WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Northern Illinois University wrestling team earned a pair of victories before falling to Purdue at the Boilermaker Duals Sunday.
 
The Huskies (4-2, 1-1) defeated Mid-American Conference foe Clarion, 19-17, to open the day and Indianapolis, 36-9, in the second match of the day. However, Purdue proved too much for NIU as the Boilermakers, 31-8, in the final contest of the day.
 
"We're proud of the way we competed today," said NIU head coach Ryan Ludwig. "We battled through some adversity in our lineup with health and scrapped out some big wins. This group is making gains."
 
NIU wrestlers recorded a pair of wins over ranked opponents, four victories by pin and a tech fall win.
 
Redshirt freshman Gage Braun was solid, going 2-1 on the day at 197, including an 11-4 victory over No. 19 Greg Bulsak of Clarion. He also earned a 22-5 tech fall win over Indianapolis' Griffin Stine.
 
Sophomore Brit Wilson was 2-0 on the afternoon, scoring a 19-7 maj. dec. victory over Clarion's Luke Funck. He capped his day with a 5-2 win over No. 9 Brody Conner of Indianapolis.
 
Caden McWhirter and Terrese Aaron posted impressive victories on the day as well. Aaron went 2-0 on the day at 285 scoring a first period pin over Indianapolis' Jack Wilson and earned a 9-4 decision over Thomas Penola of Purdue.
 
McWhirter, who wrestled at 184 against Purdue's Max Lyon, scored a pin over the Boilermaker in the third period to NIU its second win over the Boilermakers in the match.
 
The Huskies return to the mat Friday, Dec. 6 when NIU travels to Champaign, Ill. to face in-state foe Illinois. The match begins at 7 p.m.
 
NIU 19, Clarion 17
141: Taylor Ortz (CLA) tech fall Nathan Swartz (NIU), 17-0 
149: No. 7 Brock Zacherl (CLA) dec. McCoy Kent (NIU), 5-3
157: Mason Kauffman (NIU) dec. Avery Shay (CLA), 3-2
165: Izzak Olejnik (NIU) dec. Michael Bartolo (CLA), 9-5
174: Kenny Moore (NIU) dec. Max Wohlabaugh (CLA), 6-3
184: Brit Wilson (NIU) maj. dec. Luke Funck (CLA), 19-7 
197: Gage Braun (NIU) dec. No. 19 Greg Bulsak (CLA), 11-4
285: Ty Bagoly (CLA) dec. Max Ihry (NIU), 4-2
125: Bryce West (NIU) dec. Jake Gromacki (CLA), 4-2
133: Seth Koleno (CLA) won by forfeit 6-0
 
NIU 36, Indianapolis 9
141: Nathan Swartz (NIU) pin Matt McKinney (UIndy), 1:39
149: Anthony Gibson (NIU) pin Tylan Tucker (UIndy), 1:54
157: Dylan Thurston (NIU) dec. Clay Jones (UIndy), 9-5
165: Jack Eitelijorge (UIndy) dec. Zack Velasquez (NIU), 6-5
174: Caden McWhirter (NIU) dec. No. 12 Gleason Mappes (UIndy), 11-4
184: Brit Wilson (NIU) dec. No. 9 Brody Conner (UIndy), 5-2
197: Gage Braun (NIU) tech fall Griffin Stine (UIndy), 22-5 (6:10)
285: Terrese Aaron (NIU) pin Jack Williams (UIndy), 2:06
125:  Bryce West (NIU) maj.dec. Nick Brady (UIndy), 12-3
133: No. 11 Ana Abdulijelil (UIndy) won by forfeit
 
Purdue 31, NIU 8*
141: Parker Filius (PUR) tech fall Nathan Swartz (NIU), 16-0 (3:31)
149: No. 13 Griffin Parriott (PUR) dec. McCoy Kent (NIU), 8-7
157: No. 7 Kendall Coleman (PUR) dec. Mason Kaufman (NIU), 8-4
165: Emil Soehnlen (PUR) dec. Izzak Olejnik (NIU), 3-2
174: No. 7 Dylan Lydy (PUR) dec. Kenny Moore (NIU), 5-2
184: Caden McWhirter (NIU) pin Max Lyon (PUR), 5:50
197: Christian Brunner (PUR) dec. Gage Braun (NIU), 7-2
285: Terrese Aaron (NIU) dec. Thomas Penola (PUR), 9-4
125: No. 10 Devin Schroder (PUR) dec. Bryce West (NIU), TF 16-0 (4:50)
133: Travis Ford-Melton (PUR) wins by forfeit
 
* - Northern Illinois docked one team point for throwing headgear at 184 pounds

-NIU-