Colon to wrestle for Doug Schwab and Panthers of University of Northern Iowa

Posted on | August 22, 2010 | No Comments

by: Scott Casber, Takedown Wrestling Media

Joe Colon is 1st year Head Coach Doug Schwab’s first commitment of his UNI Coaching career. Although Doug Schwab was unavailable for comment at the time of this writing one has to think that this is an important signing, one that will kick start the Panthers program. Colon was the freshman heartbeat of last years Triton team that won its 5th NJCCC Championship. Colon’s commitment to UNI comes on the heels of fellow Iowa Central Triton wrestler Patrick Hunter signing with Iowa State University. Iowa Central is producing some talented student athletes. More on that later.

Colon told us that he’ll take a red shirt year at Iowa Central and help the Tritons train for the season. He’ll head to Cedar Falls next spring and have 3 years eligibility remaining. Schwab has got to be grinning from ear to ear. 2 X State Champions don’t just fall out of trees and they’re not exactly the best kept secrets in the state of Iowa either.

Joe Colon won 2 Iowa State High School titles while wrestling for Clear Lake becoming the Lions only 2 x State Champion. His HS Coach Gary Weber told us that “Joe is one of the best wrestlers this state has ever seen, He went 130-1 in high school and is one of the most exciting and gifted wrestlers I have ever had the privilege to coach. He wrestles 12 months a year and it has all paid off.” In his final match at the state championships Colon beat Tyler Grask of Ballard 4-1 in the 125-pound finals to finish 43-0 earning 2 State championships.

Colon has spent the past year on the mat in Ft. Dodge with the Tritons of Iowa Central Community Junior College. Luke Moffitt and Iowa Central are providing a launching pad for some great athletes in college wrestling. Colon joins an impressive list of those that have transferred to UNI.

Here is a list of where they ended up:

Troy Bennett University of Northern Iowa
Leonard Bridgeforth Delaware State
Tony Brown University of Iowa
Scott Burnett University of Nebraska
*Matt Burns Grandview College
Kurt Burrage SW Missouri State University
Nate Carr Iowa State University
*Ricky Casarez Loras
Mike Christiansen Simpson
Matt Collum Oklahoma State University
*Paul Collum Missouri Valley College
Jacob Combs Buena Vista University
Decota Cotton Lock Haven
Colby Covington University of Iowa
Kirk Crawford University of Northern Iowa
Sean Curran Minnesota State
*Tony Davis University of Northern Iowa
*Mark Dodgen University of Central Oklahoma
*Matt Dodgen University of Central Oklahoma
Dustin Dunton University of Northern Iowa
Juan Edwards University of Northern Iowa
*Tyrice Ellebb University of Nebraska, Omaha
Topher Ewing Iowa State University
Kevin Flinn University of Indianapolis
T.J. Friederichs St. Cloud State, Minnesota
Joe Glissman Simpson
David Greenwald Rutgers University
Dan Griffith Iowa State University
Jon Henslee Grandview College
Eric Hoffman North Dakota State
Danna Holland Arizona State University
Paul Jenn University of Iowa
Elias Johnson Arizona State
Joe Johnson University of Northern Iowa
Erik Josephson University of Nebraska, Omaha
Kevin Kelly South Dakota State
Steve Kelly Iowa State University
*Raphael Kizzee University of Nebraska, Omaha
Ray Kizzee William Penn
Chris Kula Iowa State University
Mike Lester Montana State
Antoine Love Ohio University
Bobbe Lowe University of Minnesota
Myron Mahone Clarion
Adam Manz Dana College
Tony Marti University of Iowa
Nathan McClain University of Nebraska
Justin McClintock Wartburg
Willie Mekeel Minnesota State
Tucker Michels Virginia Tech
Luke Moffitt University of Iowa
Terry Overton UNC-Penbroke
*Terry Pack Teikio-Westmar
*Willie Parks Dana College
*Lim Prim University of Nebraska, Omaha
Allen Quibble Rhode Island
*Corry Royal University of Nebraska, Omaha
Todd Schmauss University of Iowa
Tim Springs Northern Illinois
James Stapleton Mankato State University
Nate Troye Northern Illinios University
Chad Vance University of Iowa
Cain Velasquez Arizona State University
Dana Vote Iowa State University
Dave Vrba Loras
Russell Weakley UNC-Pembroke
Nate Willard Cal Poly University
Justin Wolfe University of Northern Iowa
Terrance Young University of Northern Iowa
*Bryan Zanders University of Nebraska, Omaha
Jesse Zobeck University of Iowa

Colon is a great pickup for Schwab and UNI and as a side note nice job by some great teachers and coaches at Iowa Central in Ft. Dodge, Iowa.