Nov. 6, 2009

DEKALB, Ill. - The Northern Illinois University wrestling team is one step closer to determining its starting line up for the upcoming season after the results from the 2009 Huskie Wrestle-Offs Friday night in Victor E. Court.

Twenty Huskie wrestlers faced off against each other to vie for the 10 slots in NIU's starting line up. While some of the scores were one-sided, each match was hotly contested.

"I'm really impressed," NIU head coach Dave Grant said. "We're stressing, going out and wrestling hard and scoring points. I feel, for the most part, we accomplished that. We had some heated matches."

The closest finish came at Heavyweight where Dakota Greenhaw (Monett, Mo./Monett) edged out freshman Curtis Blaydes (Chicago, Ill./De La Salle), 5-4. There were also close matches at 141 and 165 as Pat McLemore (Hinckley, Ohio/Padua/Franciscan) posted a 6-1 decision over Vince Castillo (Western Springs, Ill./Lyons Township) at 141 and Mason True defeated Vince Fairbairn (Midwest City, Okla./Carl Albert) at 165 by the same score.

Sophomores Izzy Montemayor (Barrington, Ill./Grant Community) and Steve Zimmerman (Chicago, Ill./St. Rita) impressed in their contests. Montemayor scored an 18-6 victory over freshman Chris Heading (Bloomingdale, Ill./Driscoll Catholic) at 125, while at 149 Zimmerman posted a 13-5 decision over Dan Ruettiger (Joliet, Ill./Providence).

The younger wrestlers stepped up and showed they have a place on the squad as two picked up victories. Freshman Zack Benzio (Connellsville, Pa./Connellsville Area) defeated Shane Rosenberry (Lancaster, Pa./Elizabethtown Area), 13-7, at 184. The biggest upset of the night came at 133 where freshman Zach Niebert (Dayton, Ohio/St. Paris Graham Local) upset Tristen DeShazer (Wichita, Kan./Wichita West), 9-6.

"The freshmen made an impact out here tonight," Grant said. Some of them may not have won, but you could tell that they're impact guys for us. Overall, it was a very competitive wrestle-offs and a good start for our year."

Wrestle-offs is the first of three legs a wrestler can crack the NIU starting line-up. The second takes place next weekend at the Michigan State Open, Nov. 15 in East Lansing, Mich. Any Huskie wrestler that lost their bout tonight has to place higher than their opponent from the wrestle-offs during competition at the Michigan State Open. If necessary, another wrestle-off will be held to determine who starts for NIU. Best two out of three wins.

2009 Wrestle-Offs Results

125 - Izzy Montemayor def. Chris Heading, 18-6
133 - Zach Neibert def. Tristen DeShazer, 9-6
141 - Patrick McLemore def. Vince Castillo, 6-1
149 - Steve Zimmerman def. Dan Ruettiger, 13-5
157 - Bryan Deutsch def. Michael Smith, 14-2
165 - Mason True def. Vincent Fairbairn, 6-1
174 - Derrick Yant def. Dan Burk, 17-8
184 - Zach Benzio def. Shane Rosenberry, 13-7
197 - Scott Penny def. Trevor Parlberg, 6-0
HWT - Dakota Greenhaw def. Curtis Blaydes, 5-4

Northern Illinois University Wrestling

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