Full NIU Results Listed Below

EVANSTON, Ill. – Steve Bleise became the first Northern Illinois University wrestler since 2006 to reach the finals of the Ken Kraft Midlands Championships, but the NIU redshirt freshman 141-pounder was denied the title on Wednesday night at Northwestern’s Welsh-Arena by veteran Grand View wrestler Andrew Long, a former two-time NCAA All-American.

Bleise (Chelsea, Mich./Chelsea) advanced to the finals with a thrilling victory in the semifinals on Wednesday afternoon, taking a 5-4 decision over Matthew Kolodzik of Princeton thanks to a late escape in the first tiebreaker period of overtime. With the win, Bleise booked NIU’s first finals berth at the Midlands since Mike Grimes almost a decade ago.

Then while competing in front of a televised audience on the Big Ten Network in the Midlands finals, Bleise went head-to-head with Long as the two thrilled the crowd in the third finals matchup of the night. Bleise recorded a takedown at the end of an exciting, crazy and controversial first period before the 26-year-old Long, who currently wrestles for NAIA school Grand View after previously earning NCAA All-American honors at Iowa State and Penn State, took control and eventually earned a 25-8 technical fall.

NIU wrestling head coach Ryan Ludwig praised Bleise for his consistency throughout the two-day tournament and pointed to this moment as a sign of the Huskies’ overall improvement as a program on the mats.

“To have a freshman in the Midlands finals shows where our program is heading,” Ludwig said. “Steve handled himself with great poise and focus these last couple days. He’s becoming a more complete wrestler every week.”

At 174 pounds, Trace Engelkes (Winnebago, Ill./Winnebago) also earned a spot on the Midlands podium by placing eighth in his very competitive weight class. After staying alive with three wins on Tuesday, the NIU junior posted a major decision victory over Jacob Holschlag of Northern Iowa on Wednesday in the Round of 12 to secure his medal at one of the nation’s top collegiate wrestling showcases.

“Trace turned in hard-fought wrestling and an impressive placing at this elite event. He’s a gritty competitor,” Ludwig explained of Engelkes’ effort, before adding, “We have some things to work on as a team still. Details matter and we will be focused on preparing for our next dual meet.”

Largely thanks to the efforts of Bleise and Engelkes, the NIU wrestling team finished the 53rd Midlands Championships tied for 19th place with 35.0 points, the program’s highest point total at this prestigious event since 2007.

The Huskies return to action with home duals against ranked local rivals with Northern Iowa on Friday, Jan. 8 at 7 p.m. and Illinois on Sunday, Jan. 10 at 1 p.m. Both duals will be held at Victor E. Court in the Convocation Center in DeKalb. Admission will be FREE to all fans.

Midlands Results for NIU Wrestling 

125 - Alijah Jeffery 
Champ. Round 1 - Alijah Jeffery (NIU) received a bye 
Champ. Round 2 - Ronnie Rios (Oregon State) over Alijah Jeffery (NIU) (Dec 8-6) 
Cons. Round 2 - Ben Thornton (Purdue) over Alijah Jeffery (NIU) (Dec 4-2) 

133 - Austin Eicher 
Champ. Round 1 - Austin Eicher (NIU) received a bye 
Champ. Round 2 - Cody Pae (Purdue) over Austin Eicher (NIU) (Dec 9-4) 
Cons. Round 2 - Austin Eicher (NIU) received a bye 
Cons. Round 3 - Austin Eicher (NIU) over Brian Peska (Nebraska) (Dec 10-3) 
Cons. Round 4 - Brance Simms (South Dakota State) over Austin Eicher (NIU) (Dec 5-2) 

141 - Steve Bleise, 2nd Place
Champ. Round 1 - Steve Bleise (NIU) over Mousa Jodeh (Illinois) (Maj 16-3) 
Champ. Round 2 - Steve Bleise (NIU) over Kyle Ayersman (Purdue) (Maj 12-1) 
Champ. Round 3 - Steve Bleise (NIU) over Topher Carton (Iowa) (Dec 8-4) 
Quarterfinal - Steve Bleise (NIU) over No. 2 Kevin Jack (North Carolina State) (SV-1 4-2) 
Semifinal - Steve Bleise (NIU) over Matthew Kolodzik (Princeton) (TB-1 5-4)
Final - Andrew Long (Grand View) over Steve Bleise (NIU) (TF 25-8)

