Wrestling | February 13

EVANSTON, Ill. - The Northern Illinois University wrestling team made a late rally Sunday afternoon against the Northwestern Wildcats to get within four points, 16-12, with two matches to go but could not complete the comeback in a 22-12 loss at Trienens Performance Center.

Northwestern won the first four matches of the day, two with bonus points, to take a 16-0 lead. Anthony Gibson (Westland, Mich./John Glenn) put the Huskies on the board at 157 pounds, winning 5-0 over the Wildcats' Trevor Chumbley. Izaak Olejnik (Bakersfield, Calif./Bakersfield) followed with a 6-2 win at 165 over David Ferrante. It was Olejnik's 20th match win of the season and his ninth win in his last 11 matches.

Mason Kauffman (Stratford, Wis./Stratford/Eastern Michigan) made the score 16-9 with a 5-4 win at 174 pounds. Kauffman took down Troy Fisher twice in the second period to take a 4-3 lead and hung on in the third for the victory. Brit Wilson (Mexico, Mo./Mexico) won the fourth straight match for the Huskies with a 6-1 victory over Jon Halvorsen, putting the team score at 16-12. It was Wilson's 22nd match win of the year. That was as close as NIU got as Northwestern won the final two bouts at 197 and 285 by decision to take the dual 22-12.

"We are closing the gap to where we want to be as we approach the final regular season competition next weekend," said head coach Ryan Ludwig. "We hope to see a big crowd for our final home matches."

NIU (5-10) closes out its dual-meet season next Sunday, Feb. 20 at the NIU Convocation Center against SIUE and California Baptist as part of the "Beauty and the Beast" with NIU Gymnastics. The Huskies will take on SIUE at 12 p.m. and Cal Baptist at 4 p.m. Prior to the dual against Cal Baptist, NIU will honor its seniors for Senior Day.

Northwestern 22, NIU 12

125: Michael DeAugustino (NW) dec. Bryce West (NIU), 8-6 SV-1
133: Chris Cannon (NW) over Michael Kaminski (NIU), Fall 4:24
141: Frankie Tal Shahar (NW) dec. Jaivon Jones (NIU), 9-5
149: Yahya Thomas (NW) maj. dec. Anthony Cheloni (NIU), 16-5
157: Anthony Gibson (NIU) dec. Trevor Chumbley (NW), 5-0
165: Izaak Olejnik (NIU) dec. David Ferrante (NW), 6-2
174: Mason Kauffman (NIU) dec. Troy Fisher (NW), 5-4
184: Brit Wilson (NIU) dec. Jon Halvorsen (NW), 6-1
197: Andrew Davison (NW) dec. Tristin Guaman (NIU), 10-3
285: Lucas Davison (NW) dec. Terrese Aaron (NIU), 2-1

—NIU—