Wrestling | March 16

TULSA, Okla. – Redshirt senior Izzak Olejnik (Bakersfield, Calif./Bakersfield) opened the 2023 NCAA Wrestling Championships with a win over Gerrit Nijenhuis (Oklahoma), but suffered a loss to Quincy Monday (Princeton) Thursday evening at the BOK Center in Tulsa.

"We're extremely proud of how hard Izzak Olejnik wrestled today," said head NIU coach Ryan Ludwig. "[Olejnik's] wrestled to an extremely high-level this entire year, so to see him get a win at the NCAA Championships, against a tough opponent, is nothing short of impressive,"

No. 12 seeded Olejnik battled his way to a 4-3 win over No. 21 Nijenhuis to open tournament action.

Olejnik, like he has all season, fought an offensive bout as he logged a takedown at 1:59 in the first period. Nijenhuis leveled the contest 2-2 after a quick reversal, but Olejnik escaped to regain the lead before the first three minutes came to an end.

In the second period, Nijenhuis chose bottom and executed an escape to knot the match 3-3. In the final period, Olejnik chose bottom and promptly snapped out of Nijenhuis' grasp to earn the bout-winning point. Olejnik rode out the final moments to secure the 4-3 victory.

Olejnik squared off against No. 5 Quincy Monday (Princeton) in the second round. It was a hard-fought bout, but it was Monday who emerged victorious 4-1.

Despite Olejnik's loss, the Huskie veteran will continue to wrestle in the consolation bracket for a chance at All-American status. Olejnik will face No. 22 Tanner Cook (South Dakota State) tomorrow morning. Session three starts at 11 a.m. CT on ESPN and ESPN+.

"We're excited to see what Olejnik has in store for the rest of this tournament. He's got a lot of fight left in him,"