Feb. 6, 2012

While the Huskie starters we’re battling in-state rival Northwestern over the weekend, the rest of the Northern Illinois wrestling team had quite a successful day of their own Saturday, as 13 NIU wrestlers placed in their respective weight classes at the Harper Open in Palatine, Ill.
 
Among that group was four who won their weight class - Derek Elmore (125), Thorian Twyner (133), Sam Bennett (157) and Shane Rosenberry (184). In addition, Parker Settecase took second at 285 pounds, while Ethan Davis (149), Matt Frisch (157) and Arber Bebo (184) each placed third.
 
The trip to the top of the podium was a dominating one for Elmore, who recorded two major decisions among his four wins to take the top spot at 125 pounds. Excluding his first round win by injury, the Loves Park, Ill., native outscored three opponents by a 20-2 margin.
 
Meanwhile, Twyner was equally as convincing in victory, needing only two wins to take the 133-pound championship for NIU. In the finals, the freshman pinned Harper’s Connor Infelise at 1:25, ending Infelise’s 18-match winning streak and earning his third top-three tournament finish in 2011-12.
 
Bennett earned the win at the 157-pound weight class after earning three-straight victories in the championship bracket via decision, major decision and forfeit. Rosenberry took a much similar path, earning a major decision, pin and decision en route to the title at 184 pounds.
 
Huskie Placers at the Harper Open
125: Derek Elmore – 1st
125: Nick Harrison – 6th
133: Thorian Twyner – 1st
141: Shawn Fayette – 4th
149: Ethan Davis – 3rd
157: Sam Bennett – 1st
157: Matt Frisch – 3rd
165: Dan Burk – 4th
184: Shane Rosenberry – 1st
184: Arber Bebo – 3rd
197: Austin Pickering – 5th
285: Parker Settecase – 2nd
285: Arthur Bunce – 6th