DEKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University wrestling team battled, but fell to in-state foe Illinois, 24-9, in its annual Showcase Meet at the Convocation Center Friday night.
"Overall, our fight was there," said NIU head coach
Ryan Ludwig. "I'm going to focus on our execution, because I feel like there were some very critical situations out there, that if we capitalized on those, we win this dual meet."
NIU (2-4) took three of the 10 matches, with seven decided by two points or less. After Illinois opened up a 6-0 lead after taking the first two bouts, the Huskies jumped back in the match winning back-to-back matches.
Anthony Cheloni (South Elgin, Ill./Marmion Academy) posted the Huskies' first win of the night when he scored a 5-3 win over Abdullah Assaf at 141.
McCoy Kent (Modesto, Calif./Enochs) posted the most dramatic win of the evening, taking Christian Kanzler, 4-2, with a takedown in the third overtime.
"
McCoy Kent, what an unbelievable display of heart," Ludwig said. "
Anthony Cheloni came out with more intensity, more tenacity than I've seen out of him all year. I'm really excited about that."
Illinois won the next five matches before
Caleb Gossett (St. Charles, Mo./Francis Howell Central) recorded an impressive 2-0 victory at 285. The Huskie senior was in command of the match from the end of the first period. He controlled Duece Rachal the entire second period to secure the riding time point, then picked up an escape in the third
Bryce West (Solon, Iowa/Solon) was edged 5-4 by No. 13 Travis Piotrowski at 125 in the first match of the night.
Brit Wilson (Mexico, Mo./Mexico) battled at 174, but was edged out, 4-3, by the Illini's Carver James.
"I thought at 125,
Bryce West put himself in position to win that match late," Ludwig said. "If that wasn't a two count for backs, it was about the closest I've ever seen to it. he continues to be a spark for us."
The Huskies return to action Friday, Dec. 21 when NIU travels to Central Michigan in the Mid-American Conference opener. The match begins at 6 p.m. CT.
Illinois 24-NIU 9
125: No. 13 Travis Piotrowski (ILL) dec.
Bryce West (NIU), 5-4
133: No. 17 Dylan Duncan (ILL) fall
Alijah Jeffery (NIU), 2:07
141:
Anthony Cheloni (NIU) dec. Abdullah Assaf (ILL), 5-3
149:
McCoy Kent (NIU) dec. Christian Kanzler (ILL), 4-2 3OT
157: No. 14 Eric Barone (ILL) dec.
Mason Kauffman (NIU), 8-4
165: No. 14 Joseph Gunther (ILL) dec.
Kenny Moore (NIU), 4-2
174: Carver James (ILL) dec. No. 17
Brit Wilson (NIU), 4-3
184: No. 2 Emory Parker (ILL) dec.
Will Feldkamp (NIU), 8-5
197: Andre Lee (ILL) dec.
Max Ihry (NIU), SV-1 3-1 OT
285:
Caleb Gossett (NIU) dec. Duece Rachal (ILL), 2-0
