DeKALB — NIU wrestling (7-5, 3-0 MAC) earned a pair of conference wins against the Kent State University Golden Flashes (5-5, 1-3 MAC) and the Ohio University Bobcats (4-3, 1-2 MAC) Friday at the Convocation Center.
“We had more points on the board, but to be 100% honest, I’m not really satisfied with the way we competed up and down the lineup,” NIU head coach Ryan Ludwig said. “We need to create more offensive guys that just want to hold and slow it down. But the way we were able to dig it out and win some close ones, get some upsets makes me really proud of the guys.”
KENT STATE
Starting off with the duals against Kent State University, NIU came out on top with a slender 19-17 victory.
The Huskies started out strong at 125 pounds, as No. 30 redshirt senior Blake West earned a 5-2 decision over KSU redshirt junior Nico Calello.
NIU extended its lead at 133 pounds with a 4-2 decision by No. 29 redshirt junior Markel Baker over Golden Flashes’ redshirt junior Nick Molchak.
NIU won their third straight bout at 141 pounds when redshirt freshman Charles Curtis earned a 16-4 major decision over Kent State redshirt sophomore Landen Duncan.
The Huskies took a commanding lead at 149 pounds with redshirt sophomore Collin Arch over KSU freshman Silas Stits with a 7-3 decision.
After losing the previous bout, NIU responded at 165 pounds with redshirt sophomore Brett Smith earning a 4-1 decision over KSU junior Chris Earnest in a second sudden victory.
In the final bout of the match, N0. 20 graduate student Devon Dawson secured the victory by defeating Golden Flashes’ redshirt sophomore Brentan Simmerman with a 7-4 decision in sudden victory.
OHIO
In their second matchup of the night, NIU defeated Ohio in a 20-17 comeback victory.
In the first bout of the match, West came away with a 4-0 decision over Bobcat freshman Brayden Teunissen at 125 pounds.
At 133 pounds, Baker added to the team score with a 10-3 decision over Ohio junior Ryan Meek.
Curtis defeated sophomore Kolton Barker in a 4-2 decision in the 141 pound matchup to give NIU their third consecutive win of the match.
After dropping two bouts, one by major decision, Smith beat redshirt junior Jack Lledo in a 2-0 decision at 165 pounds.
At 174 pounds, redshirt junior Tommy Bennett upset No. 13 redshirt senior Garrett Thompson in a 6-5 decision.
After dropping two more bouts, both of which by technical fall, Dawson delivered at 285 pounds and defeated sophomore Wyatt Schmitt via technical fall 5:45 into the match.
“Those guys (West and Dawson) are absolute hammers right out of the gate and to close the duel,” said Ludwig. “Great leaders and seniors. They work very hard and set a great example. You always feel good having a good start and a great closing.”
UP NEXT
The Huskies return to action at 1 p.m. Friday against Lock Haven University in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania.
