Feb. 18, 2007

Quad Invite Photo Gallery 

DeKalb, Ill. - It was big day for the NIU wrestling squad on Sunday as the Huskies sent the Senior class out in style with three consecutive wins against Eastern Michigan, Southern Illinois - Edwardsville and Eastern Illinois en route to an undefeated day of wrestling. Huskie seniors Mike Grimes, Johnny Galloway and Danny Burk along with junior Pat Castillo each recorded three victories on the day to lead NIU. The Huskies finish the regular season with a dual meet record of 6-4-1 overall and 3-2 in MAC competition.

NIU vs. EMU

After honoring Seniors Mike Grimes, Johnny Galloway, Danny Burk and Justin Metcalfe it was time for the Huskie wrestlers to get down to business against conference opponent Eastern Michigan.

MAC wrestler of the week Pat Castillo, ranked seventeenth in the nation, roared out of the gates for the Huskies, picking up a 20-4 technical fall over EMU's Jack Cassidy in the first match of the day. It would be Castillo's first of three consecutive technical fall victories on the day and gave the Huskies an early 5-0 lead.

EMU came back strong in the next two matches recording consecutive decisions to take a 6-5 overall lead.

Then, it was time for Mike Grimes, ranked tenth in the nation, to pick up his first win of the day as he defeated the third ranked MAC wrestler at 149-pouns in Jermain Thompson with a key 5-1 decision to put the Huskies back on top 8-6.

The Huskies found themselves in a dogfight with the Eagles who posted a decision in the very next match to take the lead back. It was up NIU's Johnny Galloway, ranked nineth in the nation, to once again give NIU the lead as he escaped with a 6-5 win over the third ranked MAC wrestler at 165-pounds in Nick Conklin.

Danny and Duke Burk, ranked eighteenth in the nation, picked up consecutive decisions to give the Huskies some breathing room as they went up 17-10 on EMU. Eastern Michigan closed the gap to four points with a decision at 197-pounds but then Dave Benner battled his way to a 5-1 decision over EMU's Charlie Walker to seal the 20-13 win for the Huskies.

NIU vs. SIUE

In the second match of the day NIU faced off against Southern Illinois - Edwardsville in the first of two intra-state battles for the Huskies.

NIU's Pat Castillo overwhelmed his second opponent of the day in SIUE's Tommy Hill en route to a second 20-5 technical fall victory, once again giving the Huskies a 5-0 lead.

After an SIUE forfeit James Aschenbrenner of SIUE bested NIU's Will McDermotte with a 12-5 major decision to close the gap to 11-4 in favor of the Huskies.

But, that would be as close as SIUE would get, after yet another forfeit Kalen Knull won a hard fought 3-1 decision to give NIU a 20-4 lead with five matches left.

NIU's Johnny Galloway then began a sequence three impressive victories for the Huskies with a 12-4 major decision over SIUE's John Ficht. NIU's Danny Burk pinned his opponent at the 1:44 mark and Duke Burk scored a 16-5 major decision over SIUE's Jacob Petrie to give the Huskies an insurmountable 34-4 lead with two matches left.

At 197-pounds NIU's Nick McClone outlasted SIUE's Tony Lyssiotis for a 1-0 decision and in the final match Dave Benner won by forfeit to give the Huskies a 43-4 win over Southern Illinois - Edwardsville.

NIU vs. EIU

If the Huskies were tired after wrestling back-to-back matches they certainly did not show it against Eastern Illinois.

Pat Castillo looked fresh and well rested as he wrestled his way to a third technical fall victory. John Weinart of NIU followed Castillo's performance by recording a solid 6-2 decision over EIU's Lenny Grodoski.

Eastern Illinios forfeited at 141-pounds then Mike Grimes showed that Pat Castillo was not the only Huskie who could get a technical fall as Grimes picked up on of his own against EIU's Tommy Reamer.

Kalen Knull won his second match of the day with a 7-3 decision over EIU's Kyle O'Tool to give the Huskies a 22-0 overall lead.

Johnny Galloway then wasted no time in expanding NIU's lead by pinning his opponent with 2:36 left in the first period. The victory gave Galloway three on the day and improved his record to 17-2 this season.

