Wrestling | November 9

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Charles Curtis (Canton, Ohio/Perry) and Ian Smith (Lake Nebagamon, Wis./Northwestern) took home first place finishes as the Northern Illinois University Huskies wrestling team opened the 2024-25 season at the Michigan State University Open.
 
In total, nine Huskies placed fifth or better. The Huskies had six wins over Power Four opponents on the day.

The Huskies competed in the Freshman/Sophomore Division and the Open Division as over 19 NCAA Division I men's programs competed inside Jenison Field House on the MSU campus.
 
Freshman/Sophomore Division Recap
 
Curtis opened his day with a fall over Michael Curley (Bryant & Stratton College), winning in 1:20. Curtis posted fourth straight decisions to take home first place at 141 pounds, including wins over Power Four opponents Giosue Hickman (Northwestern) and Kolter Burton (Oklahoma State).
 
At 197 pounds, Smith opened his day with a 14-10 decision over Evan Wakefield of Davenport. Smith posted a technical fall victory and a sudden victory-1 on route to an 8-3 decision over Kent State's Corey Boerio for first place.
 
Camren French (Mattoon, Ill./Mariner) competed at 125 pounds for the Huskies and defeated Tyler Chappell (Pittsburgh) in a 3-2 decision in his first match of the day. French posted wins by decision over Chris Vargo (Edinboro) and Dedrick Navarro (Northwestern) before falling in the championship match to Caleb Weiand of Michigan State (Dec 15-8).
 
Calvin Werden (Willoughby, Ohio/Western Reserve Academy) represented the Huskies at 133 pounds. Werden won by a technical fall over Wyatt Dusseau-Garno of Grand Valley State after receiving an opening round bye. Werden fell by technical fall to JJ McComas of Oklahoma State before winning his next two matches in a major decision fashion to take third place.
 
Damarion Ross (Fort Dodge, Iowa/Fort Dodge) took to the mat for the Huskies at 174 pounds. Ross began his day with back-to-back wins by decisions before dropping a match to Brody Evans (Edinboro) in a 4-0 decision. Ross won his last two matches of the day by decisions as he took third for the Huskies.
 
At 141 pounds, Lucan O'Brien (Lakewood, Ohio/St. Edwards) took fourth place for the Huskies. O'Brien won by major decision in his first match of the day before falling in his second to move to the consolation bracket. O'Brien had back-to-back wins by decision before claiming a sudden victory-1 win over Gaven Suica (Edinboro). In the third place match, O'Brien fell in a 7-2 decision to Nick Blakcburn of Central Michigan.
 
Open Division Recap
 
Blake West (Shakopee, Minn./Shakopee) claimed a second-place finish at 125 pounds in the Open Division for the Huskies. West won by technical fall over Wisconsin's Wyatt Skebba in the opening round before defeating Ohio's Malachi O'Leary in a major decision. West posted a major decision victory over Michigan's Christian Tanefeu in the semifinal match before falling in the first place match to Nicolar Rivera of Wisconsin.
 
Lucian Brink (Coshocton, Ohio/Coshocton) took fourth place while Markel Baker (Freeport, Ill./Freeport) took fifth place for the Huskies as the duo competed at 133 pounds for NIU.
 
Brink opened his day with a technical fall win over Grand Valley State's Logan Klinge before dropping his next match to Oklahoma State's Cael Hughes in a major decision. Brink won by major decision over Adnrew Hampton of Michigan before claiming back-to-back wins by decisions to reach the third place match. Brink fell by major decision to Central Michigan's Sean Spidle.

Baker saw a win by decision over Vince Perez of Central Michigan in his opening match before winning in sudden victory-1 over Oklahoma State's Zach Blankenship. Baker lost his next match by sudden victory-1 before falling to Brink to reach the fifth place match. Baker claimed his second victory of the day by sudden victory-1 over Blankenship.
 
Looking Ahead
 
The Huskies will open the dual season on November 16 as they travel to in-state foe, Northwestern. The first whistle is set for 7 p.m. inside Welsh-Ryan Arena on the Northwestern campus.
 
NIU wrestling will open their home portion of the season on November 22 as they host Rider University in a conference dual at 7 p.m.