DEKALB, ILL.--- The California Baptist University wrestling team competed against the Northern Illinois Huskies on the road on Friday evening, with the Huskies pulling out the nail-biting 19-15 victory.

The Huskies and Lancers each won five matches in the dual, but a major decision and medical forfeit victory for the Huskies would prove to be the difference. The loss drops the Lancers record to 2-3 and is the first road loss of the season for CBU. 
 

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The dual began at 125lbs, with Elijah Griffin competing against Blake West of Northern Illinois. Griffin registered a pair of early takedowns on West, but West managed a reversal at the end of the first period to remain within striking distance. Griffin's offense cooled off in the final two periods, and West would walk away with the 11-7 decision. 

Hunter Leake got CBU on the board in the 133lb match, resulting in a 2-0 victory. Leake only needed an escape and his riding time point to earn the victory, showcasing some impressive defensive wrestling over Nathaniel Genobania of the Huskies. 

Emilio Trujillo made it back-to-back victories for CBU as he made his collegiate dual debut at 141lbs for the Lancers. Trujillo earned an early takedown in the opening period but found himself down 7-5 after an action-packed opening three minutes. Trujillo would put together an impressive third period to mount his comeback, logging two takedowns, an escape, and earned his riding time point to claim the 13-10 decision. 
 

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The Huskies would answer right back with wins in the 149 and 157lb weight classes to take the slim 9-6 lead over CBU. The Lancers would tie the dual right back up after Mateo De La Pena defeated Tommy Bennett in the 165lb match to keep the seesaw affair going in DeKalb. The Huskies would gain momentum in the 184lb bout as they earned a major decision victory, giving them the first non-decision win of the dual. The victory gave NIU the 13-9 advantage. 

Eli Sheeren kept CBU in the dual with a critical victory in the 197lb bout. Sheeren and Sean Carroll of NIU were locked in a 1-1 stalemate through the majority of the match until Sheeren secured Carroll at the third-period buzzer to earn the takedown and take the bout 4-1. Sheeren's win made the dual score 15-13 in favor of CBU. 
 

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Northern Illinois would earn the dual victory via medical forfeit as Chris Island could not continue after sustaining an injury only seconds into the heavyweight match. The Huskies received six points for the medical forfeit, and would give them the 19-15 victory. 

Northern Illinois 19 CBU 15

125: Blake West (NIU) over Elijah Griffin (CBU) via decision 11-7

133: Hunter Leake (CBU) over Nathaniel Genobania (NIU) via decision 2-0

141: Emilio Trujillo (CBU) over Danny Curran (NIU) via decision 13-10

149: Tommy Curan (NIU) over Dayne Morton (CBU) via decision 2-0

157: Munktulga Zuunbayan (NIU) over Nolan Miller-Johnston (CBU) via decision 7-4

165: Mateo De La Pena (CBU) over Tommy Bennett (NIU) via decision 8-6

174: Justin Phillips (CBU) over Hayden Pummel (NIU) via decision 3-2

184: Matt Zuber (NIU) over Nathan Haas (CBU) via major decision 11-3

197: Eli Sheeren (CBU) over Sean Carroll (NIU) via decision 4-1

285: Jakobi Jackson (NIU) over Chris Island (CBU) (Inj. 1:15)

NEXT: The Lancers will remain in Illinois for a double dual against Southern Illinois Edwardsville and Kent State, taking place on Sunday, December 17, starting at 12 PM PT.