Wrestling | January 19

CLEVELAND, Ohio—Earning bonus points in three of the first five matches, the Northern Illinois University Huskies wrestling program defeated the Vikings of Cleveland State University, 28-15. With the win, the Huskies improved to 9-2 on the season and 3-1 in MAC duals.
 
"I'm proud of how we came out of the gate, with Blake (West) getting a technical fall in the first match. Geno (Nathaniel Genobana) had a hard fought battle to get his win. (Jacob) Brya and Jaivon (Jones) both fought hard to get pins and helped position us to take control of the match," said NIU head coach Ryan Ludwig.
 
At 125 pounds, Blake West (Shakopee, Minn./Shakopee) earned his 20th victory this season, defeating Ben Aranda of Cleveland State in a technical fall victory (17-1, 7:00). This was West's fourth technical fall victory of the season as he becomes the first Huskie this season to reach 20 wins. West is the 58th Huskie in program history to reach 20 or more wins in a season. There have been 15 other wrestlers in NIU history that have achieved 20 or more wins at least twice in their career. West is now 11-0 in duals and 4-0 in the MAC.
 
At 133 pounds, Nathaniel Genobana (Centerville, Iowa/Centerville) got an early takedown in the first period before Nick Molchak of Cleveland State bounced back to take a 6-4 lead heading into the second period.. Genobana answered with a takedown and a nearfall to win the match, 15-8. With the win, Genobana moves to 10-7 on the season and 4-0 in MAC duals.
 
The Huskies got back-to-back wins by at 141 and 149 pounds. Jacob Brya (St. Johns, Mich./St. Johns) defeated Connor Saylor of Cleveland State (2:00) at 141 pounds. Jaivon Jones (Shaker Heights, Ohio/Nordonia), who is ranked No. 28 by WrestleStat, defeated Douglas Terry (3:30) at 149 pounds. With the wins, Brya moves to 7-2 on the year and 4-0 in MAC while Jones improves to 9-3 and 3-1 in the MAC.
 
Representing the Huskies at 157 pounds, Tulga Zuunbayan (Mongolia/Rolling Meadows) recorded four takedowns in his match against Shane Heil. Zunnbayan defeated Heil in a 14-7 decision, improving to 5-4 on the season and 2-2 in the MAC.
 
The Vikings got on the board with wins at 165 and 174 pounds. Tommy Bennett (Evergreen Park, Ill/Brother Rice) kept the dual close with no points being scored until the second period. Bennett fell in a 2-1 deicision to Tate Geiser. Hayden Pummel (Indian Lake, Ohio / Indian Lake) saw his match go into overtime, as he and DeAndre Nassar tied the dual at one following three periods. Pummel fell in sudden victory to Nassar, SV-1, 4-1.
 
"Bennett and Pummel fought hard in their matches and the little things are almost there," noted Ludwig. "There aren't easy wins in the MAC and we know it's going to be a battle. We'll get back to the room and start preparing for Central Michigan next week."
 
At 184, Matt Zuber (Chicago, Ill./Fenwick) got the Huskies final win of the evening. Zuber earned his third technical fall victory over Joey Lyons, winning 17-2, 7:00. Zuber improves to 15-5 and 2-1 in MAC.
 
The Huskies dropped the final two matches of the evening at 197 and 285 pounds. Sean Carroll (Overland Park, Kan. / St. Thomas Aquinas) battled against No. 29 Benjamin Smith at 197 pounds, losing by fall 6:41. Jacobi Jackson (St. Louis, Mo./Desmet Jesuit) and Cleveland State's Daniel Bucknavich faced off in the only match to feature a pair of ranked wrestlers. Jackson, No. 32 according to Intermat, and Bucknavich, No. 25 Intermat, battled to a 2-1 decision with Bucknavich coming out on top.
 
The Huskies return to Victor E. Court on January 27, as they host Central Michigan University. Action is set to get underway at 1 p.m. in DeKalb.
 
Full Results
 
125: Blake West (Northern Illinois) over Ben Aranda (Cleveland State) (TF 17-1 7:00)      
133: Nathaniel Genobana (Northern Illinois) over Nick Molchak (Cleveland State) (Dec 15-8)
141: Jacob Brya (Northern Illinois) over Connor Saylor (Cleveland State) (Fall 2:00)
149: No. 28 Jaivon Jones (Northern Illinois) over Douglas Terry (Cleveland State) (Fall 3:30)
157: Munktulga Zuunbayan (Northern Illinois) over Shane Heil (Cleveland State) (Dec 14-7)
165: Tate Geiser (Cleveland State) over Tommy Bennett (Northern Illinois) (Dec 2-1)
174: DeAndre Nassar (Cleveland State) over Hayden Pummel (Northern Illinois) (SV-1 4-1)
184: Matt Zuber (Northern Illinois) over Joey Lyons (Cleveland State) (TF 17-2 7:00)
197: No. 29 Benjamin Smith (Cleveland State) over Sean Carroll (Northern Illinois) (Fall 6:41)
285: No. 25 Daniel Bucknavich (Cleveland State) over No. 32 Jacobi Jackson (Northern Illinois) (Dec 2-1)
 
Extra Matches
 
165: Daniel Patten (Cleveland State) over Jake Evans (Northern Illinois) (Dec 5-0)
174: Ricardo Salinas (Northern Illinois) over Ronald Dimmerling (Cleveland State) (Fall 2:05)