After a rough loss to No. 5 Central Michigan Thursday night, the NIU wrestling team was able to bounce back by going 3-0 against Eastern Michigan, Gardner-Webb and Clarion Saturday in Ypsilanti, Mich.

“The true test for main character is when you come off a loss like Central,” NIU head coach Dave Grant said. “I’m really proud of our guys.”

The Huskies (11-7 overall, 3-2 MAC) defeated non-conference opponents Clarion 24-17 and Gardner-Webb. The biggest dual of the day was the Huskies’ MAC finale against Eastern Michigan.

NIU was up 16-12 going into the final match at 165 pounds between EMU’s Justin Brandel and NIU’s Anthony Victor. Victor was filling in for injured Jesse Linczmaier.

The Huskies were poised to come away with a victory as long as Victor didn’t lose by a major decision, pin or technical fall.

Victor ended up losing the match, but he won the dual for the Huskies. The redshirt freshman lost the match by seven points, one point shy of a major decision.

“Basically Anthony had to keep the score within seven points,” Grant said. “He was in a position where he had to ride the guy out and he did a good job.”

Another key match was at 133 pounds between NIU’s Pat Castillo and EMU’s Sean Clair. Both wrestlers are nationally ranked. Castillo picked up a 4-3 victory.

“I got started off a little slow, but I kept coming and stayed on him,” Castillo said. “We had a real good team effort against Eastern Michigan.”

Castillo, Duke Burk, Kalen Knull, T.J. Wunnicke and Pat McLemore all went undefeated Saturday for the Huskies.

McLemore was also able to pick up a pin in his first action since November after being out with an injury.

“He’s a scrappy dude,” Grant said. “Some of the things he does you just can’t teach.”

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