Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, January 26
DeKalb, Ill.
11 a.m.
Eastern Michigan University
22
at
17
Northern Illinois
Photo by: Walt Middleton Photography
Wrestling Downs Northern Illinois, 22-17, for First MAC Victory
1/26/2013 2:05:00 PM | Wrestling
Sulzer and Whitenburg record pins for victorious Eagles
DeKALB, Ill. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University wrestling team won its first Mid-American Conference bout of the season Saturday, Jan. 26, on the road against Northern Illinois University, 22-17. The Eagles scored bonus points in three matches and recorded a pair of pins while improving to 7-10 overall and 1-2 in MAC action.
Saturday's match saw the lead switch hands four times, with redshirt junior Nick Whitenburg's pin at 197 lbs. ultimately sealing the victory for the Eagles. The Huskies (7-6; 0-4 MAC) remained winless in conference bouts and lost to Eastern Michigan for a second straight season.
"I am really proud of the guys not because we won the dual, but because of our fight,” said Head Coach Derek DelPorto. “I am also happy we gout out of there healthy and injury free.”
Freshman Alexander Calandrino got the Eagles started off with a 4-0 shutout decision over Nickalas Harrison at 125 lbs. The win was Calandrino's 20th of the season overall and gave EMU a 3-0 lead.
The Huskies pulled off victories in each of the next three matches with a major decision at 133 lbs. and decisions at 141 lbs. and 149 lbs. to take a 10-3 lead four bouts in.
Redshirt senior Aaron Sulzer turned in six huge points at 157 lbs. when he pinned Andrew Morse at the 2:06 mark of the match and brought the Eagles back to within a point, 10-9. “Aaron got the team rolling again with that fall against a talented kid,” remarked DelPorto. “He exploded to the position to get the pin and his opponent could not move.”
Then at 165 lbs. freshman Jacob Davis put the Green and White back in the lead, 13-10, with a 9-1 major decision against Dan Burk. Davis took a 5-0 lead into the third period and benefited from an extra riding time point at the end of the match to gain the eight-point edge and record the major-decision win.
Northern Illinois would regain the lead briefly following the 174 lbs. match as Matt Mougin won a 10-2 major decision against redshirt sophomore Jacob Dorulla.
At 184 lbs. redshirt junior Phillip Joseph's 13-7 decision against Brian Loughlin put the Eagles on top for good and Whitenburg's pin over Parker Settecase at the 5:54 mark of the 197 lbs. match clinched the win for EMU.
“Phillip and Whit came through once again to seal the win.” said DelPorto. “I think Whit has a little chip on his shoulder. He needs to continue to on this mission and get himself to the NCAAs. That would be career changing for a guy like him.”
Jared Torrence won the final bout of the afternoon for the Huskies at heavyweight, but the Eagles still walked away 22-17 winners.
The Eagles continue their trek through the MAC schedule when they host Kent State University Friday, Feb. 1, at Bowen Field House. The dual-meet begins at 7 p.m.
EASTERN MICHIGAN 22, NORTHERN ILLINOIS 17
125: Alexander Calandrino (EMU) dec. Nickalas Harrison (NIU), 4-0 EMU 3 NIU 0
133: Nick Smith (NIU) maj. dec. Jake Byers (EMU), 11-2 NIU 4 EMU 3
141: Kevin Fanta (NIU) dec. Seth Schaner (EMU), 7-3 NIU 7 EMU 3
149: Robert Jillard (NIU) dec. Mike Shaw (EMU), 4-2 NIU 10 EMU 3
157: Aaron Sulzer (EMU) fall Andrew Morse (NIU), 2:06 NIU 10 EMU 9
165: Jacob Davis (EMU) maj. dec. Dan Burk (NIU), 9-1 EMU 13 NIU 10
174: Matt Mougin (NIU) maj. dec. Jacob Dorulla (EMU), 10-2 NIU 14 EMU 13
184: Phillip Joseph (EMU) dec. Brian Loughlin (NIU), 13-7 EMU 16 NIU 14
197: Nick Whitenburg (EMU) fall Parker Settecase (NIU), 5:54 EMU 22 NIU 14
285: Jared Rorrence (NIU) dec. Chris Eggert (EMU), 5-2 EMU 22 NIU 17
Saturday's match saw the lead switch hands four times, with redshirt junior Nick Whitenburg's pin at 197 lbs. ultimately sealing the victory for the Eagles. The Huskies (7-6; 0-4 MAC) remained winless in conference bouts and lost to Eastern Michigan for a second straight season.
