Huskie Grapplers Suffer Setback at Ohio

By NIU Athletics

ATHENS, Ohio. – The Northern Illinois University wrestling team finished up its weekend road trip with a 34-6 loss at Ohio in the Convocation Center Sunday.

Kirk Johansen (Glendale Heights, Ill./Glenbard North) led the way for NIU. The Huskie redshirt sophomore defeated Trevor Giallambardo, 7-2, at 125 in the first bout of the afternoon. Johansen improved to 3-4 this season and picked up his first dual win.

“Johansen’s energy was a great start for us,” said NIU head wrestling coach Ryan Ludwig. “He competed hard and worked to score.”

Max Ihry (Naperville, Ill./Waubonsee Valley) picked up his second win of the weekend as he defeated Gabe Dzuro, 3-1, at 197. The Huskie redshirt freshman. Ihry is 6-13 this season including a 3-1 record in the Mid-American Conference.

“I am proud of the way Ihry competed this weekend,” said Ludwig. “He displayed grit and courage in tight matches. That’s what it takes to grind those out.”

At 165, freshman Jose Acosta (Manitowoc, Wis./Lincoln) lost a highly contested match to Joe Terry of Ohio, 3-1, in the third dual match of his Huskie career. At 285, redshirt sophomore Caleb Gossett (St. Charles, Mo./Francis Howell Central) lost a close match to Zach Parker of Ohio, 3-2. The heavyweight bout was a rematch of last year’s MAC Championship match where Parker defeated Gossett by the same result.

“We must live like champions 24 hours a day to improve and offer our best performance under the lights,” said Ludwig.

The Huskies return home to face North Dakota State on Sunday, January 28 as a part of the Beauty and the Beast event with the women’s gymnastics team. Action starts at 2 p.m. inside the NIU Convocation Center.

Ohio def. NIU, 34-6
125: Kirk Johansen (NIU) dec. Trevor Giallambardo (Ohio), 7-2
133: No. 15 Cameron Kelly (Ohio) tech. fall Alijah Jeffery (NIU), 18-0
141: Mario Guillen (Ohio) maj. dec. Anthony Rubino (NIU), 13-2
149: Kade Kowalski (Ohio) dec. Nolan Baker (NIU), 10-4
157: Cullen Cummings (Ohio) dec. Caden McWhirter (NIU), 12-2
165: Joe Terry (Ohio) dec. Jose Acosta (NIU), 3-1
174: Austin Reece (Ohio) fall Quinton Rosser (NIU), 1:15
184: Arsen Ashyguan (Ohio) fall Bryce Gorman (NIU), 0:45
197: Max Ihry (NIU) dec. Gabe Dzuro (Ohio), 3-1
285: Zack Parker (Ohio) dec. Caleb Gossett (NIU), 3-2