DEKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University wrestling team split a pair of matches suffering a setback in the Mid-American Conference opener to Rider before defeating Harper in Victor E. Court Sunday.
 
Rider defeated the Huskies (2-1, 0-1), 26-6, in the first match of the day, before earning a 47-6 victory over Harper College.
 
"That was a tough match, very hard fought battles. I give a lot of credit to Rider," NIU head coach Ryan Ludwig said. "They came out and scrapped really hard. They won the majority of the hard, nasty scrappy battles."
 
The Broncs opened up an 11-0 lead after winning the first three bouts, two by major decision. McCoy Kent stemmed the tide a bit after earning a 7-6 victory at 149, winning one of those scrappy battles Ludwig spoke of.
 
After a loss at 157, Izzak Olejnik scored a last second takedown over Joe Casey at 165 to post NIU's other victory of the match. Brit Wilson battled George Walton at 184, but was edged, 7-6, in the match.
 
The Huskies scored two pin victories and two tech fall wins in a dominating performance over Harper College. Bryce West got the Huskies off to a face start with a pin at 1:57. After a forfeit by both teams at 133 and 141, Anthony Gibson scored a pin at 2:55 over Ben Lamp at 149.
 
Zack Velasquez posted the most exciting victory of the match for the Huskies, recording a takedown with two seconds left in the bout to defeat Munkhtulga Zuunbayan, 10-8 at 165.
 
The Huskies return to action Sunday, Nov. 24 when NIU travels to West Lafayette, Ind. for the Purdue Duals. NIU will face conference foe Clarion, Indianapolis and host Purdue. The day begins for NIU at 9 a.m.
 
Rider 26, NIU 6
125: Jonathon Tropea (RU) dec. Bryce West (NIU), 9-8
133: Chris Wright (RU) maj. dec. Drew West (NIU), 17-8
141: Robbie Cleary (RU) maj. dec. Caleb Brooks (NIU), 8-0
149: McCoy Kent (NIU) dec. Gino Fluri (RU), 7-6
157: Jesse Dellavecchia (RU) dec. Mason Kauffman (NIU), 5-1
165: Izzak Olejnik (NIU) dec. Joe Casey (RU), 8-6
174: Dean Sherry (RU) dec. Kenny Moore (NIU), 7-2
184: George Walton (RU) dec. Brit Wilson (NIU), 7-6
197: Ethan Laird (RU) dec. Gage Braun (NIU), 5-2
285: Ryan Cloud (RU) dec. Max Ihry (NIU), 8-3
 
NIU 47, Harper 6
125: Bryce West (NIU) pin Joey Armijo (HACO), 1:57
133: Christian Sharp (HACO) dec. (NIU) forfeit
141: Caleb Brooks (NIU) dec. (HACO) forfeit
149: Anthony Gibson (NIU) pin Ben Lemp (HACO), 2:55
157: Bryce Thurston (NIU) tech fall Jeff Nugent (HACO), 19-1; 4:35
165: Zack Velasquez (NIU) dec. Munkhtulga Zuunbayan (HACO), 10-8
174: Caden McWhirter (NIU) tech fall Placide Niyigena (HACO), 16-0; 6:01
184: Brit Wilson (NIU) pin Nick Mihajlovich (HACO), 4:50
197: Gage Braun (NIU) dec. (HACO) forfeit
285: Terrese Aaron (NIU) maj. dec. Jacob weingardt (HACO), 10-2
 
-NIU-