Full results from the dual listed below.

PHOENIX – The Northern Illinois University wrestling team recorded a convincing 29-4 non-conference victory over Grand Canyon University, winning nine of the 10 matches in the dual on Saturday afternoon at the GCU Arena in Phoenix, Ariz.

The Huskies (3-3, 0-1 MAC) took a strong lineup on the trip face the Lopes (3-9), resulting in NIU’s second largest margin of victory this season as the Huskies evened up their dual record with the win.

NIU wrestling head coach Ryan Ludwig applauded the Huskies for their success on the longest road trip of the season for the team, which yielded several impressive and hard-fought individual victories.

“I’m proud of the way these guys handled their business on a long trip like this,” Ludwig said of his team’s performance. “We competed with fire and fought hard in all positions. I was happy about our pursuit of scoring opportunities. We were not content in any match.”

Alijah Jeffery (Marion, Iowa/Linn-Mar) got the Huskies started with a high-scoring 10-8 decision over Trayton Libolt of GCU. Austin Eicher (Fenton, Mich./Hartland) then notched another decision for NIU with a 4-1 triumph over Jauquin Olivas to give the Huskies all the team points they would need.

NIU’s two ranked wrestlers – 141-pounder Steve Bleise (Chelsea, Mich./Chelsea) and 197-pounder Shawn Scott (Holly, Mich./Holly) – recorded the Huskies’ two major decision victories. Meanwhile, five other Huskies earned wins on the afternoon, including the returning duo of Gabe Morse (Alto, Mich./Lowell) at 149 pounds and Shaun’Qae McMurtry (Lockport, Ill./Nebraska) at 165 pounds.

Trace Engelkes (Winnebago, Ill./Winnebago), Quinton Rosser (Cincinnati, Ohio/Archbishop Moeller) and Arthur Bunce (Munith, Mich./Dansville) all added late wins in the dual to add to NIU’s victory and notch another victory in their individual win columns for the season.

The NIU wrestling team returns to action with the two-day prestigious Midlands Championships on Dec. 29 and Dec. 30 at Northwestern in Evanston, Ill. The Huskies next dual matchup comes at home against a ranked Northern Iowa team on Jan. 8 at Victor E. Court in DeKalb, Ill.

125: Alijah Jeffery (NIU) def. Trayton Libolt (GCU) dec. 10-8, 3-0
133: Austin Eicher (NIU) def. Jauquin Olivas (GCU) dec. 4-1, 6-0
141: Steve Bleise (NIU) def. Uzo Owuama (GCU) major dec. 16-4, 10-0
149: Gabe Morse (NIU) def. Blake Monty (GCU) dec. 8-5, 13-0
157: Zackary Velasquez (GCU) def. Andrew Scott (NIU) major dec. 12-3, 13-4
165: Shaun’Qae McMurty (NIU) def. Bobby Reece (GCU) dec. 12-5, 16-4
174: Trace Engelkes (NIU) def. Kenneth Moore (GCU) dec. 4-1, 19-4
184: Quinton Rosser (NIU) def. Cale Wilson (GCU) dec. 10-3, 22-4
197: Shawn Scott (NIU) def. Austin Gaun (GCU) major dec. 10-2, 26-4
285: Arthur Bunce (NIU) def. Sean Medley (GCU) dec. 4-1, 29-4

--NIU--