NORFOLK, Va. – The Northern Illinois University wrestling team sits in sixth place and seven Huskies have advanced to day two following its performance on the first day of the 2019 Mid-American Conference Wrestling Championships at the Ted Constant Convocation Center Friday.
 
"We had a few nice first round wins," said NIU head coach Ryan Ludwig. "Bryce West came out banging. Brit Wilson and Caleb Gossett followed suit with dominating victories.
 
"The guys responded with some nice bonus point wins in round two. Brit is headed to the finals, so we are fired up for that opportunity."
 
Brit Wilson (Mexico, Mo./Mexico) cruised through his two matches on the day, opening with a 6-1 victory over SIUE's Kevin Gschwendter in his first match of the day at 174. He then scored a 12-4 maj. dec. victory over host Old Dominion's Luke Drugac to advance to the finals. Wilson will face Missouri's Daniel Lewis.
 
Bryce Drew (Solon, Iowa/Solon) set the tone for NIU in the first match of the day at 125. He pinned his opponent, Shakur Laney of Ohio, 12 seconds into the second period. Unfortunately, West dropped his second match of the day, 6-2, to Drew Hildebrandt of Central Michigan.
 
Heavyweight Caleb Gossett (St. Charles, Mo./Francis Howell Central) was in command in his first match of the afternoon. The Huskie junior posted a 13-2 maj. dec. victory over Old Dominion's William Hilliard. However, Gossett was pinned in the first period of his second match by Central Michigan's Matt Stencel.
 
Four Huskies who suffered losses in their opening matches, rallied in the evening session with victories to advance to day two. Three of those Huskies posted victory by pin in the consolation round.
 
Alijah Jeffery (Marion, Iowa/Linn Mar), who suffered a loss by pin in the second period at 133, defeated Austin Macias of SIUE in the first period. At 149, McCoy Kent (Modesto, Calif./Enochs) earned a second period fall victory over Jason Estevez of Buffalo.
 
Will Feldkamp (Dexter, Mich./Dexter) recorded a first period pin of Buffalo's Logan Rill to stay in the consolation round at 184. Max Ihry (Naperville, Ill./Waubonsee Valley) picked up his second win of the season when he scored a 3-2 win over Landon Pelham of Central Michigan at 197.
 
"Tomorrow is a new day and we will go with energy to close out strong," Ludwig said.
 
The Huskies return to the mat Sat., March 9 to conclude competition in the 2019 Mid-American Conference Wrestling Championships. Competition begins at 11 a.m. CT and fans can watch all the action live on ESPN+.
 
Team Standings
1. Missouri 127.5
2. Buffalo 94.5
3. Old Dominion 92.5
4. Central Michigan 82.5
5. Ohio 76.0
6. NIU 71.0
7. SIUE 59.5
8. Kent State 56.5
 
125: Bryce West (NIU)
B. West fall over Shakur Laney (Ohio), 3:12
Drew Hildebrandt (CMU) dec. B. West, 6-2
 
133: Alijah Jeffery (NIU)
Tim Rooney (KSU) fall Jeffery, 5:57
Jeffery fall Austin Macias (SIUE), 136
 
141: Drew West (NIU)
Bryan Lantry (UB) maj. dec. D. West, 16-2
Cameron Kelly (Ohio) tech fall D. West, 16-1
 
149: McCoy Kent (NIU)
Tyshawn Williams (SIUE) dec. Kent, 7-4
Kent fall Jason Estevez (UB), 3:49
 
157: Mason Kauffman (NIU)
Jarrett Jacques (UM) dec. Kauffman, 2-1
Zac Carson (Ohio) dec. Kauffman, SV-1, 3-1
 
165: Kenny Moore (NIU)
Nate Higgins (SIUE) dec. Moore, SV-1, 7-5
Shane Jones (ODU) dec. Moore, 2-1
 
174: Brit Wilson (NIU)
Wilson dec. Kevin Gschwendtner (SIUE), 6-1
Wilson maj. dec. Luke Drugac (ODU), 12-4
 
184: Will Feldkamp (NIU)
Jordan Atienza (CMU) tech fall Feldkamp, 17-0
Feldkamp fall Rill (UB), 2:48
 
197: Max Ihry (NIU)
Koelling (UM) dec. Ihry, 6-2
Ihry dec. Landon Pelham (CMU), 3-2
 
285: Caleb Gossett (NIU)
Gossett maj. dec. William Hilliard (ODU), 13-2
Matt Stencel (CMU) fall Gossett, 1:52
 
-NIU-