CLEVELAND – Northern Illinois University wrestler Gabe Morse became the second Huskie this year to be named Mid-American Conference Wrestler of the Week, the league office announced.

After Steve Bleise won the award a few weeks ago, Morse (Alto, Mich./Lowell) earned the honor after he returned from injury to help the Huskies defeat Grand Canyon University last Saturday. Morse was one of nine Huskies to win in the team’s 29-4 triumph in Phoenix.

The junior 149-pounder posted a 8-5 decision victory over Blake Monty that gave NIU a 13-0 lead at the time and marked Morse’s first win since his returning from a lengthy spell out with injury.

That effort led to Morse earning the MAC Wrestler of the Week award for the first time in his collegiate career.

With Bleise and Morse having already won the MAC Wrestler of the Week distinction this season, this 2015-16 campaign is the first since the 2006-07 season that the NIU wrestling program posted two winners of the MAC’s weekly award for the league’s best wrestler in any seven-day span, the latest impressive feat this season for NIU wrestling head coach Ryan Ludwig and his team.

The Huskies improved to 3-3 this season with the victory at Grand Canyon. The team will return to action on Dec. 29 for the prestigious Midlands Championships in Evanston, Ill.

--NIU--