Lock Haven turns 6-6 tie into 28-9 win over Northern Illinois
LOCK HAVEN, Pa. — Lock Haven used a middle-weight run that produced three bonus-point finishes to beat Northern Illinois 28-9 on Jan. 30, 2026.
LOCK HAVEN, Pa. — Lock Haven turned a 6-6 tie into a 28-9 victory over Northern Illinois on Jan. 30, fueled by a string of seven consecutive wins that included a pin and two technical falls.
Northern Illinois opened the dual with back-to-back decisions. No. 29 Blake West edged Curtis Nelson 2-0 at 125 with a second-period escape and a riding-time point in the third. No. 33 Markel Baker followed with a 5-1 decision at 133 over No. 32 Gable Strickland, using a third-period takedown and a riding-time point to give the Huskies a 6-0 lead.
Lock Haven answered at 141 when No. 24 Wyatt Henson recorded a fall over Tee Ward. Henson accumulated multiple takedowns and a four-point nearfall in the opening period before finishing by pin, an outcome that evened the dual at 6-6.
The host then won seven straight bouts. Lucas Kapusta rallied in the third at 149 with an escape, a takedown and a riding-time point to beat Collin Arch 5-1. Nick Stampoulos held on for a 6-5 decision at 157 after building an early lead and surviving a late push by Landen Johnson.
Nick Kunstek’s 9-7 decision at 165 was shaped by penalty points and a late escape that preserved a narrow margin. Avery Bassett added an 8-1 decision at 174 to extend Lock Haven’s lead before the dual closed out with consecutive bonus-point wins.
Sam Gautreau produced a 23-6 technical fall at 184, recording takedowns in each period and a riding-time point en route to the five-team-point bonus. No. 33 Tucker Hogan followed with an 18-0 technical fall at 197, supplying a second five-point bonus that pushed the team advantage beyond reach.
Northern Illinois picked up the final bout when No. 20 Devon Dawson won a 4-2 decision at 285, but the earlier bonus scoring supplied the separation Lock Haven needed.
Lock Haven’s home win kept the Bald Eagles unbeaten in Mid-American Conference play in midseason reporting; Northern Illinois suffered its first conference loss. Local box scores and team releases showed Lock Haven won seven of the 10 bouts and recorded three bonus-point finishes that decided the dual.