March 7, 2010

2010 MAC Wrestling Championships Blog

By Joe Summins | Posted at 12:57 pm (CST) on Sunday, March 7, 2010

Duetsch was able to score a 15-6 major decsion victory over Tucker, wrapping up NIU's run in the 2010 MAC Wrestling Championships. The Huskies had three grapplers place at this year's tournament, with Deutsch and McLemore finishing second at 157 and 141 respectively and Ruettiger taking fourth at 149. Be sure to come back to NIUHuskies.com for the complete wrap up of the tournament.

By Joe Summins | Posted at 12:32 pm (CST) on Sunday, March 7, 2010

An escape and takedown by Deutsch gives the junior an 8-2 lead after two periods.

By Joe Summins | Posted at 12:29 pm (CST) on Sunday, March 7, 2010

A takedown and three-point nearfall by Deutsch allowed him to take an early 5-1 lead after the first period.

By Joe Summins | Posted at 12:19 pm (CST) on Sunday, March 7, 2010

Deutsch's second-place match with Ohio's Clay Tucker will be starting in about five minutes. Deutsch needs a victory to keep his NCAA qualifying hopes alive.

By Joe Summins | Posted at 11:04 am (CST) on Sunday, March 7, 2010

With the match tied 4-4, Brown executed a takedown and two-point nearfall to take an 8-4 lead. Deutsch got a point for an escape, but was unable to pull off the victory. He will wrestle Clay Tucker of Ohio for a shot to advance to the NCAA Tournament.

By Joe Summins | Posted at 10:59 am (CST) on Sunday, March 7, 2010

By Joe Summins | Posted at 10:55 am (CST) on Sunday, March 7, 2010

Deutsch has a 2-1 lead after the first period of action.

By Joe Summins | Posted at 10:51 am (CST) on Sunday, March 7, 2010

Ruettiger suffered a 6-3 decision to D'Alie, ending his run in the MAC Tournament and his career at NIU. The Huskies last wrestler of the day is Bryan Deutsch which is beginning right now.

By Joe Summins | Posted at 10:46 am (CST) on Sunday, March 7, 2010

Ruettiger's match with D'Alie is tied at 3-3 after two periods.

By Joe Summins | Posted at 10:41 am (CST) on Sunday, March 7, 2010

McLemore lost the championship match at 141 by a 6-2 decision to Conor Beebe. McLemore closed the gap to 3-2 with 13 seconds left in the third period, but an escape and takedown by Beebe gave the CMU grappler the victory. Ruettiger's match with D'Alie is underway and he leads 2-1 in the first period.

By Joe Summins | Posted at 10:35 am (CST) on Sunday, March 7, 2010

An escape by Conor Beebe gives him a 3-0 advantage over McLemore after the second period.

By Joe Summins | Posted at 10:25 am (CST) on Sunday, March 7, 2010

McLemore's championship match is underway.

By Joe Summins | Posted at 10:23 am (CST) on Sunday, March 7, 2010

I've got a group of young Central Michigan fans sitting right behind me. However, fan might be a loose term. Heckler might be a more appropriate word. Judging by some of their comments it seems like they may have added something to their orange juice at breakfast. Unfortunately for me all three NIU matches today are against Central Michigan.

By Joe Summins | Posted at 10:05 am (CST) on Sunday, March 7, 2010

I was just visiting with associate head coach Ryan Ludwig and he clued me in on some of the scenarios in which Huskies can qualify for NCAA's. At 149, if Ruettiger wins his match with Tony D'Alie of Central Michigan and Ohio's Seth Morton loses to Buffalo's Desi Green, Ruettiger will face Morton for second place and a trip to the NCAA. However, should Morton and Ruettiger both win, Green gets second by virtue of his victory over Ruettiger in the semifinals.

If Deutsch were to lose his title bout with Steve Brown at 157, he would have to face the winner of the Andrew Stella-Clay Tucker match because he hasn't faced either in order to determine a second place finisher and a NCAA qualifier. McLemore needs to win his match versus Conor Beebe to guarantee a spot to Nationals.

By Joe Summins | Posted at 9:39 am (CST) on Sunday, March 7, 2010

Just got an update that DeShazer is injured and will not be wrestling at 133 today. Ruettiger's match at 149 is still on schedule.

