CLEVELAND – The Northern Illinois University wrestling team stepped out of conference action as it closed its two-match weekend road trip with a 26-7 victory over Cleveland State at Woodling Gym Saturday.
 
"The coaches are proud of the way the guys came out on the attack," said NIU head coach Ryan Ludwig. "We were composed and aggressive. Each man handled his business and kept competing for the next point.
 
"It's important to keep that kind of focus in the heat of a match. It was a good weekend and we have some things to sharpen up before heading east for our last dual match."
 
NIU (8-9, 2-4) won eight of the 10 bouts, with five Huskies earning their second wins of the weekend. Bryce West (Solon, Iowa/Solon) started things off for NIU with an 11-8 win over Cameron Lathem at 125. Senior Alijah Jeffery (Marion, Iowa/Linn Mar) extended NIU's lead to 6-0 with a 5-3 victory at 133.
 
Following a Huskie loss at 141, McCoy Kent (Modesto, Calif./Enochs) put NIU back on schedule with a maj. dec. 10-2 win over Brady Barnett at 149. Mason Kauffman (Stratford, Wis./Stratford) earned a 6-4 win in overtime to extend NIU's lead to 12-4.
 
Kenny Moore (San Diego, Calif./Hoover) was scored an overtime victory with a 3-1 sudden victory over Ryan Ford at 165. Brit Wilson (Mexico, Mo./Mexico) posted a 12-2 maj. dec. victory at 174 over Dimitri Williams.
 
Will Feldkamp (Dexter, Mich./Dexter) and Caleb Gossett (St. Charles, Mo./Francis Howell Central) got back in the win column posting victories at 184 and 285, respectively.
 
The Huskies wrap up the regular season when NIU travels to Buffalo Friday. The match starts at 1 p.m. CT.
 
NIU 26, Cleveland State 7
 
125: Bryce West (NIU) dec. Cameron Lathem (CSU), 11-8
133: Alijah Jeffery (NIU) dec. Armando Torres (CSU), 5-3
141: Sam Matzek (CSU) maj. dec. Drew West (NIU), 14-4
149: McCoy Kent (NIU) maj. dec. Brady Barnett (CSU), 10-2
157: Mason Kauffman (NIU) dec. Nico O'Dor (CSU), 6-4 (TB 3)
165: Kenny Moore (NIU) dec. Ryan Ford (CSU), SV1 3-1
174: Brit Wilson (NIU) maj. dec. Dimitri Williams (CSU), 12-2
184: Will Feldkamp (NIU) dec. Chris Morrow (CSU), 6-4
197: Ben Smith (CSU) dec. Max Ihry (NIU), 8-5
285: Caleb Gossett (NIU) dec. Collin Kelly (CSU), 14-6
 
-NIU-