DEKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University wrestling team turned in a solid effort in the first action of the season as several Huskies impressed at the Michigan State Open Saturday.
 
"We competed pretty well today in a very tough field," said NIU head coach Ryan Ludwig. "Several guys secured wins that will have national implications as the season plays out. We saw some good things as well as plenty to work on when we get back in the room."
 
National qualifiers from a year ago, Brit Wilson and Bryce West went deep in their respective weight classes, placing at the event.
 
West, wrestling at 125 went 4-2 on the day and took fifth place with a pin of Malik Heinselman of Ohio State at 1:36, avenging a 7-3 setback to Heinselman earlier in the day. The Huskie sophomore also earned wins over two other Big Ten foes and picked up an 8-1 decision over Mason Naifeh of Oklahoma.
 
Wilson, who moved up to 184 this year, was impressive. The native of Mexico, Mo. won his first three bouts of the day, all versus Big Ten competition, and battled through the consolation rounds to finish in third place. He came out scoring, picking up tech fall wins in his first two matches of the day.
 
The Huskies return to the mat Friday, Nov. 15 when the Huskies play host to Bucknell in their first home meet of the season. The match begins at 7 p.m. and will be held inside Victor E. Court.
 
Open
125: Bryce West (NIU) pin Logan Griffin (MSU), 1:36
125: Malik Heinselman (OSU) dec. Bryce West (NIU), 7-3
125: Bryce West (NIU) dec. Mason Naifeh (Oklahoma), 8-1
125: Bryce West (NIU) pin Justin Cardani (Illinois), 1:52
125: Michael Coaiocco (Penn) tech fall Bryce West (NIU), 20-2
Fifth Place 125: Bryce West (NIU) fall Malik Heinselman (OSU), 1:36
 
141: Shakur Laney (Ohio) fall Nathan Swartz (NIU), 4:37
141: M Santos (Ohio) dec. Nathan Swartz (NIU), 7-3
 
149: Niko Derain (NIU) fall Nick Freeman (Michigan), 4:07
149: Ke-Shwan Hayes (OSU) tech fall Niko Derain (NIU), 21-3
149: Trey Grenier (OSU) maj. dec. Niko Derain (NIU), 15-4
149: Anthony Gibson (NIU) maj. dec. Christophe Meloni (Buffalo), 11-2
149: Mason Smith (Campbell) dec. Anthony Gibson (NIU), 11-8
149: Anthony Gibson (NIU) dec. Nick Lombard (Michigan), 8-3
149: Anthony Gibson (NIU) dec. Mousa Jodeh (Illinois), 4-1
149: Alec Hagan (Ohio) maj. dec. Anthony Gibson (NIU), 12-2
149: Ben Lamantia (Michigan) dec. McCoy Kent (NIU), 8-3
149: McCoy Kent (NIU) dec. Jake Butler (Oklahoma) SV-1, 3-1
149: McCoy Kent (NIU) dec. Trey Grenier (OSU), 7-4
149: McCoy Kent (NIU) dec. Mason Smith (Campbell), 6-1
149: Alec Hagan (Ohio) dec. McCoy Kent (NIU), SV-1, 5-3
157: Eric Barone (Illinois) dec. Tristan Guaman (NIU), 2-0
157: Tristan Guaman (NIU) dec. Hunter Langeloh (Tiffin), 4-3
157: Tristan Guaman (NIU) dec. Elijah Davis (Purdue), 5-2
157: Mason Kauffman (NIU) maj. dec. Ameen Hamden (Michigan), 11-3
157: Jake Tucker (MSU) dec. Mason Kauffman (NIU), 3-2
157: Mason Kauffman (NIU) dec. Fernando Silva (Indiana), 6-4
157: Mason Kauffman (NIU) dec. Tristan Guaman (NIU), 5-2
157: Jaden Mattox (OSU) dec. Mason Kauffman (NIU), 6-1
157: Dylan Thurston (NIU) dec. Tyler Meisinger (Michigan), SV-1, 3-1
157: Nathan Atienza (MSU) fall Dylan Thurston (NIU), 0:21
 
