NIU wrestling (1-1) trumped the Rider University Broncs (0-2) in their second meet of the season Friday night, winning the dual 20-19.
EBBS AND FLOWS
The Huskies would storm ahead early going up 11-0. This included an 8-0 major decision at 125 lbs by NIU redshirt junior Blake West over Rider senior Will Betancourt, a 19-5 major decision at 133 lbs by Huskie redshirt sophomore Markel Baker over Rider senior Nieko Malone and a close 7-5 decision at 141 lbs by NIU redshirt sophomore Jacob Brya over Rider graduate student McKenzie Bell.
The Broncs would storm back in the middle matchups of the dual. Rider would win five matchups in a row from the 149 lbs to 184 lb divisions and take the lead 11-19.
This stretch included a 17-3 major decision at 174 lbs by Rider graduate student Michael Wilson over NIU redshirt junior Jake Evans and a 20-4 technical fall at 184 lbs by Rider senior Isaac Dean over NIU redshirt sophomore Spencer Steiner.
The momentum would swing again at 197 and 285 lbs. At 197 lbs NIU redshirt junior Spencer Mooberry took on Rider junior Steyn De Lange. The matchup would be back and forth, but in the third set Mooberry would secure a pin and win by fall to bring the score to 17-19.
The meet was decided by the final matchup of the night at 285 lbs and saw NIU redshirt junior Jacob Christensen take on Rider freshman Collin French.
It was a hard fought duel where Christensen would outlast and outpoint French. Christensen secured the match in a 3-1 decision, an outcome that won the meet for the Huskies 20-19.
When asked if he felt any pressure stepping onto the mat in the deciding match for the Huskies, Christensen explained he felt comfortable and credited his team.
“You know, not really,” Christensen said. “I have great teammates behind me, they were setting me up for success right there. Giving me the opportunity to come out and get the win and prove to everybody that I’m the man here.”
NIU wrestling head coach Ryan Ludwig recognized the importance of every point and praised his players for their ability to step up.
“I mean, clutch,” Ludwig said. “Look, in these team settings like this, in these dual meet matchups, the individual performances, every man doing his part. Those points are huge in terms of closing that margin of victory. We were up against it there, we really needed Spencer to step up and we really needed Jacob (Christensen) to step up and they did in a big way.”
UP NEXT
NIU wrestling continues its season at 10 a.m. Dec. 7 at the Cougar Clash in Edwardsville. Live Stats will be available on TrackWrestling.
