The Huskies opened the day with a tight 18-17 win over West Virginia, then capped the day by pounding Binghamton, 27-13, and Sacred Heart, 40-3.
"We took three duals today and that was what we set out to do," said NIU Head Coach Ryan Ludwig. "We were on the attack and working to our positions. It's about wrestling hard in crucial situations and we are making gains in that regard. We will feel good about today right now. Tomorrow, it's back to work looking forward to the next challenge."
Dual One: NIU Rallies Past West Virginia, 18-17
Facing a 10-0 deficit early, the Huskies won five of the final seven matches to knock off West Virginia, 18-17. The victory was NIU’s first over a Big 12 foe since Feb. 16, 2003, when NIU scored a 21-16 triumph over Missouri.
The Mountaineers put the Huskies in an early hole with decisions at 125 and 133, followed by a major decision at 141 for a 10-0 WVU advantage. Gabe Morse (Alto, Mich./Lowell) got NIU on the board at 149 with a tight 3-2 victory over James Dekrone. However, the Huskies’ big break came moments later when Andrew Morse (Alto, Mich./Lowell) pinned Brutus Scheffel in the 157 match and getting NIU within one at the intermission.
Shaun’Qae McMurtry (Lockport, Ill./Lockport Twp.) put the Huskies on top following his 8-3 win against Tim Wheeling at 165. Yet, WVU reclaimed the lead with a decision at 174 and a major decision at 184 to make it a 17-12 lead for the Mountaineers.
Needing a win to stay alive, Shawn Scott (Holly, Mich./Holly) scored a 5-0 decision against Jake A. Smith to get the Huskies within two and set up a winner-take-all bout at heavyweight. Despite the pressure, Arthur Bunce (Munith, Mich./Dansville) emerged victorious in the final match, defeating A.J. Vizcarrondo, 5-2, to clinch the Huskie victory.
NIU 18, West Virginia 17
125: #19 Zeke Moisey (WVU) dec. Derek Elmore (NIU), 10-7
133: Cory Stainbrook (WVU) dec. Danny Carlson (NIU), 9-3
141: Mike Morales (WVU) maj. dec. Tyler Argue (NIU), 13-3
149: Gabe Morse (NIU) dec. James Dekrone (WVU), 3-2
157: Andrew Morse (NIU) pins Brutus Scheffel (WVU), 3:15
165: Shaun’Qae McMurtry (NIU) dec. Tim Wheeling (WVU), 8-3
174: Ross Renzi (WVU) dec. Trace Engelkes (NIU), 6-4
184: Bubba Scheffel (WVU) maj. dec. Quinton Rosser (NIU), 12-4
197: Shawn Scott (NIU) dec. Jake A. Smith (WVU), 5-0
285: Arthur Bunce (NIU) dec. A.J. Vizcarrondo (WVU), 5-2
Dual Two: Huskies Breeze Past Bearcats, 27-13
NIU used a fast start in the second dual of the day to coast to a 27-13 victory over the Binghamton Bearcats.
True freshman Alijah Jeffery (Marion, Iowa/Linn-Mar) got the Huskies started with a pin of Thierno Diallo at 125 for a 6-0 NIU lead. Danny Carlson (Chicago, Ill./Lane Tech) followed that up with a tight 5-3 double overtime victory over David White at 133, while Tyler Argue (Matteson, Ill./Mt. Carmel) won at 141 with a 14-10 triumph against Nick Tighe.
The Morse twins pushed the Huskie lead to 18-0 at halftime. At 149, Gabe earned a 7-3 decision against Dylan Caruana, while Andrew defeated Vincent Deprez, 6-0, at 157.
The Bearcats got on the board with a pin at 165, but NIU countered when Trace Engelkes (Winnebago, Ill./Winnebago) defeated Steve Schneider with a 9-7 decision at 174. Following a BU win at 184, Shawn Scott (Holly, Mich./Holly) stuck Caleb Wallace in the 197 match. The Bearcats got the final points with a major decision at heavyweight, but it wasn't nearly enough to catch NIU.
NIU 27, Binghamton 13
125: Alijah Jeffery (NIU) pins Thierno Diallo (BU), 4:40
133: Danny Carlson (NIU) dec. David White (BU), 5-3 (2OT)
141: Tyler Argue (NIU) dec. Nick Tighe (BU), 14-10
149: Gabe Morse (NIU) dec. Dylan Caruana (BU), 7-3
157: Andrew Morse (NIU) dec. Vincent Deprez (BU), 6-0
165: Zack Zupan (BU) pins Shaun'Qae McMurtry (NIU), 2:18
174: Trace Engelkes (NIU) dec. Steve Schneider (BU), 9-7
184: Jack McKeever (BU) dec. Quinton Rosser (NIU), 6-0
197: Shawn Scott (NIU) pins Caleb Wallace (BU), 2:11
285: #17 Tyler Deuel (BU) maj. dec. Arthur Bunce (NIU), 10-0
Dual Three: Huskies Rout Pioneers, 40-3
In the final dual of the day, NIU made quick work of Sacred Heart with a 40-3 victory.
Once again, Alijah Jeffery got the Huskies off to a quick start, as the Marion, Iowa, native pinned SHU's Tim Johnson in just over a minute to put NIU up, 6-0. Danny Carlson followed that up with a 17-4 victory over Robert O'Neill, while Tyler Argue and Gabe Morse both scored technical falls to quickly put the Huskies at a 20-0 lead.
Andrew Morse kept the dominant showing going with an 11-1 win over Matt Fisher at 157. After the break, Dylan Dobzanski (Franklinville, N.J./Delsea Regional) earned a tough 6-4 decision against Johnny Vrasidas, while Bryce Gorman (Manhattan, Ill./Lincoln-Way Central) grabbed a 7-4 victory against Conan Schuster.
The Pioneers averted the shutout with a decision at 184, but Shawn Scott and Arthur Bunce finished the dual with convincing wins. Scott took a 21-10 major decision against Sasha Oliinyk at 197, then Bunce followed that up with a first period pin of Daniel Hayden.
NIU 40, Sacred Heart 3
125: Alijah Jeffery (NIU) pins Tim Johnson (SHU), 1:11
133: Danny Carlson (NIU) maj. dec. Robert O'Neill (SHU), 17-4
141: Tyler Argue (NIU) tech. fall Jay Oakes (SHU), 24-9
149: Gabe Morse (NIU) tech. fall Paul Curtin (SHU), 17-2
157: Andrew Morse (NIU) maj. dec. Matt Fisher (SHU), 11-1
165: Dylan Dobzanski (NIU) dec. Johnny Vrasidas (SHU), 6-4
174: Bryce Gorman (NIU) dec. Conan Schuster (SHU), 7-4
184: Elliott Antler (SHU) dec. Quinton Rosser (NIU), 6-4
197: Shawn Scott (NIU) maj. dec. Sasha Oliinyk (SHU), 21-10
285: Arthur Bunce (NIU) pins Daniel Hayden (SHU), 2:27
The Huskies return home next week when they host Big Ten foe Michigan State Friday, Dec. 5, at 7 p.m. in the Chick Evans Field House.
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