Jan. 30, 2009
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The thud echoed throughout the West Gym on the campus of the University of Northern Iowa.
A gasp from a crowd of nearly 500 fans followed, as they watched Northern Illinois redshirt sophomore Tristen DeShazer headlock and slam Steven Fitzgerald’s shoulders to the mat. Moments later, it was over, as the referee slapped the mat, awarding DeShazer his 15th pin and 19th win of the season.
The victory shined as a bright spot on a difficult night for the NIU wrestling team. The Huskies fell 34-6 to the 22nd-ranked Panthers, Friday. The Huskies lost five bouts by three points or less. Head Coach Dave Grant said aggressiveness proved to be the difference on the night.
“We’re not changing our levels and making attacks,” Grant said. “A couple of times we had those opportunities but just weren’t taking openings.”
The night opened with freshman Izzy Montemayor (Barrington, Ill./Grant) falling 3-1 to Northern Iowa’s Cruse Aarhus. DeShazer’s pin at 133 pounds followed that match, giving NIU a 6-3 lead. Two matches later, redshirt junior Will McDermott (Mundelein, Ill./Mundelein) lost a 4-2 decision in the finals seconds, and the Huskies found themselves down 9-6. Redshirt sophomore Pat McLemore (Hickley, Ohio/Padua Franciscan) also fell in a close match, a 3-2 contest with Trenton Washington at 141 pounds.
“We need to understand that the difference in the match is being able to get to your opponent’s legs, especially in those 3-2 situations,” Grant said.
More close decisions followed. At 174 pounds, true freshman Derrick Yant (Delta, Ohio/Pike-Delta-York) fought through three periods to a 6-6 tie, but lost his contest, 7-6, on a riding time point. Sophomore Brad Dieckhaus (St. Charles, Mo./Francis Howell Central) rounded out the close losses, falling 6-4 to Alex Dolly.
Grant credited the Panthers’ upperclassmen for leading North Iowa to victory.
“They are a quality team. They’ve got some upper classmen that have won a lot of collegiate matches in their career,” he said.
The Huskies return to Mid-American Conference competition Feb. 6, when they host Eastern Michigan at the Convocation Center in DeKalb.
UNI 34, Northern Illinois 6
125 – Cruse Aarhus (UNI) dec. Izzy Montemayor (NIU), 4-1
133 – Tristen DeShazer (NIU) pinned Steven Fitzgerald (UNI), 1:29
141 – Trent Washington (UNI) dec. Pat McLemore (NIU), 4-2
149 – Brett Robbins (UNI) dec. Will McDermott (NIU), 4-2
157 – Tyson Reiner (UNI) maj. dec. Bryan Deutsch (NIU), 14-6
165 – Moza Fay (UNI) pinned Bryan O’Connor (NIU), 4:19
174 – Scott Hazen (UNI) dec. Derrick Yant (NIU), 7-6
184 – Alex Dolly (UNI) dec. Brad Dieckhaus (NIU), 6-4
197 – Andrew Anderson (UNI) dec. Scott Penny (NIU), 8-2
285 – Christian Brantley (UNI) pinned Zak Saevre (NIU), 6:10
