Wrestling | October 30

DeKALB, Ill.—The "Black" team won the Northern Illinois University Huskie wrestling program held their annual "Red-Black" dual this evening (Oct. 30) in the NIU Convocation Center.

The Black team scored 20 points, with Tommy Bennett (Evergreen Park, Ill./Brother Rice) getting a major decision over freshman AJ Tack (Lombard, Ill./Montini Catholic) at 174 pounds. After a quiet opening period, Bennett collected two takedowns and a three-point nearfall in the second period. Bennett added a third takedown before collecting the riding time point for the victory.
 
"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."
 
Talan Parsons (Ovid-Elsie, Mich./Ovid-Elsie) and Josh Vasquez (River Grove, Ill./Montini Catholic) battled at 125 pounds with Vazquez collecting a takedown in the second and third periods as he took a 7-2 decision.
 
Jayden Colon (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles East) battled Tee Ward (Freemont, Mich./Freemont) at 141 pounds for the Huskies. Colon, an Illinois transfer, claimed three takedowns in his match, collecting an 11-2 major decision.

Also at 141 pounds, Evan Onstad (Grayslake, Ill./Warren Township) faced off against Calvin Werden (Willoughby, Ohio/Western Reserve Academy) with a second period takedown helping Onstad to a 5-1 decision.
 
Batting at 149 pounds, Jacob Brya (St. Johns, Mich./St. Johns) faced Charles Curts (Canton, Ohio/Perry) with Curtis winning in rideouts. Collin Arch (Palmyra, Mo./Palmyra) took on Lucan O'Brien (Lakewood, Ohio/St. Edwards) took to the mat at 157 pounds. Arch claimed a first period takedown as he took the bout in a 4-2 decision.
 
Brett Smith (Troy, Mo./Buchanan) took on Landen Johnson (Owatonna, Minn./Owatonna) in the 165 bout as Smith claimed two takedowns in the first period. Smith added a takedown in the second period as he claimed a major decision win. Tyler Schofield (Olivet, Mich./Olivet) faced off against Judah Heeg (Lemont, Ill./Lemont) at 184 pounds with Schofield claiming a first period takedown on route to a 6-2 decision win.
 
At 197 pounds, Carson Babcock (New Hampton, Iowa/New Hampton) faced Nathan Elstner (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln-Way West) on the mat. Babcock had two takedowns on route to a 10-3 decision.
 
Rounding out action at 285 pounds, Sean Carroll (Overland Park, Kan./St. Thomas Aquinas) took on Logan Bender (Sunrise, Minn./Chisago Lakes). Carroll claimed the first point with an escape in the second period before a takedown in the third for the victory.
 
The Huskies open the 2026-27 season on Nov. 7 as they compete at the Michigan State Open. The Huskies will open the home portion of the schedule as they take on Bellarmine on Nov. 15 before opening Pac-12 action at Oregon State on Nov. 20.
 
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).
 
Results
 
125: Josh Vazquez (Black) over Talan Parsons (Red), Dec 7-2
141: Jayden Colon (Red) over Tee Ward (Black), MD 11-2
141: Evan Onstad (Black) over Calvin Werden (Red), Dec 5-1
149: Deuce Curtis (Red) over Jacob Brya (Black), Rideouts 1
157: Collin Arch (Black) over Lucan O'Brien (Red), Dec 4-2
165: Brett Smith (Red) over Landen Johnson (Black), MD 10-2
174: Tommy Bennett (Black) over AJ Tack (Red), MD 14-2
184: Tyler Schofield (Red) over Judah Heeg (Black), Dec 6-2
197: Carson Babcock (Black) over Nathan Elstner (Red), Dec 10-3
285: Sean Carroll (Red) over Logan Bender (Black), Dec 4-0
 
Black: 20
Red: 13