Wrestling | March 6

BUFFALO, N.Y. –A school record broken and a berth secured for Cleveland highlighted the opening day for the Northern Illinois University wrestling team at the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Championships in Buffalo.

Markel Baker (Freeport, Ill./Freeport), Brett Smith (Troy, Mo./Buchanan), and Devon Dawson (Brooklyn Park, Minn./Goddard) will compete for MAC titles at 133, 165, and 285 pounds respectively. All three will make their first appearances in the title matches tomorrow afternoon (March 7).
 
With his appearance in the MAC title bout, Baker earned his spot in the NCAA National Tournament as the MAC was allocated four spots at the 133-pound weight class. Baker's qualification extends NIU's streak of sending a minimum of one wrestler to 55 consecutive years. This dates to 1972 when Larry Johnson earned All-America honors by taking fifth.
 
Blake West (Shakopee, Minn./Shakopee) needed two matches to break the NIU All-Time Career Wins record after dropping his opening match in a 4-1 sudden victory loss (Drew Davis, SIUE). West, who battled at 125, took on Nico Calello (Kent State) in a rematch, winning 9-6 to set the new school record at 117 wins. West break's Scott Owen's record of 116 wins, which stood from 2003.
 
NIU sits in fourth place as a team with 52.5 points scored.
 
Baker opened his day with a bye before facing off against Andrew Austin (Central Michigan) in the quarterfinals. Baker, who defeated Austin in back-to-back weeks in January, won for the third time with a 4-1 decision. In the semifinal match, Baker met Gable Strickland (Lock Haven) for the second time this season. Baker earned his first win via shutout over Strickland to advance to the championship bout.
 
Smith had a bye in his first round before taking on Drew Dickson (George Mason) in the quarterfinals. Smith earned a 6-1 decision to advance. In the semifinals, Smith took on a second MAC East opponent, in Alejandro Herrara-Rondon (Clarion). Smith defeated Herrara-Rondon in sudden victory, 5-2, Smith's second SV win of the season.
 
Dawson had a rematch against Ohio's Wyatt Schmitt in the opening round, collecting his eighth major decision of the season (11-2). In the quarterfinals, Dawson defeated Kade Sottalano (Lock Haven) for a second time with a 4-2 decision. Dawson battled Mason Rebuck (Bloomsburg) in the semifinals, claiming his spot in the championship match with a pin at 31 seconds.
 
Charles Curtis (Canton, Ohio/Perry) represented the Huskies at 141 pounds and defeated Kolten Barker (Ohio) in an 11-3 major decision to start his day.  Curtis got revenge in the rematch against Ben Lunn (SIUE), winning in the quarterfinals via major decision (14-5). In the semifinals match, Curtis dropped a major decision to Wyatt Henson (Lock Haven), 15-5, as he moves to the consolation bracket.
 
Collin Arch (Palmyra, Mo./Palmyra) fell in his opening round match to Lucas Kapusta (Lock Haven) as he battled at 149 pounds for NIU. Arch received a bye in his next round before defeating Oliver Fairchild (Clarion) in a 4-3 decision to remain alive at the tournament.  
 
Ian Smith (Lake Nebagamon, Wis./Northwestern) competed at 184 pounds for the Huskies and took on Sam Gautreau (Lock Haven) in the first match, dropping the match via technical fall, 17-2, 4:13. After a bye in his next round, Smith earned a 4-1 decision over Giovanni Alejandro (Rider) to advance to Saturday's action.
 
Landen Johnson (Owatonna, Minn./Owatonna), Tommy Bennett (Evergreen Park, Ill./Brother Rice), and Spencer Mooberry (Osage, Iowa/Osage) competed for the Huskies at 157, 174, and 197 pounds and were eliminated from the MAC tournament.

Johnson fell to Derek Raike (Ohio) in a 16-4 major decision before dropping a technical fall to Mason Shrader (Central Michigan) in the second consolation round. Bennett, who was the fifth seed heading into tournament, received a bye in his first round. Bennett fell to Enrique Munguia (Rider) via fall and Eric Alderfer (Bloomsburg) in a major decision (15-1). Mooberry battled Luke Cochran (Central Michigan), dropping the match via major decision (11-2). After a bye in the next round, Mooberry took on Nick Nosler (SIUE), dropping the match 5-1.
 
Action resumes at 10:30 a.m. CT with the consolation quarterfinals tomorrow (March 7). Championship finals and other placement matches will begin at 2 p.m. with the title bouts airing on ESPN+.
 
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