DeKalb, IL – The Northern Illinois University (NIU) wrestling program held its annual Red vs. Black Wrestle-Offs on Thursday, October 30, 2025, in DeKalb, Illinois. The event served as an early look at the Huskies’ depth and talent across all weight classes.

In a closely contested battle that saw several key decisions and bonus-point victories, the Red team ultimately defeated the Black team with a final team score of 21-13.

The night kicked off with a win for the Red team at 125 pounds as Blake West defeated Josh Vazquez by a 5-0 decision. The Black team quickly responded at 133 with the night’s first technical fall, as Markel Baker defeated Calvin Werden (TF 26-10, 6:07).

The 141-pound bout between Charles Curtis (Red) and Tommy Curran (Black) provided one of the most dramatic moments, with Curtis securing the victory in sudden-victory overtime (SV-1, 4-1).

Key bonus-point wins helped the Red team solidify the overall victory later in the evening:

• 184 lbs: Caleb Roe (Red) defeated Damarion Ross (Black) by major decision (14-3).

• 197 lbs: Spencer Mooberry (Red) earned a technical fall over Nathan Elstner (Black) (TF 20-2, 5:28).

The Black team closed out the competition at 285 pounds when Devon Dawson defeated Sean Carroll in a hard-fought match that went to the second sudden-victory period (SV-2, 3-2).