Feb. 9, 2007

NIU vs. CMU Photo Gallery 

DeKalb, Ill. - The Northern Illinois wrestlers battled the fifth ranked Central Michigan Chippewas to a 9-9 tie through the first six matches of he night, but NIU could not complete the upset as CMU pulled away late to make the final score 27-9 in favor of CMU on Friday night.

The meet started at 125 with NIU's Pat Castillo, ranked has high as 17th nationally, taking on 19th ranked Luke Smith of CMU. After a scoreless first period, Smith scored first with an escape giving Smith a 1-0 advantage early in the second period. Castillo tied the match in the second period, then with 8 seconds left in the third period Castillo came up with big takedown to go up 3-1. Smith then recorded an escape with 2 seconds left but Castillo would not be denied as he earned a 3-2 decision to give the Huskies up 3-0 overall lead.

Next, NIU's Gralan Early took a 4-4 tie into second period but CMU's Connor Beebe recorded a 7-5 decision over Early. Then, Justin Metcalf of NIU went up early on Tony D'Ali of CMU but could not hold on as D'Ali earned an 8-4 decision making the overall score 6-3 Chippewas.

Northern Illinois' Mike Grimes, ranked as high as 10th in the nation at 149, was able to fend off a determined opponent in Central Michigan's Tyler Grayson to earn a 3-2 decision allowing the Huskies to tie the overall score at 6-6.

It was then Kalen Knull's turn to try and give the Huskies the lead. Knull went into the third period with 4-4 tie but was not able come away with a victory as CMU's Andy Keller recorded a 10-8 decision in a high scoring final period.

Down 9-6 with the heart of Central Michigan's lineup coming up, NIU's Johnny Galloway, ranked as high as 9th nationally at 165, dismantled CMU's19th ranked Trevor Stewart to once again tie the overall score at 9-9 with just four matches left.

It was still anyone's match as NIU's Danny Burk stepped up to the mat to face the 7th ranked wrestler at 174-pounds in Brandon Sinnott of Central Michigan. Burk took it right to Sinnot, battling the higher ranked wrestler with reckless abandon, but Sinnot would not be beaten as he recorded a 5-2 win that put the Chippewas in the overall lead.

Danny's younger brother Duke Burk, ranked as high as 16th, was forced to forfeit his match against Central Michigan's Christian Sinnot due to injury. Then, Nick McClone of NIU was pinned by 6th ranked Wynn Michalak of CMU.

In the final match of the night NIU's David Benner faced off against the 2nd ranked heavy weight in the nation in CMU's Bubba Gritter. Gritter showed why he is one the top wrestlers in the nation by posting an 8-2 decision over Benner resulting in a 27-9 overall final score in favor of Central Michigan.

"Everyone of our kids wrestled hard tonight." Head coach Dave Grant said of his team's effort against CMU, "(Pat) Castillo, (Mike) Grimes and (Johnny) Galloway had big wins for us. Overall, I was very pleased with our effort tonight."

The Huskies will finish their regular season by hosting Eastern Michigan, Eastern Illinois and Southern Illinois in the Convocation Center on Sunday February 18th at 10:00 a.m.

For more information contact Matt Stiles at niuwrestlingsid.com.

-NIU-

CMU 27, NIU 9

125 - Pat Castillo (NIU) def. Luke Smith (CMU) 3-2 dec. 3-0 NIU

133 - Conor Beebe (CMU) def. Gralan Early (NIU) 9-6 dec. 3-3

141 - Tony D'Ali (CMU) def. Justin Metcalf (NIU) 8-4 dec. 6-3 CMU

149 - Mike Grimes (NIU) def. Tyler Grayson (CMU) 3-2 dec. 6-6 tie

157 - Andy Keller (CMU) def. Kalen Knull (NIU) 10-8 dec. 9-6 CMU

165 - Johnny Galloway (NIU) def. Trevor Stewart (CMU) 8-2 dec. 9-9 tie

174 - Brandon Sinnott (CMU) def. Danny Burk (NIU) 5-3 12-9 dec. CMU

184 - Christian Sinnott (CMU) def. Duke Burk (NIU) inj. forfeit 18-9 CMU

197 - Wynn Michalak (CMU) def. Nick McClone (NIU) fall (1:24) 24-9 CMU

Hwt. Bubba Gritter (CMU) over David Benner (NIU) 8-2 dec. 27-9 CMU