DeKALB | With a win over Kent State Friday night, the NIU wrestling team could have secured a spot in the national rankings. However, the Golden Flashes erased a 9-0 Huskie lead en route to a 22-12 victory.

Johnny Galloway got things rolling for the Huskies as he improved his record to 12-1 with an 11-5 win over KSU’s Sli Bostelman in the 165-pound class. After a win from Danny Burk, younger brother and 17th-ranked Duke Burk soundly defeated KSU’s 20th-ranked Eric Chine in the 184-pound class with a 9-4 victory.

After losing the next two matches, 17th-ranked Pat Castillo gave the Huskies a 12-6 lead heading into intermission by beating KSU’s 19th-ranked Chad Sportelli 7-2 in the 125-pound match.

“The score doesn’t seem how it was,” Castillo said. “We were right in there most of the meet.”

But Kent State went on to win the final four matches, including a pin, which is worth six points, in the 149-pound match to seal the deal for the Golden Flashes.

Eight-ranked senior Mike Grimes was recovering from minor injuries and didn’t wrestle against KSU. Will McDermott filled in for Grimes in the 149-pound match and lost a 9-1 major decision to KSU’s Jason McGee.

Grant also feels that Danny Burk’s 3-2 win in the 174-pound class could propel him into the national rankings.

“The Burk brothers wrestled tough again and I think Danny will get nationally ranked,” Grant said.