Purdue Notes
Purdue Notes
Huskies Wrestling
2024-25 SCHEDULE NIU Wrestling NIU Wrestling NIU_Wrestling
Match Coverage
O. 25 NIU RED/BLACK NO SCORES KEPT
Purdue Boilermakers vs NIU Huskies
COUGAR CLASH
D. 7 @ COUGAR CLASH 5TH/8 TEAMS
HUSKIE MAT FACTS
D. 19 @ KENT STATE* W, 23-19 History vs Purdue
• This will be the 11th meeting between the programs since the
KENT STATE OPEN
2008-2009 season and the first meeting in DeKalb since the
D. 20 @ KENT STATE OPEN 7TH/34 TEAMS 2012-13 season.
4 PLACERS • In last season’s meeting, the Huskies won four bouts as NIU fell
22-13.
• Blake West recorded a major decision over Ashton Jackson at
KEN KRAFT MIDLANDS CHAMPIONSHIPS 125 pounds while Tommy Curran grabbed a 10-8 decision at 149
D. 29-D. 30 @ MIDLANDS 9TH/25 TEAMS pounds. The final two wins for NIU came at 184 and 285 while
1 PLACER NIU and Purdue split the final four bouts.
• The Huskies have never defeated Purdue in ten meetings with
their closest margin of loss occurring in 2011-12 season as the
J. 12 PURDUE 2 PM Huskies fell 19-15.
Midlands Recap
J. 17 @CMU* 6 PM
J. 25 @OHIO* 1 PM • Blake West captured a second-place finish at 125 pounds as the
J. 31 @CLEVELAND STATE* 6 PM Northern Illinois University Huskies wrestling team concluded
action at the 60th Ken Kraft Midlands Championships.
• As a team, the Huskies finished with 43.5 points and a ninth-
F. 7 BUFFALO* 7PM place finish.
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST • Sean Carroll, Tommy Bennett, Brett Smith, Landen Johnson,
Tommy Curran, and Jacob Brya (St. Johns, Mich./St. Johns)
advanced to the second day of the tournament and competed in
F. 14 @ CAL POLY 7:30 PM consolation bracket.
Dr. M. Courtney Hughes Camren French 125 Fr. Mattoon, Ill. / Mariner
Website............................NIUHuskies.com Brody Hallin 157 R-Jr. McHenry, Ill. / McHenry
Grant Hansen 157 R-Jr. Schaumburg, Ill./Schaumburg
COACHING STAFF Dominic Heim 184 Fr. Shakopee, Minn./Shakopee
Head Coach..........................Ryan Ludwig Devonjae Hudson 184/197 R-Jr. Glenview, Ill. / Glenbrook South
Experience.................Fourteenth Season Landen Johnson 157 R-So. Owatonna, Minn./Owatonna
Record at NIU/Career......108-103/same Jacob Luce 174 Fr. DeKalb, Ill./DeKalb
Alma Mater............................Findlay, 1999
Spencer Mooberry 197 R-Jr. Osage, Iowa/Osage
Shane Moran 184 R-So. Crystal Lake, Ill./Crystal Lake South
Assistant Coach..................Kyle Springer
Lucan O’Brien 149 Fr. Lakewood, Ohio. / St. Edwards
Experience.............................Sixth Season
Talan Parsons 125 Fr. Ovid – Elsie, Mich./Ovid - Elsie
Alma Mater........Eastern Michigan, 2018
Damarion Ross 174 Fr. Fort Dodge, Iowa./Fort Dodge
Office Phone......................815-753-1295
Cell Phone........................319-560-4708
E-mail............................lkangas@niu.edu
The 17th wrestling coach in NIU wrestling history, Ludwig has continued the Huskie wrestling tradition of success during
his tenure at NIU.
Ludwig has coached 38 NCAA qualifiers, 13 All-MAC honorees, 34 MAC champions and 48 Academic All-MAC selections.
The Huskies have reached double-digit win totals four times under Ludwig, scoring 10 wins in 2012-13 and 2014-15 in
addition to the 13 in 2019-20 and 2023-24.
Elevated to head coach on May 10, 2011 after spending the previous six seasons as the assistant and then associate head coach under his predecessor,
Dave Grant, Ludwig has amassed a 106-102 overall record, including an 37-55 conference mark. In his 13 seasons at the helm of the NIU wrestling
program, the Huskies have extended their streak of consecutive NCAA qualifiers to 53 and four grapplers – Matt Mougin (2013), Steve Bleise (2017),
Brock Hudkins (2017), and Shawn Scott (2016 & 2017)– reached the prestigious “Blood Round”, or the round of 12.
