Wrestling

Around the Mat – Huskies Quick Start Leads to Victory Over Kent State

Recaps courtesy of Athletic Communications Departments

Thursday Wrestling Results
Northern Illinois 23, Kent State 19
Clarion 40, Bloomsburg 3
George Mason 29, Gardner-Webb 11
 
Northern Illinois – Huskies Quick Start Leads to Victory Over Kent State
KENT, Ohio – After jumping out to an 11-0 lead, the Northern Illinois University Huskies wrestling program battled late as they claimed a 23-19 win over the Kent State Golden Flashes.
 
This marks the sixth consecutive victory for the Huskies over Kent State as they move to 2-1 on the year and 2-0 in MAC competitions.
 
Blake West started the day off strong for the Huskies as he claimed his second fall of the season. West, who moves to 9-3 on the season and 2-0 in MAC duals, defeated Nico Calello in 6:24 to put NIU up by six. West is currently ranked No. 16 by WrestleStat, No. 25 by FloWrestling and Intermat, and No. 27 by TheCollegeWrestlingReport.
 
Markel Baker marked his first technical fall victory of the season, taking down Adan Benavidez in 4:49. Baker finished with a score of 22-5 over Benavidez as he moves to 6-2 on the season at 133 pounds.
 
At 157 pounds, Landen Johnson claimed his fourth victory via fall of the season, taking down Dominic Paterra in 3:23. Johnson moves to 6-6 on the season and 1-1 in MAC duals.
 
Tommy Bennett and Sean Carroll each claimed wins by decision, with Carroll's victory securing the dual for the Huskies. Bennett faced off against Hunter Andel at 174 pounds and posted a 4-1 victory over Andel. Carroll took on Corey Boerio at 197 pounds and claimed a 6-4 decision. 
 
Tee Ward made his debut for the Huskies in a dual setting, competing at 141 pounds. At 149 pounds, Charles Curtis battled against No. 32 Billy Meisnzer, falling in a major decision. Brett Smith represented the Huskies at 165, while Austin Stewart competed at 184. Jacob Christensen battled at the heavyweight division, falling in a 4-1 decision.
 
The Huskies are back in action one more time before the holiday break as they compete at the Kent State Open on December 20. Action is set to get underway at 8 a.m. CT in the Kent State Field House.
 
Clarion – Wrestling Routs Bloomsburg in MAC Dual Win
BLOOMSBURG, Pa. --- The Golden Eagles wrestling team picked up their first dual win of the season in dominant fashion on Thursday night, routing in-state rival Bloomsburg for a 40-3 decision on the road. Clarion won eight of the nine contested matches and took a forfeit at 125 pounds en route to the convincing win.
 
The night featured fireworks for the Golden Eagles, who earned bonus points in five of their eight wins. Of those wins, one came by fall, and three came by technical fall, accounting for 21 of the Golden Eagles' 40 points on Thursday.
 
After the forfeit at 125, Scott Johnson picked up the night's first win for Clarion, earning his fourth technical fall of the season with a 16-0 win over Major Lewis. Johnson put the screws to Johnson in the first period, taking him down quickly and turning him multiple times en route to the first-period tech. He needed just 2:17 to pick up the requisite points for the tech fall, but that was not the quickest tech of the night. Teammate Kyle Schickel beat Nikolas Antonelli 16-0 in just 2:04, marking the second tech of the night for the Golden Eagles. That marked the first win by technical fall for Schickel this season and just the second of his career.
 
The final technical fall of the came courtesy of Austin Chapman, who picked up his first tech fall of the season over Tyler McCatharn. It took him until the third period to rack up enough points, though, with Chapman taking McCatharn down with 46 seconds left in regulation to clinch the bonus points.
 
There was also a win by fall for the Golden Eagles on Thursday, with John Worthing picking up his fourth fall of the season at 174 pounds. He worked Nik Voros after an early takedown, twisting him to his back just 94 seconds into the match for the fall. That win officially clinched the match victory for the Golden Eagles. Rounding out the bonus points for Clarion on Thursday was Adrian Gacek, who logged a 9-0 major decision over David Tuttle at 184 pounds.
 
Gianni Silvestri snapped a modest two-match losing streak, beating Ashton Campbell by a 10-3 decision, and Wesley Barnes beat Leo Hess in sudden victory by an 11-4 score after a takedown and a tilt in overtime. Ethan Wiant also finished with a win by decision, beating Mason Rebuck by a 7-4 score.
 
George Mason – Wrestling Dominates Gardner-Webb; Remains Undefeated with 8-0 Record
FAIRFAX — The George Mason wrestling team jumped out to a 21-0 advantage against Gardner-Webb to secure its eighth straight win to open the season. The win (8-0, 5-0) matches the Patriots best start since 2022-23. The Runnin’ Bulldogs fall to 2-4.

The Patriots won seven matches, four decided by technical fall. 

Beginning with the match 149 pounds, George Mason won the first two matches by decision. The Patriots #26 Kaden Cassidy (10-1) and JT Chance (4-1) got the Patriots on the board with decisions to lead Gardner-Webb, 6-0. After a 3-3 tie after two periods, Chance dominated the third period with three straight takedowns against the Runnin' Bulldogs Drew Pepin. 

George Mason stretched the lead quickly after three straight technical falls against the SoCon opponent, four overall in the match.

At 165 pounds, Evan Maag continues to win matches in dominating fashion, earning a technical fall against Tyler Brignola, 20-4. It's Maag's 12th win by fall (6) and tech fall (6) this season as the #24 nationally ranked wrestler improves to 13-2. 

Senior Logan Messer had four takedowns in the first period en route to a technical fall, 19-4, his fifth TF of the season, against Andrew Wilson. Messer (13-3) and Maag (13-2) lead the Patriots with 13 wins this season.

At 184 pounds, #27 Malachi DuVall won 17-2 against Gardner-Webb's Edison Flores to increase the Patriots lead to 21-0.

The Runnin' Bulldogs would get on the board with a 4-3 decision at 197 pounds. Josh McCutchen edged Tyler Kocak with the riding time point.

Freshman James Blackman is off to a great start in his collegiate career, improving to 11-4 with his fourth technical fall of the season.

With the win, George Mason ties the all-time series with the Runnin' Bulldogs, 4-4. The Patriots have won four of the previous five matchups, including three straight at home.

George Mason will travel to participate in the Midlands Championships, December 29-30, in Evanston, Illinois, to wrap up 2024.