NIU Wrestling Defeats Central Michigan in MAC Dual Opener

The Northern Illinois University wrestling team began its conference dual schedule with a hard-fought victory on Friday night. The Huskies defeated the Central Michigan University Chippewas 19-14 at Victor E. Court. This victory marks a successful start for NIU in Mid-American Conference (MAC) play.

NIU built early momentum by winning the first three bouts of the evening. At 125 pounds, Blake West set the tone with a 15-11 decision. Markel Baker followed at 133 pounds, extending his personal winning streak to six matches with a 9-5 decision. Deuce Curtis then provided a thrilling moment at 141 pounds. Curtis secured a sudden victory win with an early takedown in overtime to push the Huskie lead to 9-0.

Central Michigan responded with strong performances in the middle and upper weights. Jimmy Nugent earned the first points for the Chippewas with a 2-0 decision. Later, Mason Shrader and Luke Cochran each recorded major decisions to keep the match competitive. These results brought Central Michigan within one point, trailing 15-14 before the final match of the night.

The dual-meet victory came down to the heavyweight division. Devon Dawson stepped onto the mat for NIU at 285 pounds. Dawson clinched the team win by securing a 15-7 major decision over No. 31 Bryan Caves. His dominant performance ensured the Huskies started their conference schedule with a win. The team will look to carry this energy into their next home match against Ohio University.