Huskie wrestling coach Ed Vatch had to feel good about his squad after it came from behind in the last three weekend matches to better their record to 9-14.

NIU was down 17-6 against Southern Illinois-Edwardsville Friday night, but rallied to win 25-20. At Southwest Missouri State Saturday, the Huskies trailed 15-0 but in their last five matches pulled out a 19-15 win.

After falling behind 17-2 to Central Missouri State on Sunday, they recorded 18 unanswered points to win 20-17.

“We’ve got some real confidence going for us,” Vatch said. “As long as we’re not down too much going into 158, we’re capable of winning.”

At SIU-E, Gene Marino (118) won by forfeit but the next four Huskies lost, dropping the team score to 17-6. T.C. Dantzler won a 9-3 decision at 158 pounds and Jim Kossakowski (167) earned a 20-9 decision, cutting the deficit to 17-13. Joe Madonia (190) and Mark Kuehl (HWT) pinned their opponents to seal a 25-20 victory.

NIU was shut out in its first five matches at SMSU until Dantzler (158) won a 12-3 decision and started a five-match winning streak. Kossakowski (167), Jon Popp (177), Madonia (190) and Kuehl (HWT) each earned decisions to put the Huskies on top 19-15.

Marino earned a 5-5 draw in the opener with CMSU, and again the Huskies dropped their next four until T.C. Dantzler woke the team up with a victory by pin, cutting the score to 17-8. Kossakowski, Popp, Madonia and Kuehl each decisioned their opponent to close the score at 20-17.

“I can’t say enough about our upper-weight people,” Vatch said. “They really came through.”