DeKalb, Ill. - Three Huskies recorded individual victories, however, the Northern Illinois University wrestling suffered a 22-9 setback to Old Dominion in a Mid-American Conference dual at the Convocation Center Tuesday night.  
 
"I think we wrestled pretty hard. In some particular crucial situations, we need to make better decisions," said NIU wrestling head coach Ryan Ludwig.  "Overall, I thought the fight and intensity were there tonight."
 
Freshman Brock Hudkins (Danville, Ind./Danville) started off the showcase dual with a 4-3 win by decision over Steven Simpson in a tough bout to give the Huskies the first three team points of the night. The Monarchs answered in the next dual as NIU's Alijah Jeffery (Marion, Iowa/Linn-Marr) fell to Alex Madrigal in a 6-2 decision.
 
Back-to-back wins came in the 149 and 157 weight classes for the Huskies. Redshirt sophomore Steve Bleise (Chelsea, Mich./Chelsea) battled Michael Hayes in an intense contest and came out on top in a 9-3 decision, tying the meet 6-6. Immediately following Bleise's win, Caden McWhirter (Prattville, Ala./Prattville) shut out his opponent, 6-0, giving the Huskies a 9-6 lead heading into halftime.  
 
However, Old Dominion took 10-9 lead when Seldon Wright earned major decision victory over Andrew Scott (Holly Mich./Holly). Old Dominion would not trail the rest of the meet.
 
The bout at 197 proved to be a thrilling match as No. 10 Shawn Scott took (Holly, Mich./Holly) No. 9 Kevin Beazley, down to the wire. The two went head-to-head for three periods. The final period ended with a review after the buzzer and a takedown was award to Beazley. Eight seconds were added to the clock but Scott was unable to come back and eventually fell to Beazley by a 3-2 decision.
 
Ludwig was pleased by the effort the team showed tonight but knows there are areas that need to be cleaned up.
 
"Anything that happened today that didn't go our way can be easily fixed by March," said Ludwig. "We're confident we can turn some of those things around. I like the way our guys are wrestling and competing. We are fired up for the progress we're making."
 
The Huskies will return to the mat as they head to Charleston, South Carolina as they face off against SoCon school, The Citadel, Dec. 17 at 7p.m. The Huskies were victorious last year as they defeated the Bulldogs, 24-19.
 
 
125 Brock Hudkins (NIU) dec. 4-3 Steven Simpson (ODU)
133 Alex Madrigal (ODU) dec. 6-2 Alijah Jeffery (NIU)
141 Emilio Saavedra (ODU) dec. 3-2 Angel Velasquez (NIU)
149 Steve Bleise (NIU) dec. 9-3 Michael Hayes (ODU)
157 Caden McWhirter (NIU) dec. 6-0 Austin Eads (ODU)
165 No. 14 Seldon Wright (ODU) maj. dec. 17-8 Andrew Scott (NIU)
174 Antonio Agee (ODU) dec. 3-1 Shaun'Qae McMurtry (NIU)
184 No. 9 Jack Dechow (ODU) dec. 6-1 Bryce Gorman (NIU)
197 No. 9 Kevin Beazley (ODU) dec. 3-2 Shawn Scott (NIU)
285 Will Hilliard (ODU) dec. 12-7 Caleb Gossett (NIU)