Northern Illinois @ Central Michigan

Central Michigan Men’s Wrestling beat Northern Illinois Men’s Wrestling 29-11 at Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant, MI on January 17, 2025. The Chippewas finished with an 18-point margin thanks to a string of bonus-point victories that swung the dual their way.

Northern Illinois supplied a heavy dose of offense with two bonus wins that accounted for 11 team points. Blake West scored a 15-0 technical fall at 125 pounds for five points, and Markel Baker followed with a fall at 133 for six more. Those explosive results kept the Huskies firmly in contention early in the dual.

Central Michigan answered with the decisive run. Andrew Austin’s fall at 141 stood out, providing six big points and shifting momentum to the home side. Mason Shrader then tacked on a 17-8 major decision at 149 for four more team points, and Johnny Lovett added another major decision at 157, also worth four. Those three bonus wins by the Chippewas produced the lift they needed and proved to be the turning point of the meet.

The final margin reflected Central Michigan’s ability to rack up bonus points when it mattered most. Northern Illinois’ two bonus victories kept the dual competitive, but Central Michigan’s falls and majors ultimately decided the outcome in Mt. Pleasant.