The battle for starting lineup spots began Thursday at Victor E. Court during the 2004 Wrestle-off.

NIU coach Dave Grant was impressed with the team’s depth as the NIU Black Team defeated the Red Team 21-11.

“This is one of our more competitive teams,” Grant said. “Eight out of the 10 matches could have gone either way. Any time you got two guys trying for the same spot, they make each other better.”

Senior team co-captain and two-time defending MAC champion Sam Hiatt, 133 pounds, won his match 5-2 over redshirt freshman Patrick Castillo. His 141-pound brother Andy Hiatt also won his match 2-1 over 149-pound redshirt freshman Justin Metcalfe.

“I think I wrestled alright,” Sam said. “I got the win and that’s what matters. We got a tough team and there are no easy matches out there.”

The most lopsided match of the evening occurred at the 197 pound division, as Derek Hunsinger scored a 19-3 victory over fellow redshirt freshman Jason DePolo.

Junior Josh Wooten, who was an NCAA qualifier last year at 149 pounds, possessed a 6-0 lead in the third and final period over sophomore Mike Grimes. But two near falls and a takedown by Grimes with three seconds remaining tied the match at seven.

An escape-takedown by Grimes in the second overtime gave Grimes the lead and he held on for a 10-9 decision.

“Wooten and Grimes was a match you’d see in a national tournament,” Grant said. “That’s as good a match as you can see. Like I said before, no one is guaranteed a spot. They gotta earn it.”