165: Caden McWhirter (NIU) dec. Brian Krasowski (Penn), 6-2
165: Emil Soehnlen (Purdue) dec. Caden McWhirter (NIU), 9-3
165: Cameron Amine (Michigan) dec. Izzak Olejnik (NIU), TB-1, 2-1
165: Izzak Olejnik (NIU) dec. Caden McWhirter (NIU), 13-6
165: Izzak Olejnik (NIU) pin Ben Schnieder (Ohio)1:36
165: Danny Braunagel (Illinois) dec. Izzak Olejnik (NIU), 12-7
 
174: Fritz Schierl (OSU) pin Kenny Moore (NIU), 6:09
174: Jacob Covaciu (Indiana) maj. dec. Allen Swanson (NIU), 14-4
174: Curtis Decker (Pitt) dec. Allen Swanson (NIU), 9-5
174: Gregg Harvey Jr. (Pitt) dec. Kenny Moore (NIU), 5-3
 
184: Will Feldkamp (NIU) dec. Jake Boyd (Oklahoma), 8-3
184: Jacob Gray (CMU) dec. Will Feldkamp (NIU), 8-5
184: Jared Florell (Purdue) def. Will Feldkamp (NIU), MFF
184 Brit Wilson (NIU) tech fall Jon Halvorsen (Northwestern), 20-3
184: Brit Wilson (NIU) tech fall Trevor Blue (Purdue), 19-4
184: Brit Wilson (NIU) dec. Zac Braunagel (Illinois), 8-3
Quarterfinals 184: Nino Bonaccorsi (Pitt) dec. Brit Wilson (NIU), 12-8
Consolation184: Brit Wilson (NIU), dec. Max Lyon (Purdue), 9-4
Third Place 184: Brit Wilson (NIU) def. Zac Braunagel (Illinois), NC
 
197: Gage Braun (NIU) dec. Nick May (MSU), 3-2
197: Christian Brunner (Purdue) maj. dec. Gage Braun (NIU), 10-0
197: Gage Braun (NIU) maj. dec. Cole Nye (Pitt), 13-4
197: Gage Braun (NIU) dec. Andrew Davison (Michigan), 5-3
197: Gage Braun (NIU) dec. Cole Urbas (Penn), 12-6
197: Christian Brunner (Purdue) dec. Gage Braun (NIU), 4-0
 
285: Matt Stencel (CMU) dec. Terrese Aaron (NIU), 4-3
285: Mason Parris (Michigan) dec. Max Ihry (NIU), 9-2
285: Terrese Aaron (NIU) maj. dec. K Thompson 10-2
285: Terrese Aaron (NIU) dec. C Webb 7-5
285: G Traub dec. Terrese Aaron (NIU), 6-1
285: Max Ihry (NIU) maj. dec. R Macleod 11-1
285: Max Ihry (NIU) dec. J Jones 5-3
285: Max Ihry (NIU) dec. J Heindselman 8-3
285: D Thomas dec. Max Ihry (NIU), 6-2
Fifth Place 285: C Rebottaro def. Max Ihry (NIU), OTHR1
 
Fresh/Soph
125: Caleb Meekins (NIU) pin Jordan Reyes (Buffalo), 1:29
125: Colton Camacho (Pitt) pin Caleb Meekins (NIU), 5:00
125: Caleb Meekins (NIU) pin Conor McCrone (Ohio), 1:04
125: Ben Martinez (Cal Poly) maj. dec. Caleb Meekins (NIU), 10-2
 
157: Alec Rees (NIU) tech fall Colin Panoff (Rochester), 18-0
157: Alec Rees (NIU) dec. Kris Ketcham (OSU), 5-2
157: Shawn Mondello (Ohio) dec. Alec Rees (NIU), 6-4
157: Hunter Shaut (Buffalo) def. Alec Rees (NIU), MFF
157: Austin Wolford (Rochester) def. Alec Rees (NIU), MFF
 
285: River Fox (Davenport) dec. Johnny Shafer (NIU), 6-1
285: Blake Querio (Michigan) dec. Johnny Shafer (NIU), 5-3
 
 
 
-NIU-