History repeated itself at the NCAA West Regional Wrestling Championship last weekend.

NIU sophomore Anton Kossakowski won the 190-pound class at the regional, hosted by Drake University, and advanced to the national competition as he did last year at 177 pounds.

“I had a good tournament,” Anton Kossakowski said. “There wasn’t really a close match ‘til the finals. Ed (NIU coach Vatch) told me to change my style. I had been working double-legs (takedowns) and it wasn’t working. I switched to single-legs and I took him (Northern Iowa’s Doug Downs) apart.”

Kossakowski won his opening match by technical fall (24-9) over Notre Dame’s Curt Engler. He then pinned Greg Gardner of Illinois State at 6:31. In the first place match, he decisioned Downs 9-4 for the title.

Ted Anderson (167-pounds) and Joe Madonia (177) each placed third. Anderson will be a second alternate, which means he would wrestle in place of someone who might become sick or injured.

Anderson received a bye in his first match and was shut out by Chris Geneser of Notre Dame 8-0 in his second match. In the wrestleback, Anderson defeated Mark Mammen of ISU 5-3, and pinned Todd Lappe of UNI at 4:48 for the third-place title.

“What hurt Ted was sitting out the first day,” Kossakowski said. “I’m glad I didn’t get a bye. I’d rather wrestle that first match to get some of the nervousness out. Ted was real nervous in his first match.”

Madonia also received a first-round bye and lost his second match to Eastern Illinois’ Marty Molina 6-5. In the wrestleback, he decisioned Frank Trosser of ISU 10-5. In the third-place match Madonia decisioned Todd Tomzaic of Notre Dame 13-4.

“Joe wrestled tough,” Kossakowski said. “He lost to Molina for the third time this year. It was a close match from what I saw.”

Jim Kossakowski (150) and Mark Kuehl (Hwt) each lost their third-place matches. Kossakowski was decisioned by Todd Layton of Notre Dame 4-0, and Kuehl lost by referee’s decision 3-3, on criteria.

“Jim felt he should have won,” Anton Kossakowski said of his brother. “He felt he gave away too many points.”

Kossakowski will now prepare for the national tournament. He will pick a training partner to accompany him, along with Vatch, for the trip.

“I’m real nervous,” Kossakowski said. “I don’t like flying. I hate planes. With all these things blowing up in the air, I’d rather stay away from them.”

Northern Iowa repeated as team champion with 116 points. Notre Dame was second with 68.25 and Eastern Illinois was third with 43.25. NIU improved to fourth place with 31.25. Host Drake (28.50) was fifth, followed by Marquette (22.75), SW Missouri State (22.50), Illinois State (18.25) and Valparaiso (0.5).