March 5, 2011
CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL
TICKET/SCHEDULE INFORMATION
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LIVE SCORING
Results After Day One in PDF Format 
DEKALB, Ill. - Two Northern Illinois University wrestlers will be competing for a conference title after Bryan Deutsch and Brad Dieckhaus posted victories in their semifinal matches at the 2011 Mid-American Conference Wrestling Championships Saturday afternoon at the NIU Convocation Center.
"What a day. There were some great performances by our guys," NIU head coach Dave Grant said. "Brad Dieckhaus wrestled super-tough. It was about who wanted it more. He had to close the deal and he did. He's determined, persistent and one of those guys you can count on to give it everything he's got.
"Another guy we are able to count on is Bryan Deutsch. He's gonna give you 100 percent all seven minutes. He's a tough, tough competitor and he was wrestling a guy who is ranked in the country. Bryan found a way to make it happen there at the end."
Deutsch, a senior from Columbia City, Ind. and a 2009 MAC champion at 157, came back from a 6-0 deficit to post an 11-9 victory over Matt Cathell of Kent State at 157. He mounted his comeback in the second period with a reversal and three-point near fall to close the gap to 6-5 heading into the final period.
Deutsch opened the third with a reversal to take a 7-6 lead, but Cathell quickly countered with a reversal of his own to take an 8-7 advantage. Deutsch stormed back with a reversal and two-point near fall to take an 11-8 lead and the match.
Dieckhaus, a junior from St. Charles, Mo., earned a hard-fought victory at 184. After wrestling to a 1-1 tie after three periods with Buffalo's Jimmy Hamel, the match was sent into overtime. Both grapplers earned escapes in the first overtime session pushing the bout into a second overtime frame. With the score tied, 2-2, Dieckhaus scored a takedown to give him a 4-2 win and a place in the championship match.
Deutsch, the No. 3 seed will face No. 1 seed Mark Lewandowski of Buffalo for the championship at 157, while the 184 title bout will feature the No. 2 seed Dieckhaus and Kent State's Casey Newburg, the No. seed.
"He [Deutsch] and Dieckhaus have an opportunity to win a MAC title," Grant said. "Overall, a pretty good day. We're only two points behind Ohio so we have a chance to move up. A couple were tough (losses), but two freshmen are going to be on the awards stand for us. We had great leadership from Deutsch and Dieckhaus."
Five other Huskies will be wrestling for a chance to place tomorrow. Senior Dakota Greenhaw will be wrestling for fifth place at 285 when he faces Eastern Michigan's David Wade. Greenhaw defeated Wade, 5-3, in overtime in their first match of the tournament.
Four NIU wrestlers will be competing for third place in their respective weight classes. Redshirt freshman Kevin Fanta (Lake Zurich, Ill./Lake Zurich) will face Buffalo's Kevin Smith for third place at 133, while Tristen DeShazer (Wichita, Kan./West), who moved up to 141 from 133, will take on Seth Schaner of Eastern Michigan in the third place match.
A pair of newcomers to NIU wrestling program are looking to finish in third at their first MAC Championships. Freshman Caleb Busson (Wadsworth, Ohio/Wadsworth) will face No. 3 seed Brandonn Johnson of Kent State in the third place match at 174, and junior college transfer Mike Lukowski (East Dundee, Ill./Harper College) will take on Buffalo's Brian Sheehan for third place at 197.
Central Michigan leads the team scoring with 50 points, six and a half points ahead of Buffalo and Kent State who are tied for second with 43.5 points. Ohio (26.5) is in fourth, NIU in fifth with 24.5 points and Eastern Michigan is sixth with 10 points.
Tickets to the 2011 MAC Wrestling Championships can be purchased tickets at the Convocation Center Box Office, or by calling 815-752-6800. There will be free live scoring as well as live video of each match through Huskie All-Access. All-Access subscribers pay just $6.95 a month or $49.95 a year to receive all NIU radio Radio and show broadcasts.
-NIU-
