increased level of both programs, this has become one of my favorite duals every year. This year will be no different.

A Heated In-State Rivalry

Kevin Dresser and Doug Schwab started the fun and easy banter last season to help promote this dual and have kept it rolling this year. While a lot of their words are tongue-in-cheek, you can’t deny how badly these two want to beat each other and that they still add a little extra flare to the dual. 

"Schwab will never beat me again. He will never, ever beat me again — and ever is a long time. He might beat me in a pull-up contest and a rope climbing contest, but that’s it.” - Kevin Dresser

It all go started last year when Dresser said he was "hunting panthers."

As if I wasn't already excited about the UNI/ISU dual, Dresser kicked it up a notch and said this in today's presser:

"We're hunting Panthers hard. Schwab, I'm coming for you." pic.twitter.com/0IIHcJcwm4

— Jacqueline (@JacquelineCord) February 5, 2022

Schwab responded by saying they wanted to whoop each other.

Got some highlights from yesterday's presser. @schwabwrestling was a little fired up #PantherTrain #WhoopAss pic.twitter.com/F8aZwLZKhq

— Nic Ryder (@Nic_Ryder) February 8, 2022

The trash talk has rolled over into this year with Schwab saying he would fight Dresser.

That’s our guy! 👨🏻 🆚 👴🏻 #PantherTrain l #EverLoyal https://t.co/g1ZKtxy57o

— UNIWrestling (@UNI_wrestling) February 8, 2023

Dresser responded with his emojis.

Emoji school with @CYWrestle_KD is now in session.

🌪🚨🌪 pic.twitter.com/gVsCUTdx2g

— Iowa State Wrestling (@CycloneWR) February 9, 2023

This Dual Will Likely Come Down To The Last Match

For the past three years, this dual has come down to the final match. Last year it came down to the final seconds as Sam Schuyler secured a takedown over Carter Isley to win the match and the dual for the Cyclones. I expect this year to be very similar. With a couple of toss-up matches, this dual could very well end up split five matches apiece.

Watch the dual winning takedown from last year's dual below

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Probable Lineups

Marcus Coleman vs Parker Keckeisen

With two top-five opponents, 184 will be the marquee match. Parker Keckeisen has owned this rivalry in the past. The two times the pair met last season, Keckeisen won 8-4 and 7-2. However, at 15-1 with a win over #1 Aaron Brooks, Marcus Coleman is wrestling as good as he ever has in his career.

Watch Keckeisen and Coleman’s match from the 2022 dual below

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Two Big Tests For Iowa State’s Young Studs

After an incredibly hot start for Iowa State freshmen Casey Swiderski and Paniro Johnson, the talks behind the two have cooled after a couple of losses. In fact, Swiderski has hit a bit of a freshman slump and lost four straight. Snapping the losing streak would be huge for Swiderski. However, with UNI throwing out two experienced top-15 opponents, there is a chance the Cyclones leave Cedar Falls 0-2 at 141 and 149.

David Carr Last Push Before Keegan O’Toole Showdown

For many fans, David Carr vs Keegan O’Toole is the most anticipated match of the season. NCAA champ vs NCAA champ. That match goes down next Wednesday, February 15th. Carr will be a huge favorite Friday night, but can’t overlook a tough and stingy opponent in #23 Austin Yant. With Carr competing the first four years of his career at 157, this will be the first time the two have met. Yant is a long and lanky 165-pounder with a solid top game. If Carr can get past Yant and #18 Dan Braunagel of Illinois on Saturday, he’ll go into the epic showdown with O’Toole undefeated on the year.

Conference Seeds On The Line

When Northern Iowa joined the Big 12 in 2017, more than just bragging rights became at risk for these two teams. These matches will have big-time implications for Big 12 tournament seeding. And with the Big 12 tournament being just a month away, these matches could have a large impact on just seeds, but psyche and confidence as well. It may be the first time a lot of these guys are wrestling this season, but there is a good chance it isn’t the last.