DEKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University wrestling team scored a pair of wins, including a victory in a conference dual, at the Huskie Duals in Victor E. Court on Saturday.
 
The Huskies (4-4, 1-1) opened the day with a victory over Mid-American Conference foe Kent State. After dropping three of the first four bouts to the Golden Flashes, the Huskies turned the tide when Anthony Gibson scored a 9-4 win at 157. That sparked a four-match run by NIU.
 
Trailing 9-6 heading into 165, Izzak Olejnik put the Huskies up for good with a 10-2 maj. dec. over Najee Locket. Mason Kauffman followed with a 6-5 victory over Michael Ferre at 174, just before Brit Wilson posted a 10-2 maj. dec. at 184 against Colin McCraken, which gave the Huskies a 17-9 advantage.
 
Terrese Aaron earned a hard-fought 4-3 win over Jacob Cover in overtime to cap the dual for NIU and give the Huskies a 20-12.
 
NIU then turned its attention to Harper College in the second dual of the tripleheader and it was all Huskies. NIU took eight of the 10 bouts with the biggest win coming at 184. Wilson, who recorded his 99th career win at NIU in his first match of the day, scored his 100th career victory as a Huskie with a first period pin of Ethan Shedbalker.
 
Wilson's milestone was preceded by a pin by Olenik in the opening minute of his match at 165 and helped carry the Huskies to a 42-6 win over Harper.
 
Wilson and Olejnik capped off undefeated days with wins against South Dakota State in the final dual of the day for NIU. They were the few bright spots for the Huskies in a tough 26-9 setback to the Jackrabbits. Olejnik earned an 8-3 win over Tanner Cook, while Wilson scored 5-2 victory over Cade King.
 
Anthony Gibson completed his perfect day with a 4-0 shutout of Kenny O`Neil and gave NIU its third win of the dual.
 
The Huskies return to action Wed. Dec. 29 when they compete in the prestigious Midlands Championships. The event will take place at the NOW Arena in Hoffman Estates and run to Thur., Dec. 30.
 
NIU 20, Kent State 12
125: Jake Ferri (KENT) dec. Bryce West (NIU), 9-6
133: Brendon Fenton (KENT) dec. Mikey Kaminski (NIU), 3-1; SV-1
141: Jaivon Jones (NIU) dec. Louis Newell (KENT), 2-0; SV-1
149: Kody Komara (KENT) dec. Anthony Cheloni (NIU), 6-5
157: Anthony Gibson (NIU) dec. Enrigue Munguia (KENT), 9-4
165: Izzak Olejnik (NIU) maj. dec. Najee Locket (KENT), 10-2
174: Mason Kauffman (NIU) dec. Michael Ferre (KENT), 6-5
184: Brit Wilson (NIU) maj. dec. Colin McCracken (KENT), 10-2
197: Tyler Bates (KENT) dec. Tristin Guaman (NIU), 3-1
285: Terrese Aaron (NIU) dec. Jacob Cover (KENT), 4-3; TB-2
 
NIU 42, Harper 6
125: Bryce West (NIU) forfeit (HACO)
133: Tuvsin Zunnbayan (HACO) dec. Lucian Brink (NIU), 9-8
141: Dillon Nichols (NIU) tech fall Teaken Leon (HACO), 18-2; 3:15
149: Peyton Timmons (HACO) dec. Nathan Young (NIU), 8-6
157: Alec Rees (NIU) maj. dec. Brendan Parks (HACO), 10-2
165: Izzak Olejnik (NIU) fall Aaron Taylor (HACO), 0:38
174: Mason Kauffman (NIU) tech fall Sam Dornbos (HACO), 16-1; 7:00
184: Brit Wilson (NIU) fall Ethan Shedbalker (HACO), 2:10
197: Matt Zuber (NIU) maj. dec. Giovanni Jackson (HACO), 10-0
285: Colin Jagielski (NIU) fall Farouk Shaaban (HACO), 0:38
 
South Dakota State 26, NIU 9
125: Tanner Jordan (SDSU) maj. dec. Bryce West (NIU), 14-2
133: Caleb Gross (SDSU) dec. Mikey Kaminski (NIU), 3-2
141: Clay Carlson (SDSU) fall Jaivon Jones (NIU), 1:54
149: Daniel Kimball (SDSU) dec. Anthony Cheloni (NIU), 7-3
157: Anthony Gibson (NIU) dec. Kenny O`Neil (SDSU), 4-0
165: Izzak Olejnik (NIU) dec. Tanner Cook (SDSU), 8-3
174: Cade DeVos (SDSU) dec. Mason Kauffman (NIU), 3-1
184: Brit Wilson (NIU) dec. Cade King (SDSU), 5-2
197: Nick Casperson (SDSU) maj. dec. Tristin Guaman (NIU), 12-2
285: AJ Nevills (SDSU) dec. Terrese Aaron (NIU), 7-4
 
-NIU-