By Joe Summins | Posted at 9:27 am (CST) on Sunday, March 7, 2010

Day Two of the 2010 Mid-American Conference Wrestling Championships is about to get underway. NIU has four wrestlers competing today . Tristen DeShazer and Dan Ruettiger are competing in the consolation finals bracket, while Patrick McLemore and Bryan Deutsch will be competing for MAC titles at 141 and 157 respectively. McLemore was a 2008 MAC champ at 141 and Deutsch is looking to defend his 157 title from a year ago. It should be an exciting day of wrestling and I'll keep you up to date on how the Huskies are doing.

By Joe Summins | Posted at 5:59 pm (CST) on Saturday, March 6, 2010

Both Penny and Greenhaw lost their matches. It will be Deutsch, McLemore and Ruettiger competing tomorrow. Both Deutsch and McLemore will be competing for MAC titles. Look for the full story on today's action later today on NIUHuskies.com.

By Joe Summins | Posted at 5:55 pm (CST) on Saturday, March 6, 2010

Once again, there's double barrelled NIU action at the MAC Championships as Scott Penny is battling in the 197 consolation semifinals match on Mat 1, while Greenhaw is taking on Jarod Weber of Buffalo. Penny is trailing 2-0 heading into the third, while Greenhaw is trailing 6-0 in the sixth.

By Joe Summins | Posted at 5:47 pm (CST) on Saturday, March 6, 2010

TWO! That has been the popular cry by the fans here in attendance at CMU's Rose Center. For those new to wrestling, that is the point value awarded for a takedown. If the officials don't call a takedown, it's ussually followed by a loud chorus of boos. It's the loudest this place gets during the course of a match.

By Joe Summins | Posted at 5:12 pm (CST) on Saturday, March 6, 2010

Ruettiger earned a hard-fought victory to advance to the extend his run in this year's tournament and his career. Way to go Rudy!

By Joe Summins | Posted at 5:00 pm (CST) on Saturday, March 6, 2010

Senior Dan Ruettiger is set to take the mat looking to extend his run in the 2010 MAC Wrestling Championships. As a sophomore, Ruettiger made a run to the title match at 141. While he won't be able to advance that far this year, he is looking to place and cap off what has been an outstanding final season with the Huskies.

By Joe Summins | Posted at 4:42 pm (CST) on Saturday, March 6, 2010

Montemayor's run in the tournament finally came to an end as the sophomore suffered a 6-4 decision in overtime.

By Joe Summins | Posted at 4:37 pm (CST) on Saturday, March 6, 2010

DeShazer just fell at 133, while Montemayor is in a battle at 125. He's starting his fourth overtime frame with the match tied at 4-4.

By Joe Summins | Posted at 4:22 pm (CST) on Saturday, March 6, 2010

NIU has two wrestlers competing in wrestlebacks right now. Izzy Montemayor holds a 4-2 advantage in his match at 125, while Tristen DeShazer just started his bout at 133.

By Joe Summins | Posted at 4:00 pm (CST) on Saturday, March 6, 2010

Greenhaw suffered a 3-1 loss at 285. Dakota had a two-point takedown erased after one official made the call and after conferring with the second official, the points were taken away. Greenhaw will still have a chance to place, but he will have to do it through the wrestle-backs, which are starting right now.

By Joe Summins | Posted at 4:00 pm (CST) on Saturday, March 6, 2010

The Greenhaw-Barlow match is underway and the Huskies are now in fifth place with 15 points and CMU is winning with 41 points.

By Joe Summins | Posted at 3:52 pm (CST) on Saturday, March 6, 2010

It's a pretty cool scene here at CMU's Rose Center. There are two mats set up on the arena floor with two matches going at any one time. Obviously there's a huge contingent of Central Michigan fans, but Ohio is also well represented. A few minutes ago both mats featured CMU-Ohio bouts and the fans really got into the matches.

Right  now, the two schools are facing off against each other at 285. The Greenhaw- Barlow match will follow and will wrap up today's semifinals session. Greenhaw will be looking to avenge a 5-1 loss to Barlow earlier in the year.

By Joe Summins | Posted at 3:36 pm (CST) on Saturday, March 6, 2010

I know everyone's been following the action at the 2010 MAC Wrestling Championships through the Championship Central page, but I'll give you a quick update. Northern Illinois is now in third place after Bryan Deutsch's major decision at 157. He's one of two NIU wrestlers in the finals with one more to compete in the semifinals. Joining Deutsch in the finals so far is Patrick McLemore at 141. Dakota Greenhaw will take on Kent State's Brendan Barlow at 285 for a chance to join his teammates in the finals.