Northwestern wrestling improved to 2-1 on the young season with a decisive 19-13 victory over Lock Haven in its home opener on Friday night.
The ‘Cats have now won two straight after a frustrating loss to SIUE to open dual meet season in mid-November.
Northwestern’s lightweights set the tone in this one as the hosts shot out to an early lead. No. 21 Dedrick Navarro continued his early season heater with a 12-5 beatdown of Lock Haven’s Curtis Nelson at 125 lbs. Navarro surrendered an early takedown
to Nelson but rode a dominant third-period to give Northwestern a 3-0 lead. The redshirt sophomore lightweight has asserted himself as one of the Big Ten’s premier threats at 125 lbs after a promising opening campaign a year ago. Navarro turned heads with a sixth place finish at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational that included an upset victory over InterMat’s No. 5 ranked wrestler at 125 lbs, and he sits at 2-1 in dual action through three matches.
Graduate transfer No. 24 Sean Spidle kept the good times rolling with a comeback victory in his Evanston debut. The former Central Michigan Chippewa looked right at home at Welsh-Ryan as he grinded out a 4-2 decision over Gabe Strickland at 133 lbs.
No. 22 Wyatt Henson was able to secure Lock Haven’s first points of the day with a major decision over No. 27 Billy Dekraker to cut the Wildcat lead to 6-4. Despite the loss, the true first year has still put together a solid debut campaign for the ‘Cats, capped by a 3-2 showing in Las Vegas that included two top-20 victories.
Sam Cartella righted the ship with an 8-3 decision over Hunter Gould at 149 lbs. Cartella took an early lead with a first-period takedown and never let his opponent from Lock Haven within striking distance.
Lock Haven’s Nick Stampoulos gave the visitors some life with a gritty 5-2 decision over Gunnar Myers at 157 lbs, but three-straight Northwestern wins in the 165, 174 and 184 lbs divisions sealed the deal for the ‘Cats.
Jacob Bostleman provided some drama at 165 lbs. The redshirt sophomore was tied 1-1- with Ousamane Duncanson with 30-seconds remaining before securing a late takedown to snuff out any Lock Haven momentum.
No. 27 Eddie Enright was the star of the day at 174 lbs as his 8-3 decision over Lock Haven’s No. 32 Avery Bassett was the only Northwestern victory over a ranked opponent. Enright, a redshirt freshman, has been a stud early in the campaign. The Chicago native placed fifth in Las Vegas and is an overtime defeat against SIUE away from starting dual action 3-0.
Northwestern will be back in action on Dec. 29 for the Midlands Championships at Ryan Fieldhouse. The ‘Cats put five wrestlers on the podium at last year’s event, and if Las Vegas in anything to go by, at least five more podium finishes could be in the cards for next week.
