Wrestling | November 20
DeKALB, Ill.- Opening the home portion of their schedule, the Northern Illinois University Huskies wrestling team (0-1) is set to host the Broncs of Rider University (0-1) in the first Mid-American Conference dual of the season. Action will begin at 7 p.m. inside the NIU Convocation Center.
Fans are encouraged to "Wear Red" for the home opener and get an NIU Wrestling decal when they arrive at the arena.
Heading into the 2024-25 season, the Huskies are the defending MAC West Champions while Rider holds the MAC East Champion crown.
Rider History
This will be the fifth meeting between the Broncs of Rider and the Huskies of NIU. The Huskies lost a nail biter last season in Lawrenceville, falling 19-18.
The Broncs last visited DeKalb in 2019, defeating the Huskies 26-6.
Blake West,
Jacobi Jackson,
Tommy Bennett, and
Jacob Brya all got wins in the last meeting. Brya won by a fall while West, Bennet, and Jackson all claimed victories by decision.
Rankings Check
In the Intermat polls from November 19,
Blake West (Shakopee, Minn./Shakopee) clocks in at No. 32 at 125 pounds while
Jacobi Jackson (St. Louis, Mo./Desmet Jesuit) sits at No. 30 at 285 pounds for the Huskies.
According to the WrestleStat polls (November 18), West clocks in at No. 30.
Spencer Mooberry (Osage, Iowa/Osage) comes in at No. 33 at 197 pounds as the final Huskie ranked in that poll.
In the rankings from The College Wrestling Report (November 18), West takes the No. 32 spot at 125. Mooberry collects his second ranking, moving up two spots to the No. 29 spot at 197 pounds.
West checks at No. 29 in the FloWrestling rankings and is joined by Jackson at No. 28.
Last Time on the Mat
The Huskies fell in their opening season dual to the Wildcats of Northwestern, dropping a 29-8 match.
Markel Baker (Freeport, Ill./Freeport) and
Jacob Christensen (Durham, Calif./Durham) had the lone victories for the Huskies in the season-opening dual against the Northwestern Wildcats on November 16 in Evanston, Illinois.
Baker represented the Huskies at 133 pounds, earning his first major decision victory of the season over Massey Odiotti.
Christensen wrestled in the heavyweight bout, taking on Dirk Morley. Christensen claimed a major decision victory.
