Jan. 12, 2001
EVANSTON, Ill. - The Northwestern wrestling team upped its record to 3-5 by defeating Eastern Illinois Friday, 26-21. Leading the way for NU was the trio of Josh Ballard (141), Jason Erwinski (157) and Josh Saul (Hwt.). All three defeated their opponents, outscoring Eastern 29-6. For Erwinski, it was his fourth pin of the season.
Will Marcantel started the match off with a 3-2 win over Ross Bracey, putting the `Cats up 3-0. Saul followed at heavyweight missing a technical fall by one point, winning 18-4. The Panthers forfeited 125 and NU followed with a forfeit at 133.
NU went right back to work at 141 pounds as Ballard got off to a slow start but came on strong late in the second period and dominated the third. Ballard defeated Shawn Slenczka 11-2 upping his season win total to 13. In the 149 pound division, Ryan Cumbee made a third period comeback defeating Joe Gassen 6-5. Earning the first fall of the night was Erwinski at 157 pounds, pinning Frank DeFilippis in 6:28.
EIU answered with a fall of their own as Mike Kelly pinned J.P. Boulus in 6:48. The rest of the match would belong to the Panthers as they dominated the 174 and 184 weight classes. At 174, Louis Taylor decisioned Andrew Curran 3-1 and Ross Bracey needed only 26 seconds to pin Brendan Curran, making the final score 26-21.
197 - Will Marcantel (NU) dec. Ross Bracey (EIU), 3-2
Hwt. - Josh Saul (NU) MD B.J. Bertelsman (EIU), 18-4
125 - Robert Potashnick (NU) wins by forfeit
133 - Mike Stanley (EIU) wins by forfeit
141 - Josh Ballard (NU) MD Shawn Slenczka (EIU), 11-2
149 - Ryan Cumbee (NU) dec. Joe Gassen (EIU), 6-5
157 - Jason Erwinski (NU) FALL Frank DeFilippis (EIU), 6:28
165 - Mike Kelly (EIU) FALL J.P. Boulus (NU), 6:48
174 - Louis Taylor (EIU) dec. Andrew Curran (NU), 3-1
184 - Kyle Bracey (EIU) FALL Brendan Curran (NU), :26
FINAL SCORE
Northwestern - 26
Eastern Illinois - 21
UPDATED RECORDS
Northwestern (3-5, 0-0 Big Ten)
Eastern Illinois (1-3)
NEXT NORTHWESTERN MATCH
Sun., Jan. 14 * Iowa - Welsh-Ryan Arena * 2 p.m.