DeKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University wrestling team dropped its home meet versus Mid-American Conference foe, Ohio University, on Friday night at Victor E. Court. Despite the rowdy crowd, the Huskies fell, 22-10.
 
Kirk Johansen (Glendale Heights, Ill./Glenbard North) put on a show for the home crowd at 125 pounds. Johansen and Ohio's Hayden Lee traded points until the end of the third, where the two remained tied at five. Starting off the meet with an overtime bout had the crowd screaming with excitement; however, Lee laid a reversal on Johansen to come away with the victory, 7-5.
 
The first win from the Huskies did not come until 149 pounds when No. 13 Steve Bleise (Chelsea, Mich./Chelsea) overtook Kade Kowalski. Bleise asserted his dominance early in the first period, scoring a takedown within the first 20 seconds. Two more takedowns throughout the dual secured the win for Bleise, improving his record to 2-1 in the MAC.
 
Head wrestling coach, Ryan Ludwig, was pleased with how Bleise wrestled in his dual, "Steve went out and got on his offensive right away. That's what we preach. That's what we talk about," said Ludwig.
 
The Huskies were off to a slow first half as they trailed the Bobcats, 13-3, at intermission.
 
Coming off the break, Trace Engelkes (Winnebago, Ill./Winnebago) fought hard to come away with a major decision in his favor, 13-2, against Asen Arshughya at 174 pounds. Ludwig was impressed with Trace's efforts tonight. "Trace went out and wrestled where he was comfortable," said Ludwig.  "Despite his opponent having a Greco background, those guys got themselves into some interesting positions but Trace was confident enough to go ahead and win those battles."
 
After trailing 5-1 at the end of the second period, Michael Aldrich (St. Louis, Mo./Parkway South) –at 185 pounds—got the crowd back on their feet when he was able to pull within two during the final minute. With only 33 seconds left, Aldrich tied the score, 6-6, but Dontae McGee came away with an escape, awarding him a point and the win.
 
Despite the nail-biting loss at 185, No. 10 Shawn Scott (Holly, Mich./Holly) –at 197 pounds—came out determined to put more points on the board for the Huskies. After a slow first period, nearfall points secured the 7-2 victory for Scott, his 97th career win.
 
"Shawn Scott went out and did what he does and got some takedowns and did a nice job on top," Ludwig said.  
 
Outside the three wins for the Huskies, Coach Ludwig was unimpressed with the other matches. 
 
"We did not get out and get to our attacks right away. We let those guys get out there and pop their shots first," said Ludwig. "We've got to fix that up."
 
Tomorrow the Huskies will face another test as they head to Springfield, Ill. to face Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville as part of the Illinois Kids Wrestling Federation Convention at the Prairie Capital Convention Center.
 
"We've got to have a short memory. We need to be motivated and energized from this but we also need to learn from it. We can't dwell on anything bad or negative," Ludwig said. "We'll revamp, have a short memory and we'll get after it tomorrow with a good attitude."
 
-NIU-  
 
Ohio 22, NIU 10
125 Hayden Lee (Ohio) SV-1 Kirk Johansen (NIU) 7-5
133 No. 20 Cameron Kelly (Ohio) maj. dec. Alijah Jeffery 13-4
141 Noah Forrider (Ohio) dec. Angel Velasquez (NIU) 4-0
149 Steve Bleise (NIU) dec. Kade Kowalski (Ohio) 10-4
157 Cullen Cummings (Ohio) dec. Caden McWhirter (NIU) 5-3
165 Austin Reese (Ohio) dec. Andrew Scott (NIU) 7-1
174 Trace Engelkes (NIU) maj. dec. Arsen Arshughyan (Ohio) 13-2
184 Dontae McGee (Ohio) dec. Michael Aldrich (NIU) 7-6
197 Shawn Scott (NIU) dec. Bailey Faust (Ohio) 7-2
285 Zack Parker (Ohio) dec. Caleb Gossett (NIU) 9-5