The NIU wrestling team lost to Purdue 32-12 at West Lafayette, Ind., on Saturday and came back home Sunday night to lose a hard-fought match 24-20 at Chick Evans Field House.

Huskie high points at Purdue had to be the play of Tino Gonzalez, Tim Cocco, Brett Messerli, Joe Madonia and Anton Kossakowski.

At 126 pounds, Gonzalez decisioned Keith Huddleston of Purdue 11-5. Cocco won his 150-pound match with a 7-1 decision over PU’s Craig Kuhr.

“Cocco is a controlled, position-orientated wrestler, and at this point he’s looking real good,” Huskie head coach Ed Vatch said. “He’s capable of doing great things for us this year.”

At 158 pounds for NIU, Messerli drew with his PU opponent, Dave Walker, 4-4.

“Brett and Tim are switching weights for us against Ohio State next week,” Vatch said. “That’s how it will be for the rest of the season. Tim doesn’t feel he’s strong enough at 150 pounds.”

Madonia drew his 167-pound battle against Scott Pierre of PU, 1-1.

“Madonia turned him every which way with out getting a point,” Vatch said. “He was all over him.”

Kossakowski drew with his PU opponent, Joe Urso, as well, 1-1.

“Anton wrestled the number-three rated kid in the country,” Vatch said. “What a great match—there was no stalling. They were going at it until the last second.”

The Huskies won five of the nine matches wrestled against Northwestern on Sunday night, but had to give up six points due to forfeiting their 142-pound match.

Cocco (22-9-1) won his 158-pound match against NU’s Brad Wright, 6-3.

Messerli (5-4-1) once again made another good performance since coming back from an early-season injury with a 5-1 decision over NU’s Bert Knuth.

Madonia (20-9-3) then quickly pinned his NU opponent, Matt Case, at 167 pounds at 1:59 of the first period.

NIU’s 190-pounder, Tom Hoy (11-12), then came up with a convincing 15-7 win over NU’s Neil Chriss.

The Huskies ended the match with heavyweight Mark Kuehl (21-17-1) winning his match easily 16-6 over NU’s Jeff Glenn.