UNI LOOKS TO DEFEND WEST REGIONAL TEAM TITLE    The Univ. of Northern Iowa seeks a 17th straight regional title, when it travels to Fresno State Univ. for the NCAA West Regional Wrestling Championships on Saturday, March 9.     The field includes UNI, Fresno State, Air Force, Eastern Illinois and Wyoming. Northern Iowa and Fresno State are ranked among the top 25 teams in the nation, and traditionally send strong teams to this event. Nineteen wrestlers will qualify for the NCAA Championships, with the top wrestler automatically advancing and the remaining nine spots will be determined by the coaches.     The team race should be close between UNI and Fresno State. Last year, Last year, UNI scored 97 points, just 10 more than Fresno State. The key battles will be for individual positions and spots in the NCAA field.    A total of 11 athletes from this regional hold national individual rankings with Amateur Wrestling News, led by No. 1 Stephen Abas of Fresno State at 125 pounds. Abas seeks his third career NCAA title, but must get through the regional first.    There are 11 nationally ranked athletes in this tournament . Two weight classes have two nationally ranked competitors, 174 pounds and heavyweight. At 174, Terry Parham of Air Force is ranked No. 19, followed immediately by Eric Hauan of Northern Iowa at No. 20. The two ranked heavyweights are Kevin Hoy of Air Force at No. 8 and Paul Hynek of Northern Iowa at No. 12. These two weight classes should be very competitive.    Other nationally ranked individuals include:  Derrick Hayes of Fresno State at 133 (No. 17), Dylan Long of Northern Iowa at 141 (No. 5), Scott Frohardt of Air Force at 149 pounds (No. 14), Levi Prevost of Wyoming at 157 (No. 15), Kyle Hansen of Northern Iowa at 184 (No. 12)  and Jason Payne of Northern Iowa at 197 (No. 11).    UNI, under coach Brad Penrith, will count on their five nationally ranked athletes (Long, Hansen, Payne, Hauan and Hynek) to bring home the team title. Nate Lawrenz (165) will also be a top challenger. UNI has four wrestlers who will be competing in their first Regional tournament.    Fresno State is hot off an upset win over Arizona State in the final dual meet of the year, ending with a 14-7 record. Joining Abas and Hayes as top challengers is Ralph Lopez (141), who was second in the region last year. Other top Bulldogs for coach Dennis Deliddo are Darrick Duran (165), Eddie Gifford (184) and Marcio Botelho (197).    Air Force had a spectacular dual meet season, ending at 11-2, including a big win over Northern Iowa, a 17-17 tie that went down to criteria ( most falls).  Along with Parham, Hoy and Frohart, lightweights Heath McKim (125) and Andrew Peters (133) had strong seasons.    Wyoming comes off a rough 5-11 dual season, with losses to three regional opponents (Air Force, Fresno State and Northern Iowa). Provost, who is nationally ranked, is the only returning Cowboy who qualified for last year's NCAA meet. Among the athletes with strong seasons were Kelly McConville (133) and Brad Steele (Hwt).    Eastern Illinois also had a rough dual meet year, going 2-11. Louis Taylor  (174) was the only wrestler to advance to the NCAA Championships last year, placing second in the Regional tournament. Pat Dowty (133), Andy Coyle (149) and Joe Gleissner (HWT) are hoping to earn a trip to the NCAA this year.