Friday was another rough night for the NIU wrestling team, as it fell 24-13 to Northern Iowa at the NIU Convocation Center.

“These guys are wrestling hard and a lot of these matches were pretty close,” NIU head coach Dave Grant said. “As we go through, I still think this team can take another step.”

The night started off with NIU (8-6, 2-1 MAC) seniors Pat Castillo, Kalen Knull, David Benner and Aaron Owen being honored at the last home meet of their collegiate careers. Both Castillo and Benner were able to pick up victories in their final home matches.

“I had a lot of family and friends come by and watch my last meet,” Castillo said. ”I probably won’t feel it until I start thinking about it more, how it’s the last time wrestling in the Convocation Center.”

“I think we had a great performance from two of our seniors, Pat [Castillo], and Dave Benner,” Grant said. “Glad to see those guys wrestling hard. Last time they were on the big red mat.”

The meet started off with the 133–pound match between Castillo and UNI’s Josh Baldridge, with Castillo picking up his nation–leading 13th major decision, 21-9.

“I wish I could get the tech for five team points or a pin for six,” Castillo said. “It didn’t happen but I’ll take the major.”

UNI’s C.J. Ettelson followed by picking up a major decision over the Huskies’ Tristen DeShazer at 141, and Ettelson’s brother Charlie followed with a win over Kalen Knull.

At 157 pounds, NIU’s Bryan O’Connor picked up his eighth victory of the season to tie the score at seven.

“Probably one of the better performances I’ve seen from Bryan O’Connor,” Grant said.

In the 174-pound class, NIU’s other nationally ranked wrestler, Duke Burk, picked up a 5-1 victory after trailing 1-0 going into the third period.

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