The 2023-24 season saw the Huskies go undefeated at home for the first time in over 40 years, win the MAC West Division Title, had a 7-1 conference
dual record, and reached 13 wins for the second time in school history. The Huskies saw Blake West and Jacob Brya competed in the final bouts of the
MAC Championship before qualifying for the NCAA tournament. The Huskies beat Central Michigan for only the second time since the 2002-03 season.
The Huskies were in the top-5 in the nation for GPA from the NWCA, the highest for the program. Ludwig achieved his 100th career victory on December
19, 2023, as the Huskies defeated Kent State, Northwestern, and Harper College in a quad meet. It was the Huskies first win over Northwestern since
the 2009 season.
The 2022-23 season saw the Huskies move to 52 consecutive years of having an NCAA qualifier, with Izzak Olejnik qualifying. Blake West, Javion Jones,
and Terrese Aaron placed in the top-3 at the MAC tournament. At NCAA’s, Olejnik earned All-America status with an eighth-place finish. The Huskies
posted a 5-1 MAC record with wins over Cleveland Stats, Kent State, Ohio, Buffalo, and SUIE.
At the conclusion of the 2021-22 season, Brit Wilson, Mason Kauffman and Izzak Olejnik were all crowned MAC Champions under Ludwigs direction.
The trio continued their successes by representing NIU at the annual NCAA Championships. Wilson was named an All-American and Kauffman was
tabbed an NCAA Elite 90 student-athlete, the first in program history.
In the condensed 2021 campaign due to the COVID-19 pandemic, NIU amassed an overall record of 6-3 and a conference mark of 5-2. Ludwig and NIU
saw wins over the likes of Ohio, Clarion, Buffalo, SIUE and Bellarmine. Brit Wilson won his second-consecutive Mid-American Conference championship
at 184 and four Huskies earned NCAA bids following the Northern Illinois University wrestling team’s performance at the 2021 MAC Wrestling
Championships. Brit Wilson became the first NIU wrester to place at the NCAA Championships since 2004.
Ludwig had one of his most successful seasons in 2019-20. The Huskies posted a 13-4 record, including a 7-2 conference mark, the most by a
Ludwig-coached team and the most wins since 2004-05. Four Huskies qualified for the NCAA Championships, including Brit Wilson, who captured the
Mid-American Conference title at 184, tied for the most under Ludwig’s leadership. To top it off, Ludwig was named co-MAC Coach of the Year, while
Izzak Olejnik earned Freshman of the Year accolades.
The Huskies took another step forward in 2018-19 as seven of the 10 NIU wrestlers placed at the 2019 MAC Wrestling Championships, helping NIU to
a school-record 98.0 points.
The 2016-17 season was one of NIU’s most successful campaigns under Ludwig. The Huskies finished fifth at the MAC Wrestling Championships with
96 points, just two points shy of fourth place. Ludwig took five wrestlers to the 2017 NCAA Championships in St. Louis, the most since 1985 when six
Huskies competed in the NCAAs. With the run by the Huskie trio in 2017, NIU scored a school best 11.5 points, the most in an NCAA Championships since
2005-06 when the Huskies tallied nine points.
NIU enjoyed similar postseason success in 2015-16 as four wrestlers qualified for the NCAA Championships at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
At the 2016 MAC Championships, Austin Eicher won the title at 133, while three other wrestlers finished third to automatically advance to the NCAAs.
In 2012-13, Ludwig helped guide the Huskies to a 10-8 dual record, marking the first time since 2005-06 that the team notched double-digit dual wins
in a single season. NIU also notched their 500th dual win in program history during the year, along with knocking off a Big Ten opponent (Indiana) for
the first time since Dec. 3, 2009. The Huskies sent Matt Mougin to the NCAA Championships. Wrestling in his home state, Mougin came out as one of
the tournament’s big surprises by advancing to the final 12.
In his first season at the helm, Ludwig’s Huskies recorded eight dual wins in 2011-12 - the most for the program since the 2007-08 campaign. Brad
Dieckhaus and redshirt sophomore Kevin Fanta both earned bids to St. Louis for the NCAAs. Off the mat, the team won the men’s Victors Cup
competition for the second consecutive season for academic excellence, community service, and competitive achievement.