"I am really proud of the guys not because we won the dual, but because of our fight,” said Head Coach Derek DelPorto. “I am also happy we gout out of there healthy and injury free.”
Freshman Alexander Calandrino got the Eagles started off with a 4-0 shutout decision over Nickalas Harrison at 125 lbs. The win was Calandrino's 20th of the season overall and gave EMU a 3-0 lead.
The Huskies pulled off victories in each of the next three matches with a major decision at 133 lbs. and decisions at 141 lbs. and 149 lbs. to take a 10-3 lead four bouts in.
Redshirt senior Aaron Sulzer turned in six huge points at 157 lbs. when he pinned Andrew Morse at the 2:06 mark of the match and brought the Eagles back to within a point, 10-9. “Aaron got the team rolling again with that fall against a talented kid,” remarked DelPorto. “He exploded to the position to get the pin and his opponent could not move.”
Then at 165 lbs. freshman Jacob Davis put the Green and White back in the lead, 13-10, with a 9-1 major decision against Dan Burk. Davis took a 5-0 lead into the third period and benefited from an extra riding time point at the end of the match to gain the eight-point edge and record the major-decision win.
Northern Illinois would regain the lead briefly following the 174 lbs. match as Matt Mougin won a 10-2 major decision against redshirt sophomore Jacob Dorulla.
At 184 lbs. redshirt junior Phillip Joseph's 13-7 decision against Brian Loughlin put the Eagles on top for good and Whitenburg's pin over Parker Settecase at the 5:54 mark of the 197 lbs. match clinched the win for EMU.
“Phillip and Whit came through once again to seal the win.” said DelPorto. “I think Whit has a little chip on his shoulder. He needs to continue to on this mission and get himself to the NCAAs. That would be career changing for a guy like him.”
Jared Torrence won the final bout of the afternoon for the Huskies at heavyweight, but the Eagles still walked away 22-17 winners.
The Eagles continue their trek through the MAC schedule when they host Kent State University Friday, Feb. 1, at Bowen Field House. The dual-meet begins at 7 p.m.
EASTERN MICHIGAN 22, NORTHERN ILLINOIS 17
125: Alexander Calandrino (EMU) dec. Nickalas Harrison (NIU), 4-0 EMU 3 NIU 0
133: Nick Smith (NIU) maj. dec. Jake Byers (EMU), 11-2 NIU 4 EMU 3
141: Kevin Fanta (NIU) dec. Seth Schaner (EMU), 7-3 NIU 7 EMU 3
149: Robert Jillard (NIU) dec. Mike Shaw (EMU), 4-2 NIU 10 EMU 3
157: Aaron Sulzer (EMU) fall Andrew Morse (NIU), 2:06 NIU 10 EMU 9
165: Jacob Davis (EMU) maj. dec. Dan Burk (NIU), 9-1 EMU 13 NIU 10
174: Matt Mougin (NIU) maj. dec. Jacob Dorulla (EMU), 10-2 NIU 14 EMU 13
184: Phillip Joseph (EMU) dec. Brian Loughlin (NIU), 13-7 EMU 16 NIU 14
197: Nick Whitenburg (EMU) fall Parker Settecase (NIU), 5:54 EMU 22 NIU 14
285: Jared Rorrence (NIU) dec. Chris Eggert (EMU), 5-2 EMU 22 NIU 17
Eastern Michigan - 2018 MAC Wrestling Championships Preview
Monday, June 04
2018 MAC Wrestling Championships 165-lb Match:
Monday, June 04
2018 MAC Wrestling Championships 197-lb Match:
Monday, June 04
2018 MAC Wrestling Championships 285-lb Match:
Monday, June 04