157 - Austin Culton 
Champ. Round 1 - Austin Culton (NIU) received a bye 
Champ. Round 2 - No. 15 Chad Walsh (Rider) over Austin Culton (NIU) (Fall 5:43) 
Cons. Round 2 - Austin Culton (NIU) received a bye 
Cons. Round 3 - Timothy Schaefer (Buffalo) over Austin Culton (NIU) (SV-1 3-1) 

165 - Shaun'Qae McMurtry
Champ. Round 1 - No. 6 Austin Wilson (Nebraska) over Shaun`Qae McMurtry (NIU) (Dec 3-2)
Cons. Round 1 - Shaun'Qae McMurtry (NIU) received a bye 
Cons. Round 2 - Shaun'Qae McMurtry (NIU) over Derek Davison (Eastern Michigan) (TF 17-2)
Cons. Round 3 - Shaun'Qae McMurtry (NIU) over Grant Nehring (North Dakota State) (Dec 10-4)
Cons. Round 4 - Luke Zilverberg (South Dakota State) over Shaun'Qae McMurtry (NIU) (Dec 6-5)

174 - Trace Engelkes, 8th Place
Champ. Round 1 - Trace Engelkes (NIU) over Mitch Sliga (Northwestern) (Maj 8-0) 
Champ. Round 2 - Phil Bakuckas (Rutgers) over Trace Engelkes (NIU) (Dec 9-4) 
Cons. Round 2 - Trace Engelkes (NIU) over Anthony Pafumi (Rutgers) (TF 18-2) 
Cons. Round 3 - Trace Engelkes (NIU) over Jason Grimes (American) (Maj 13-2) 
Cons. Round 4 - Trace Engelkes (NIU) over Jacob Holschlag (Northern Iowa) (Maj 12-2)
Cons. Round 5 - David Kocer (South Dakota State) over Trace Engelkes (NIU) (Maj 9-0)
7th Place Match - Lelund Weatherspoon (Iowa State) over Trace Engelkes (NIU) (Fall 0:18)

184 - Zach Benkovich 
Champ. Round 1 - Zach Benkovich (NIU) received a bye 
Champ. Round 2 - David Taylor (Nittany Lion WC) over Zach Benkovich (NIU) (Fall 2:32) 
Cons. Round 2 - Zach Benkovich (NIU) received a bye 
Cons. Round 3 - Michael Fetchet (Columbia) over Zach Benkovich (NIU) (Dec 9-4) 

184 - Quinton Rosser 
Champ. Round 1 - Quinton Rosser (NIU) received a bye 
Champ. Round 2 - Jacob Waste (Cal Baptist) over Quinton Rosser (NIU) (Dec 8-4) 
Cons. Round 2 - Quinton Rosser (NIU) received a bye 
Cons. Round 3 - Michale Fagg-Daves (Rider) over Quinton Rosser (NIU) (Maj 18-8) 

197 - Shawn Scott 
Champ. Round 1 - Troy Murtha (Princeton) over Shawn Scott (NIU) (Fall 0:59) 
Cons. Round 1 - Shawn Scott (NIU) over Paul Head (Cal Baptist) (Maj 18-5) 
Cons. Round 2 - Shawn Scott (NIU) over Jeric Kasunic (American U.) (Dec 6-3) 
Cons. Round 3 - No. 7 Reuben Franklin (CSU Bakersfield) over Shawn Scott (NIU) (Fall 6:31) 

285 - Arthur Bunce
Champ. Round 1 - Arthur Bunce (NIU) received a bye 
Champ. Round 2 - No. 1 Nick Gwiazdowski (NC State) over Arthur Bunce (NIU) (Fall 1:24) 
Cons. Round 2 - Chris Johnson (SIUE) won by decision over Arthur Bunce (NIU) (Dec 7-1) 

285 - Jake Cochrane 
Champ. Round 1 - Jake Cochrane (NIU) received a bye 
Champ. Round 2 - No. 18 Tanner Hall (Arizona State) over Jake Cochrane (NIU) (Maj 10-2) 
Cons. Round 2 - Jake Cochrane (NIU) received a bye 
Cons. Round 3 - Duece Rachal (Illinois) over Jake Cochrane (NIU) (Fall 0:55) 

--NIU--