NIU Wrestling Notes - Eastern Michigan 

DeKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University wrestling team seeks its first Mid-American Conference win of the season this weekend when the Huskies head to Eastern Michigan for a dual matchup against the Eagles on Saturday at 4 p.m. ET/3 p.m. CT at the EMU Convocation Center in Ypsilanti, Mich.

The Huskies (5-6, 0-3 MAC) have faced three of the league’s ranked teams thus far in conference play – and Saturday’s showdown with the Eagles (7-5, 2-3 MAC) presents another difficult challenge. Eastern Michigan had four wrestlers touted in the top-33 of their weight classes in the first NCAA Coaches’ Panel last week, including top-25 ranked Nick Barber at 149 pounds and Anthony Abro at 197 pounds.

For NIU, Saturday will mark a homecoming of sorts for its two ranked wrestlers, Steve Bleise (Chelsea, Mich./Chelsea) at 141 pounds and Shawn Scott (Holly, Mich./Holly) at 197 pounds. The two Michigan natives have already had success in their home state in open tournaments this season and now look to duplicate that with individual triumphs in this crucial MAC dual.

NIU wrestling head coach Ryan Ludwig, another Michigan native, says the Huskies have been preparing for this dual with the goal of having quality performances throughout the entire lineup – from 125 pounds all the way up to 285 pounds.

“We’ve been working hard every day refining our attacks and technique in the wrestling room looking forward to this dual,” Ludwig said. “We know we’re capable of putting together an entire team effort, and that’s what we’re aiming to do in this dual.”

Michigan natives Arthur Bunce (Munith, Mich./Dansville) at heavyweight, Austin Eicher (Fenton, Mich./Hartland) at 133 pounds, and Gabe Morse and Andrew Morse (Alto, Mich./Lowell) at 149 and 157 pounds, respectively, are also among the Huskie probables looking to wrestle their best on Saturday.

The Huskies own a 27-4-1 all-time advantage in the series with the Eagles from 32 previous matchups on the wrestling mats after last year’s 21-12 win in DeKalb in February.

NIU Wrestling Probables at Eastern Michigan
125: Alijah Jeffery (12-10)
133: Austin Eicher (13-10)
141: #15 Steve Bleise (20-6)
149: Gabe Morse (7-3)
157: Andrew Morse (0-2) or Andrew Scott (6-11)
165: Shaun’Qae McMurtry (11-9)
174: Trace Engelkes (16-9)
184: Quinton Rosser (7-12)
197: #16 Shawn Scott (17-5) or Zach Benkovich (6-4)
285: Arthur Bunce (11-11)

--NIU--