Wrestling | January 23

DeKALB, IL – The Northern Illinois University wrestling team faced a strong test from the #17/20 Oklahoma Sooners Sunday afternoon at Victor E. Court as the Sooners won nine of 10 bouts for a 34-3 win.
 
Junior Jaivon Jones (Shaker Heights, Ohio/Nordonia) earned the Huskies' lone win of the day at 141 pounds. After a scoreless first period against Jacob Butler, Jones rode out the second period to earn 2:00 of riding time. Butler chose the neutral position to start the third period. Jones was able to stave off Butler in the third to win the bout 1-0 on riding time.
 
"Jaivon picked up a really nice win that will hopefully propel him forward," said head coach Ryan Ludwig. "He's been standing on the edge of some breakthrough wins so it's really good to see him finally get his hard work paid off in the form of getting his hand raised today."
 
The Huskies had a couple close calls at 165 and 174 pounds. Alec Rees (Sparta, Mich./Sparta) took down Troy Mantanona early in the first period at 165, but Mantanona quickly reversed to tie the bout at 2-2. Mantanona earned an escape in the second period to take a 3-2 lead. With the Sooners' wrestler having secured the riding time point, Rees needed a takedown to force overtime. He came close in the final seconds but could not secure the two points as Mantanona won the match 4-2.
 
"Alec is right on the cusp of breaking through and getting wins," Ludwig said. "It's a tough thing for him to weigh in at 157 and wrestle at 165, especially against high quality competition like he did this weekend. He needs to work on his execution. He's getting to his attacks but he needs to trust those and see them through."
 
Mason Kauffman (Stratford, Wis./Stratford/Eastern Michigan) nearly made a third period comeback at 174 points. Trailing 5-2 in the third, Kauffman took down Anthony Mantanona to make the score 5-4. He let Mantanona escape to put the score at 6-4, but could not get the takedown in the final seconds to tie the match as Mantanona came away with the 6-4 win.
 
NIU is next in action at the Little Rock Duals on Sunday, January 30. The Huskies take on the hosts Little Rock at 10 a.m. and Cal Poly at 12 p.m.
 
#17/20 Oklahoma 34, NIU 3
125: Joey Prata (OU) dec. Lucian Brink (NIU), 4-0
133: Tony Madrigal (OU) maj. dec. Michael Kaminski (NIU), 12-4
141: Jaivon Jones (NIU) dec. Jacob Butler (OU), 1-0
149: Willie McDougald (OU) maj. dec. Dillon Nichols (NIU), 15-2
157: Justin Thomas (OU) maj. dec. Anthony Gibson (NIU), 12-4
165: Troy Mantanona (OU) dec. Alec Rees (NIU), 4-2
174: Anthony Mantanona (OU) dec. Mason Kauffman (NIU), 6-4
184: Darrien Roberts (OU) win by forfeit
197: Jake Woodley (OU) maj. dec. Tristan Guaman (NIU), 14-4
285: Josh Heindselman (OU) dec. Terrese Aaron (NIU), 2-0
 
--NIU--