The Chippewas (3-0), who host Michigan State on Sunday (2 p.m.) in a non-league dual, got pins from Zach Horan (141 pounds) and Luke Smith (157), along with a 21-4 technical fall from Colin Heffernan (149).
CMU coach Tom Borrelli said entering the meet that he wanted to see more aggressiveness from his wrestlers, perhaps even a bit of a swagger.
“We'd been working on that a lot, talking about that a lot, and our guys are starting to internalize it and execute it,†he said. “When that starts happening you're going in the right direction.
“They just kept scoring and that's important to us. There were three or four matches where we gave up the first point and we ended up getting majors. That's real important.â€
Horan's pin, his first of the season, came in the first period over freshman Steve Bleise, who is ranked 16th nationally by Amateur Wrestling News. Horan, a senior who is ranked 20th, dropped a 5-3 decision to Bleise earlier this season.
It was the first pin of the season for Horan, who improved to 6-2.
“I think (Horan) really did the right things in getting himself prepared for this match after (losing to Bleise) a couple weekends ago,†Borrelli said.
CMU's Corey Keener (133), Jordan Wohlfert (165), Mike Ottinger (174) and Jordan Ellingwood (184) each won by major decision. Brent Fleetwood (125) and Newton Smerchek (HWT) won by decision.
NIU's lone victory came at 197, where 18th-ranked Shawn Scott defeated Jackson Lewis, 5-3.
The decisiveness of the victory was particularly gratifying, Borrelli said, in light of the fact that the Chippewas had to endure a long bus trip to DeKalb on Wednesday night, then wait around all day for the meet to begin at 8 p.m. eastern time.
“That's tough,†he said. “You have to get used to those things. Our first trip like that and to respond the way did was good, real good. Anytime our guys are in that type of environment and they respond the right way, that's a big positive.â€
The Huskies are 2-3 overall.
Prior to Sunday's match with Michigan State at McGuirk Arena, the 1985-86 CMU team, the first to win a Mid-American Conference championship, will be honored.
Results:
125: Brent Fleetwood (CMU) dec. Alijah Jeffery (NIU), 6-1
133: Corey Kenner (CMU) major dec. Austin Eicher (NIU), 11-3
141: Zach Horan (CMU) pinned Steve Bleise (NIU), 2:04
149: Colin Heffernan (CMU) tech. fall Chris Garcia, 21-4, 6:38
157: Luke Smith (CMU) pinned Austin Culton (NIU), 5:34
165: Jordan Wohlfert (CMU) major dec. Andrew Scott (NIU), 13-4
174: Mike Ottinger (CMU) major dec. Trace Engelkes (NIU), 12-3
184: Jordan Ellingwood (CMU) major dec. Quinton Rosser (NIU), 10-2
197: Shawn Scott (NIU) dec. Jackson Lewis (CMU), 5-3
HWT: Newton Smerchek (CMU) dec. Arthur Bunce (NIU), 2-1
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