DEKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University wrestling team was edged by Ohio, 21-18, in a Mid-American Conference showdown at the Convocation Center Sunday.
"I'm really happy with the effort and fight of our guys," said NIU head coach Ryan Ludwig. "For Brit and Will to come out and get bonus points right away and set the tone, that was awesome."
The Huskies (5-8, 1-4) raced out to an 18-6 lead, winning four of the first six matches. However, Ohio stormed back in the final four bouts to take the match.
"That's the meat of their line up, that was the difference," Ludwig said of Ohio's late surge. "That's where their best guys are. We lost some really tight matches in there."
After an opening loss at 157, NIU won four of the next five matches. Kenny Moore (San Diego, Calif./Hoover) put the Huskies on the board with a 7-1 victory in overtime over Colt Yinger. Brit Wilson (Mexico, Mo./Mexico) and Will Feldkamp (Dexter, Mich./Dexter) recorded back-to-back victories via fall to give the Huskies a 15-3 advantage.
Following a setback at 197, NIU took an 18-6 lead when Caleb Gossett (St. Charles, Mo./Francis Howell Central) posted a 6-4 win over Zack Parker at 285. Unfortunately for the Huskies, that would be their last win of the day.
Ohio went on to win the final four matches, with the big blow coming at 141. The Bobcats' Cameron Kelly recorded a second period fall of Drew West (Solon, Iowa/Solon). The match was tied at 18-18 heading into the final bout of the day at 149.
McCoy Kent (Modesto, Calif./Enochs) put up a valiant effort at 149 against Alec Hagan. After falling behind, 2-0, after a quick takedown in the first period, Kent battled back. He forced overtime and almost had Hagan, but could not complete the takedown. Hagan scored a takedown late in the fourth overtime period to win the bout and the match for Ohio.
"I thought McCoy wrestled a great match," Ludwig said. "He went for it at the end. He was on his attack. That's what we ask of our guys."
The Huskies return to action Saturday, Feb. 2 when NIU travels to East Lansing, Mich. for a doubleheader with Michigan State and Bloomsburg. The Huskies will face Bloomsburg at 1 p.m. and the Spartans at 3 p.m. CT.
Ohio 21, NIU 18
157: Zac Carson (OHIO) dec. Mason Kauffman (NIU), 3-2
165: Kenny Moore (NIU) dec. Colt Yinger (OHIO), SV-1 7-1
174: Brit Wilson (NIU) fall Ben Schneider (OHIO), 2:04
184: Will Feldkamp (NIU) fall Arsen Ashughyan (OHIO), 0:49
197: Derek Hillman (OHIO) dec. Max Ihry (NIU), SV-1 3-1
285: Caleb Gossett (NIU) dec. Zack Parker (OHIO), 6-4
125: Shakur Laney (OHIO) dec. Bryce West (NIU), 6-4
133: Mario Guillen (OHIO) dec. Alijah Jeffery (NIU), SV-1 3-1
141: Cameron Kelly (OHIO) fall Drew West (NIU), 4:47
149: Kyran Hagan (OHIO) dec. McCoy Kent (NIU), (TB-1 8-6)
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