The ’Cats quickly put six team points up on the board as 19th-ranked Malone pinned Derek Elmore in 4:20 at 125 lbs. Elmore scored the first takedown but Malone responded with an escape and takedown of his own to lead 3-2 after the first. Malone started the second period down and then reversed Elmore before the fall.
True freshman Garrison White extended the lead for NU, defeating Nick Smith 9-5 at 133. White had the 4-2 advantage after the first with two takedowns, added a reversal and escape in the second to lead 7-4. He then added a final takedown in the third to secure the 9-6 victory.
Making his first dual start since Dec. 16, sophomore Jameson Oster took on NIU’s lone ranked wrestler, No. 20 Kevin Fanta at 141. Oster jumped out to a 5-2 lead with two takedowns and an escape before recording the first-period fall (2:35) and giving NU a commanding 15-0 lead.
NIU then got on the board with a fall at 149 lbs. but the ’Cats responded with more bonus points to take the 19-6 lead before the break. No. 2 Jason Welch shut out NIU’s Andrew Morse, 8-0 at 157 and he did so with three takedowns, an escape and riding time.
Northwestern continued to roll after the break and won the final five matches of the night. At 165, No. 15 Pierce Harger scored three takedowns, racked up six nearfall points, had an escape and scored another three points due to NIU stalling as he shut out Dan Burk with the 16-0 tech fall in 5:47.
No. 9 Lee Munster only allowed a pair of escapes in his 8-2 decision over Matt Mougin at 174 and true freshman Jacob Berkowitz came back for the win over Bryan Loughlin in the final seconds at 184. Loughlin had the narrow 5-4 edge after the first two periods and chose down to start the third. Berkowitz rode Loughlin the entire period to secure riding time and then tacked on two nearfall points as time expired for the 7-5 win. Friday’s win was the first for Berkowitz since entering the starting lineup.
Sophomore Alex Polizzi shut out another NIU opponent with the 5-0 decision over Arber Bebo at 197. Polizzi scored the lone takedown of the match in the first, had a reversal in the second and added a point for riding time.
No. 8 Mike McMullan then put the finishing touches on the victory for Northwestern with the 4-2 decision over Jared Torrence at heavyweight. McMullan quickly took Torrence down in the first and led 2-1 going into the second after an NIU escape. Torrence began the second period down and tied things up at 2-2 after an escape at the 1:07 mark. McMullan began the final period down, escaped just five seconds into the third to go up 3-2 and finished the 4-2 win with riding time.
Northwestern returns to Welsh-Ryan Arena Sunday night for its final home dual of the 2012-13 season. The ’Cats take on another in-state rival, No. 8 Illinois, at 7 p.m. Be sure to arrive early as the team salutes seniors Paul Jackson, Levi Mele, Marcus Shrewsbury and Jason Welch for Senior Night festivities.
Results:
125: #19 Dominick Malone (NU) pins Derek Elmore (NIU), 4:20 (6-0 NU)
133: Garrison White (NU) dec Nick Smith (NIU), 9-6 (9-0 NU)
141: Jameson Oster (NU) pins #20 Kevin Fanta (NIU), 2:35 (15-0 NU)
149: Robert Jillard (NIU) pins Dylan Marriott (NU), 2:43 (15-6 NU)
157: #2 Jason Welch (NU) maj dec Andrew Morse (NIU), 8-0 (19-6 NU)
165: #15 Pierce Harger (NU) tech fall Dan Burk (NIU), 16-0, 5:47 (24-6 NU)
174: #9 Lee Munster (NU) dec Matt Mougin (NIU), 8-2 (27-6 NU)
184: Jacob Berkowitz (NU) dec Bryan Loughlin (NIU), 7-5 (30-6 NU)
197: Alex Polizzi (NU) dec Arber Bebo (NIU), 5-0 (33-6 NU)
Hwt: #8 Mike McMullan (NU) dec Jared Torrence (NIU), 4-2 (36-6 NU)
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