DEKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University wrestling team earned its first Mid-American Conference victory of the season when it scored a 28-6 win over SIUE at Chick Evans Field House Sunday.
 
"I think we've been building towards some things the whole season," said NIU head coach Ryan Ludwig. "It's great to see our guys pop off, like we emphasized, as a team today. This is a good SIUE team. They just beat Buffalo Friday night.
 
"For our guys to come out and actually get on the attack and stay on the gas pedal for a full seven minutes, that's when good things happen.
 
NIU (3-6, 1-2) took five of the first six matches and won eight overall. Will Feldkamp (Dexter, Mich./Dexter) started the Huskies off with an impressive 16-7 maj. dec. victory over Sergio Villalobos at 184.
 
After a SIUE (1-8, 1-2) win at 197, Caleb Gossett (St. Charles, Mo./Francis Howell Central) restored order with a 4-0 victory over Colton McKiernan at 285. NIU would go on to win their next three matches. Bryce and Drew West (Solon, Iowa/Solon) won at 125 and 133, respectively. Bryce West recorded a pinfall victory over Austin Macias in the first period.
 
Alijah Jeffery (Marion, Iowa/Linn-Mar), who weighed in at 133, stepped up in weight class and defeated Lucas Benal, 8-3 at 141.
 
McCoy Kent (Modesto, Calif./Enochs) suffered a tough, 3-2 loss in overtime, but his teammates picked him up winning the final three matches of the day. Mason Kauffman (Stratford, Wis./Eastern Michigan) scored a 10-6 win at 157, while Kenny Moore earned a 3-2 win at 165. Brit Wilson (Mexico, Mo./Mexico) capped the afternoon for the Huskies with a 10-5 win at 174.
 
The Huskies return to action Saturday, Jan. 19 when NIU travels to Charleston, S.C. for duals against Hofstra and The Citadel. The matches begin at 1 p.m. CT.
 
NIU 28, SIUE 6
184: Will Feldkamp (NIU) maj. dec. Sergio Villalobos (SIUE), 16-7
197: Christian Dulaney (SIUE) dec. Max Ihry (NIU), 7-5
285: Caleb Gossett (NIU) dec. Colton McKiernan (SIUE), 4-0
125: Bryce West (NIU) fall Austin Macias (SIUE), 2:38
133: Drew West (NIU) dec. Jake Blaha (SIUE), 5-2
141: Alijah Jeffery (NIU) dec. Lucas Bernal (SIUE), 8-3
149: Tyshawn Williams (SIUE) dec. McCoy Kent (NIU), SV-1 3-1
157: Mason Kauffman (NIU) dec. Justin Ruffin (SIUE), 10-6
165: Kenny Moore (NIU) dec. Nate Higgins (SIUE), 3-2
174: Brit Wilson (NIU) dec. Kevin Gschwendtner (SIUE), 10-5
 
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