In the match of the day Danny Burk found himself trailing 3-1 at the end of the first period against EIU's Kenny Robertson. Burk fought back to tie the score at 4-4 going into the third period. The two warriors battled to a 6-6 tie at the end of regulation and were forced to settle the matter in overtime, where Burk ended it quickly with a takedown to make the senior a perfect 3-0 on the day and give the Huskies a 30-0 overall lead. At 184-pounds a hobbled Duke Burk was not able keep NIU's shutout intact as Greg Perz of EIU got the better of Burk with a 3-1 decision.

The Panthers forfeited at 197-pounds and EIU's Joe Trinka outlasted NIU's Dave Benner to end the days action with a 9-7 win for EIU. While Trinka won the heavyweight battle, Benner and the Huskies won the war with an impressive 36-6 victory over Eastern Illinois and a sterling 3-0 record on the day.

Head coach Dave Grant said, "It was a pretty good day, our guys wrestled tough. The seniors each went out 3-0. I'm proud of their commitment they have shown this year and every year they have been in our program."

The Huskies are off this week as they prepare for the MAC Championships to be held March 3-4 in Buffalo New York.

NIU 20, EMU 13

125 NIU Pat Castillo def. EMU Jack Cassady 20-4 tech fall 5-0 NIU

133 EMU Chris Jenkins def. NIU Gralan Early 7-2 dec. 5-3 NIU

141 EMU Zach Donofrio def. NIU Will McDermott 12-10 dec. 6-5 EMU

149 NIU Mike Grimes def. EMU Jermain Thompson 5-1 dec. 8-6 NIU

157 EMU Cory Mancuso def. NIU Kalen Knull 9-2 maj. dec. 10-8 EMU

165 NIU Johnny Galloway def. EMU Nick Conklin 6-5 dec. 11-10 NIU

174 NIU Danny Burk def. EMU Josh Lewis 12-6 dec. 14-10 NIU

184 NIU Duke Burk def. EMU John McClure 8-4 dec. 17-10 NIU

197 EMU Tony Lyssiotis def. Nick McClone 4-2 dec. 17-13 NIU

Hwt NIU Dave Benner def. EMU Charlie Walker 5-1 dec. 20-13 NIU

NIU 43, SIUE 4

125 NIU Pat Castillo def. SIUE Tommy Hill 20-5 tech fall 5-0 NIU

133 NIU John Weinert by forfeit 11-0 NIU 141 SIUE James Aschenbrenner def. NIU Will McDermotte 12-5 maj. dec. 11-4 NIU

149 NIU Mike Grimes by forfeit 17-4 NIU

157 NIU Kalen Knull def. SIUE John Ruawitz 3-1 dec. 20-4 NIU

165 NIU Johnny Galloway def. SIUE John Ficht 12-4 maj. dec. 24-4 NIU

174 NIU Danny Burk def. SIUE Nick Young by fall at 1:44 30-4 NIU

184 NIU Duke Burk def. SIUE Jacob Petrie 16-5 maj. dec. 34-4 NIU

197 NIU Nick McClone def. SIUE Tony Lyssiotis 1-0 dec. 37-4 NIU

Hwt NIU Dave Benner by forfeit 43-4 NIU

NIU 36, EIU 6

125 NIU Pat Castillo def. EIU A.J. Ciccarelli 21-6 tech. fall. 5-0 NIU

133 NIU John Weinart def EIU Lenny Grodoski 6-2 dec. 8-0 NIU

141 NIU Will McDermott by forfeit 14-0 NIU

149 NIU Mike Grimes def. EIU Tommy Reamer 21-4 tech. fall 19-0 NIU

157 NIU Kalen Knull def. EIU Kyle O'Toole 7-3 dec. 22-0 NIU

165 NIU Johnny Galloway def. EIU Billy Gallo by fall at 2:36 28-0 NIU

174 NIU Danny Burk def. EIU Kenny Robertson 8-6 dec. in O.T. 30-0 NIU

184 EIU Greg Perz def. NIU Duke Burk 3-1 dec. 30-3 NIU

197 NIU Nick McClone by forfeit 36-3 NIU

Hwt EIU Joe Trinka def. NIU Dave Benner 9-7 dec. 36-6 NIU

-- NIU --

For more information, contact Matt Stiles, Northern Illinois Media Relations, niuwrestlingsid@yahoo.com.