The NIU wrestling team opened its young season in Madison, Wis., Saturday and came back with a 1-2 record.

NIU started the day losing to host Wisconsin 40-9 and 37-8 to Brown University.

The Huskies, however, came right back from those two defeats and took care of regional rival Marquette University by a count of 38-5.

The lone Huskie winners against Wisconsin were an impressive 5-3 victory by 118-pounder Shannon Gregory and a pin from Huskie mat leader T.C. Dantzler.

Dantzler took no time in finishing off Steve Best at 158 pounds with his pin coming in the first period at 1:16.

Jim Kossakowski lost a close match against his Badger foe at 177 pounds by a score of 3-2.

Against Brown University, the Huskies thought they matched up pretty well but could only get wins from their co-captains. Dantzler chalked up another win for himself by decisioning Simon Weaver 13-3 and Kossakowski got the other win with a 17-3 decision.

Marquette proved to be no competition for the Huskies as NIU went on to win every match—except at 190 pounds, where the Huskies had to forfeit.

Gregory finished the weekend at 2-1 with a decision of 7-2. Dantzler remained undefeated by pinning his opponent in 5:28, and Kossakowski earned his second win of the day with a decision to his regional rival Bill Kumprey.

Kumprey and Kossakowski have been battling each other throughout their college careers with Kossakowski getting the upper hand this time, winning 11-1.

Also donating to the Huskies’ point total was heavyweight Demon Rodez, who put the exclamation point on the Warriors with a quick pin in 35 seconds.

“The overall team score may not indicate it, but I thought we wrestled one of out better meets against Wisconsin,” said NIU head coach Phil Rembert. “The injuries from that contest hurt us against Brown. But then we pulled together and won every match that was wrestled in our win over Marquette.”