Keckeisen named Most Outstanding Wrestler at Big 12 Championships
Keckeisen named Most Outstanding Wrestler at Big 12 Championships
Keckeisen becomes UNI’s first four-time Big 12 champ, Downey also wins conference title
UNI's Parker Keckeisen was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler of the 2024 Big 12 Championships late on Sunday night, the first Panther to earn the honor since UNI joined the conference in 2018.
Keckeisen, who has been ranked first in the nation at 184 pounds all season long and secured his fourth consecutive NCAA Championship berth on Saturday, became the first Northern Iowa wrestler to win four Big 12 individual titles while also being named the tournament's Most Outstanding Wrestler.
Meanwhile Ryder Downey, who entered the UNI lineup this season at 157 pounds as a redshirt freshman, gave the crowd the match of the night to capture his first conference crown.
Day two recap
Gunning for his 100th career victory, Keckeisen dominated second-seeded and second-ranked Dustin Plott (Oklahoma State) from start to finish with a 14-5 major decision, his 23rd bonus point win of the year. Having beat Plott back in Stillwater during dual competition in January, the win was also his 26th consecutive victory this season. Northern Iowa has now won the 184-pound championship at the Big 12 Championships every year since joining the conference in 2018.
