Wrestling | October 30

DeKALB, Ill.—Hosting their annual "Red-Black" dual, the Northern Illinois University Huskies wrestling squad gave fans their first look at the 2025-26 Huskies. The Red team was victorious, posting a 21-13 final score over the Black team.
 
"It was great to get out tonight and get some reps in," said head coach Ryan Ludwig. "We'll take stuff from tonight, work on some technical things and continue to prepare for the season opener next week."
 
Blake West (Shakopee, Minn./Shakopee) got a late first period takedown in his dual against Josh Vazquez (River Grove, Ill./Montini Catholic). West added to his lead with an escape in the second period before earning the riding time point for a 5-0 decision.
 
Markel Baker (Freeport, Ill./Freeport) claimed three takedowns within the first 90 seconds of his bout against Calvin Werden (Willoughby, Ohio/Western Reserve Academy). Baker claimed a technical fall over Werden, 26-10 (6:07) in the first match this evening to feature a pair of returners.
 
Charles Curtis (Canton, Ohio/Perry) and Tommy Curran (Carol Stream, Ill./DeKalb) battled to a stalemate at the first three minutes of action. Each claimed a pair of escapes at the start of the second and third periods as the bout came down the closing seconds before going into overtime. Curtis claimed a takedown in the first 40 seconds of overtime for the victory.
 
At 149 pounds, Jacob Brya (St. Johns, Mich./St. Johns) and Lucan O'Brien (Lakewood, Ohio/St. Edwards) battled it out, ending the opening period tied at zero. Brya claimed a 4-0 decision in the second battle of returners.
 
In the 157 bout, Collin Arch (Palmyra, Mo./Palmyra) grabbed an escape point for the first points of the battle as he took on Tyler Turzinski (Savage, Minn./Shakopee, winning 4-2.
 
Colin Young (Belvidere, Ill./Dubuque Wahlert) grabbed a pair of takedowns in the second period as he battled Brett Smith (Troy, Mo./Buchanan) at 165 pounds. Young would take an 8-1 decision win over Smith in their bout.
 
At 174 pounds was the third bout to feature a pair of returners as Tommy Bennett (Evergreen Park, Ill./Brother Rice) and Tyler Schofield (Olivet, Mich./Olivet) took to the mat. Bennett trailed 4-1 heading into the final period as Schofield was able to hold off a late charge from Bennett.
 
In the 184 bout, Caleb Roe (Arab, Ala./Arab) took on Damarion Ross (Fort Dodge, Iowa/Fort Dodge) with the first major decision of the night. Spencer Mooberry (Osage, Iowa/Osage) took on Nathan Elstner (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln-Way East) in the 197 bout, claiming an early takedown. Mooberry grabbed the second technical fall decision of the night.
 
In the final bout of the evening, Devon Dawson (Brooklyn Park, Minn./Goodard) and Sean Carroll (Overland, Park, Kan./St. Thomas Aquinas) faced off at 285 pounds. The heavyweight bout would be the second to go to overtime with Dawson claiming a 3-2 decision.
 
The 2025-26 Huskies open the season on November 8 as they compete at the Michigan State Open. Action is slated to get underway at 8:30 a.m. CT in East Lansing, Michigan. The Huskies home opener is slated for December 19 against Oregon State.
 
Stay up-to-date on all NIU Wrestling news by following the team on Facebook (NIU Wrestling), X/Twitter (@NIUWrestling), and on Instagram (@NIU_Wrestling).
 
Dual Results
125: West (Red) def. Vazquez (Black), Dec 5-0 (Red 3, Black 0)
133: Baker (Black) def. Werden (Red), TF 26-10, 6:07 (Red 3, Black 5)
141: Curtis (Red) def. Curran (Black), SV-1, 4-1 (Red 6, Black 4)*
149: Brya (Black) def. O'Brien (Red), Dec 4-0 (Red 6, Black 7)
157: Arch (Red) def. Turzinski (Black), Dec 4-2 (Red 9, Black 7) 
165: Young (Black) def. B. Smith (Red), Dec 8-1 (Red 9, Black 10)
174: Schofield (Red) def. Bennett (Black), Dec 4-2 (Red 12, Black 10)
184: Roe (Red) def. Ross (Black), Maj 14-3 (Red 16, Black 10)
197: Mooberry (Red) def. Elstner (Black), TF 20-2, 5:28 (Red 21, Black 10)
285: Dawson (Black) def. Carroll (Red), SV-2, 3-2 (Red 21, Black 13)
 
*141 Team point deduction