Sunday's match had all the makings of one that would come down to the final bout, even after Northwestern leapt out to a 7-0 lead thanks to wins by Brandon Precin at 125 and Eric Metzler at 133. Third-ranked Precin (20-1) coasted to a 12-0 major decision against the Badgers' Drew Hammen on the strength of a near-fall in the first period that gave him a 5-0 advantage. It marked the 90th career victory for Precin, who has not lost a match since Nov. 9. Metzler bounced back from a loss Friday to top-ranked Franklin Gomez of Michigan State by handling Wisconsin's Kyle Reeve, 12-6.
No. 16 Keith Sulzer limited fifth-ranked Zach Tanelli to just three points but couldn't get on the scoreboard in his 3-0 defeat. Tanelli, a two-time NCAA qualifier who was named the Champion of Champions at the 2008 Midlands Championships in Evanston, outlasted Sulzer to earn his 17th win of the season.
After Wisconsin's Kyle Ruschell reduced NU's lead to 7-6 with a win at 149, freshman No. 17 Jason Welch righted the ship for Northwestern (9-3, 2-0) with a 6-0 victory over Ben Jordan. It was the second consecutive 6-0 win for Welch, who improves to 9-1 in dual competition this season.
A major decision at 165 by the Badgers' Andrew Howe evened the team score at 10 apiece, setting the stage for Kellogg's bout at 174 against Travis Rutt, who entered the match with an 8-6 season record. Rutt started the match with a quick two points in the first period and opened his lead to 4-0 in the second before Kellogg scored on an escape. That remained the score into the third frame when Kellogg seized momentum, getting Howe to his back and keeping him there with a pin at the 6:19 mark, sending the NU crowd on hand at Welsh-Ryan Arena into a frenzy and putting the 'Cats up 16-10.
At 184, senior Jake Herbert had no difficulty scoring on Wisconsin's Eric Bugenhagen but was unable to turn his opponent on his back more than once. Bugenhagen did well to keep a point on Wisconsin's side as the match ended in a 22-7 tech fall, giving Herbert his 20th victory of the year.
Wisconsin (6-4, 0-2) would not go down without a fight as one of the nation's top 197-pounders, Dallas Herbst, came through with a much-needed pin for the Badgers in 4:42 against NU's John Schoen, pulling UW to within five.
Northwestern's redshirt freshman Ben Kuhar squared off with No. 7 Kyle Massey, with Kuhar taking a 1-0 lead on an escape to start the second session. Massey responded with a takedown and had Kuhar in a headlock in an effort to turn him on his back, but time ran out in the second period. Massey went on to build a 5-1 lead but could not get the necessary pin or tech fall as the match ended 21-19 in Northwestern's favor.
Northwestern avenged its 21-19 loss to the Badgers a year ago in Madison, Wis.
Head coach Tim Cysewski takes his squad to four consecutive road bouts before NU's next home match, beginning at Michigan on Saturday, Jan. 31.
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