NIU Wrestling made the trip to East Lansing, Michigan for the Michigan State Open on Saturday. The Huskies had 9 wrestlers place in the event with 6 finishing in the top 3 of their division.
NIU wrestling head coach Ryan Ludwig was pleased with his team’s effort in the open, but acknowledged there is still work to be going forward in the season.
“We were pleased with the effort and competitive spirit,” Ludwig said. We’ve got lots of things to come back to the room and improve upon as we prepare for next week.”
PODIUM FINISHERS
Fresh/Soph division 125 – freshman Camren French placed 2nd with 16.0 team points. French had a first round bye and then won 3 of his 4 matches, his only loss came in the 1st place match to Michigan State University redshirt freshman Caleb Weiand.
Fresh/Soph division 133 – freshman Calvin Werden placed 3rd with 18.0 team points. He had a first round bye and would go on to win 4 of his 5 matches, taking 3rd place with a major decision over the University of Michigan freshman Teddy Flores.
Fresh/Soph division 141 – freshman Charles Curtis placed 1st with 18.0 team points. Curtis won all five of his matches and won the 1st place match by decision over Oklahoma State University freshman Kolter Burton.
Fresh/Soph division 174 – freshman Damarion Ross placed 3rd, providing 11.5 team points. Ross lost the semifinal match to Edinboro University second year Brody Evans but took the consolation semifinal over Edinboro second year Hunter Hutcheson. Ross then took on Grand Valley State University redshirt freshman Bradley Mayse in the 3rd place match and won by decision.
Fresh/Soph division 197 – freshman Ian Smith placed 1st and scored 16.5 team points. Smith won all four of his matches including a sudden victory over University at Ohio freshman Evan Wingrove in the semi final and then an 8-3 decision over Kent State University redshirt freshman Corey Boerio in the first place match.
Open 125 – redshirt junior Blake West placed 2nd and scored 16.5 team points. West won his first three matches, including a pair of major decisions over Ohio redshirt sophomore Malachi O’Leary in the quarterfinal and over Michigan redshirt junior Christian Tanefeu. West proceeded to lose the first place matchup to University of Wisconsin redshirt freshman Nicolar Rivera by a 1:57 fall.
OTHER PLACERS
Fresh/Soph division 141 – freshman Lucan O’Brien placed 4th and scored 13.5 team points. O’Brien won his first round matchup by major decision over Grand Valley State redshirt freshman Elijah Bunn but fell short in round 2 against Burton. O’Brien won his next four matchups in the consolation bracket and would make it to a 3rd place matchup. In the 3rd place match, he fell to Central Michigan University freshman Nick Blackburn.
Open 133 – senior Lucian Brink placed 4th and scored 12 team points. Brink won four of his six matchups on the day including a win in the consolation semi-final over fellow Huskie redshirt sophomore Markel Baker. Brink lost the 3rd place match to Central Michigan redshirt junior Sean Spindle by 8-0 majority decision.
Open 133 – Baker placed 5th and scored 8 team points. Baker won his first two matches with a decision victory over Central Michigan sixth year Vince Perez and a sudden victory over Oklahoma Stats redshirt sophomoreBlankenship. Baker then lost his next two matchups before winning the 5th place match over Blankenship for the second time.
UP NEXT
NIU wrestling continues their season at 7 p.m. Saturday in Evanston, Illinois against the Northwestern University Wildcats.
