Jan. 8, 2011

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - The Northern Illinois University wrestling team suffered a 26-9 loss to No. 5 Minnesota and a 23-11 setback to Iowa State at the NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals at Northern Iowa's UNI Dome Saturday afternoon.

"We wrestled Top-10 competition and were in some great opportunities," NIU head coach Dave Grant said. "Our guys competed hard. When you're at the National Duals, you're wrestling the top teams in the country. It just makes your guys that much better."

Senior Bryan Deutsch (Columbia City, Ind./Columbia City) extended his modest winning streak to four matches and has won five of his last six bouts after recording two victories Saturday. He opened his day with a pin fall victory over Minnesota's Joseph Grygelko in 1:42 and capped off his day with an 11-6 decision over Trent Weatherman of Iowa State.

Fellow senior Vince Castillo (Western Springs, Ill./Lyons Township) also recorded a perfect day at the National Duals. He shutout Minnesota's Patrick Smith, 4-0, in his first match of the day. Castillo then scored a 4-2 decision over Max Mayfield of Iowa State in his final match of the competition.

Junior Brad Dieckhaus (St. Charles, Mo./Francis Howell Central) and freshman Nick Smith (Ida, Mich./Ida) shook off loses in their first matches against Minnesota and picked up victories over their opponents from Iowa State. At 184, Dieckhaus, who lost, 7-0, to Minnesota's Kevin Steinhaus, bounced back to post a 9-2 decision over the Cyclone's Matthew Riley.

Smith suffered a major decision loss to Zachary Sanders of Minnesota, but recovered in his second match of the day to defeat Iowa State's Patrick Hunter, 7-5.

Saturday's matches at the NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals wrapped up a challenging stretch for the Huskies, which began at the 48th Annual Midlands Championship in Evanston, Ill. It continued Thursday night when the Huskies faced No. 17 Central Michigan. Grant feels the experience has benefitted his team.

"It matures you, knowing that you battled some of the tough teams in the country," Grant said. "Our team has held up over the last two weeks of competition. I'm extremely proud of how these guys are competing.

The Huskies (2-7) return to action Friday, January 14 when Northern Illinois plays host to conference foe Ohio. First match begins at 7 p.m.

Minnesota 26-Northern Illinois 9
125: Zachary Sanders (UM) maj. dec. Nick Smith (NIU), 16-8
133: David Thorn (UM) dec. Izzy Montemayor (NIU), 10-7
141: Christopher Drouin (UM) dec. Tristen DeShazer (NIU), 8-1
149: Vince Castillo (NIU) dec. Patrick Smith (UM), 4-0
157: Bryan Deutsch (NIU) fall Joseph Grygelko (UM), 1:42
165: Cody Yohn (UM) dec. Matt Mougin (NIU), 9-2
174: Scott Glasser (UM) maj. dec. Zach Benzio (NIU), 10-2
184: Kevin Steinhaus (UM) dec. Brad Dieckhaus (NIU), 7-0
197: Joe Nord (UM) dec. Mike Lukowski (NIU), 2-0
285: Anthony Nelson (UM) dec. Dakota Greenhaw (NIU), 3-1

Iowa State 23-Northern Illinois 11
125: Nick Smith (NIU) dec. Patrick Hunter (ISU), 7-5
133: Benjamin Cash (ISU) dec. Izzy Montemayor (NIU), 5-3 (SV-2)
141: Christopher Drouin (ISU) dec. Tristen DeShazer (NIU), 7-2
149: Vince Castillo (NIU) dec. Max Mayfield (ISU), 4-2
157: Bryan Deutsch (NIU) dec. Trent Weatherman (ISU), 11-6
165: Andrew Sorenson (ISU) fall Matt Mougin (NIU), 5:32
174: Jonathan Reader (ISU) tech. fall Zach Benzio (NIU), 19-4 (7:00)
184: Brad Dieckhaus (NIU) dec. Matthew Riley (ISU), 9-2
197: Phillip Hawes (ISU) dec. Mike Lukowski (NIU), 3-2
285: Kyle Simonson (ISU) dec. Dakota Greenhaw (NIU), 6-0

-NIU-