Dec. 8, 2006

EVANSTON, Ill. - Northern Illinois dropped its dual match opener, 28-10 to 10th-ranked Northwestern Friday night. Individually, the Huskies had a pair of victories in the match from Mike Grimes and Duke Burk.

Northwestern jumped out to a 16-0 lead by winning the first five matches of the evening before Grimes put NIU on the board. Grimes earned a 17-6 major decision over Vincent Colletti at 149 to trim the margin to 16-4.

The Wildcats won the next three matches, including a forfeit at 165. Burk stopped the home streak with a pin of Mark Graves at 184.

Two of the Huskies individual losses came by just one point. Jeff Burdoff (Hwt.) nearly upset Dustin Fox and third-ranked Pat Castillo (125) was edged 6-5 by Brandon Precin.

At 174, Danny Burk took Nick Hayes to overtime in an 8-6 outcome.

NIU is back in action on Sunday against another ranked Big Ten foe, hosting No. 23 Wisconsin in the "Showcase Meet" at the Convocation Center at 2 p.m.

NU 28, NIU 10
197: Tamillow (NU) def. McClone (NIU), 10-3
285: Fox (NU) def. Burdoff (NIU), 3-2
125: Precin (NU) def. Castillo (NIU), 6-5
133: Kohlberg (NU) def. Vendiver (NIU), 8-2
141: Lang (NU) def. Reuttiger (NIU), MD 14-0
149: Grimes (NIU) def. Colletti (NU), MD 17-6
157: Marella (NU) def. Knull (NIU), 8-5
165: Hagel (NU) def. FRFT
174: Hayes (NU) def. Danny Burk (NIU), 8-6 (OT)
184: Duke Burk (NIU) def. Graves (NU), Fall