Ludwig began his tenure at NIU in 2005, spending his first six seasons on Dave Grant’s staff, serving as associate head coach from 2009-11. As an
assistant for the Huskies, he helped train 15 NCAA qualifiers, seven Mid-American Conference champions, including Dieckhaus, who was a 2011 MAC
champions at 184 pounds, and one Midlands Tournament champion.
A native of Chelsea, Mich., Ludwig has been a driving force in bringing top talent to NIU. Year in and year out, Northern Illinois’ recruiting classes have
been ranked among the best in the nation. The 2007 recruiting class was rated as high as 20th nationally, while the 2008 class boasted an outstanding
blend of in-state and national talent featuring six high school All-Americans, 10 state champions and one Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award
winner. His initial recruiting effort brought athletes with outstanding credentials to DeKalb as well.
The 2006 recruiting class included four high school All-Americans. In 2007, the newcomers recruited by the coaching staff combined for six state titles,
and included four All-Americans. More recently, Ludwig’s recruiting as head coach has resulted in natives from his home state of Michigan such as Shawn
Scott, Steve Bleise, Austin Eicher and Andrew Morse reaching the podium at the MAC Championships and qualifying for the NCAA Championships.
Ludwig came to Northern Illinois after two seasons as an assistant at Minnesota State University-Mankato. While coaching the Mavericks, he
helped guide the team to a third-place finish in the NCAA Division II Championships. Ludwig also helped produce and train eight All-Americans at
MSU-Mankato. Prior to his work with the Mavericks, he served as an assistant wrestling coach for his alma mater, the University of Findlay, where he
coached seven All-Americans and a national champion in 2002-03.
As a wrestler, Ludwig was a three-time NAIA All-American and a national finalist at 157 pounds. Elected a captain by his teammates, he was also voted
Most Valuable Wrestler when the Roughnecks were NAIA national runners-up in 1999. Ludwig ranks third on Findlay’s all-time win list with over 100
career victories. In high school, Ludwig was a Michigan state champion at 142 pounds in 1995.
Ludwig and his wife Jolene and have a son Hudson and daughter Harper. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2000 from Findlay as a double major
in Psychology and Criminal Justice. He also holds a Master’s Degree in Sport Management from Northern Illinois University.
vs. Rider* West Baker Brya Arch Johnson B.Smith Evans Steiner Mooberry Christensen
vs, Kent State* West Baker Ward Curtis Johnson B.Smith Bennett Stewart Carroll Christensen
vs. Purdue
vs. Ohio*
vs. Buffalo*
vs. SIUE*
125: Dedrick Navarro (NU) over No. 27 Blake West, Dec 7-6 125:
133: Markel Baker (NIU) over Massey Odiotti, MD 14-3 133:
141: Christopher Cannon (NU) over Charles Curtis (NIU), Dec 9-3 141:
149: Sam Cartella (NU) over Collin Arch (NIU), TF 15-0, 7:00 149:
157: Trevor Chumbley (NU) over Landen Johnson (NIU), Dec 8-2 157:
165: Maxx Mayfield (NU) over Brett Smith (NIU), Dec 11-4 165:
174: Joseph Martin (NU) over Jake Evans (NIU), Dec 4-0 174:
184: Jon Halvorsen (NU) over Spencer Steiner (NIU), MD 12-2 184:
197: Evan Bates (NU) over Spencer Mooberry (NIU), TF 19-4, 6:09 197:
285: Jacob Christensen (NIU) over Dirk Morley (NU), MD 12-2 285:
125: Blake West (NIU) over Will Betancourt (Rider) (MD 8-0) 125:
133: Markel Baker (NIU) over Nieko Malone (Rider) (MD 19-5) 133:
141: Jacob Brya (NIU) over McKenzie Bell (Rider) (Dec 7-5) 141:
149: Sammy Alvarez (Rider) over Collin Arch (NIU) (Dec 7-1) 149:
157: Colton Washleski (Rider) over Landen Johnson (NIU) (MD 17-6) 157:
165: Enrique Munguia (Rider) over Brett Smith (NIU) (Dec 5-4) 165:
174: Michael Wilson (Rider) over Jake Evans (NIU) (MD 17-3) 174:
184: Isaac Dean (Rider) over Spencer Steiner (NIU) (TF 20-4 6:41) 184:
197: Spencer Mooberry (NIU) over Steyn De Lange (Rider) (Fall 6:05) 197:
285: Jacob Christensen (NIU) over Collin French (Rider) (Dec 3-1) 285:
125: *Blake West (NIU) over Nico Calello (KSU), Fall 6:24
133: Markel Baker (NIU) over Adan Benavidez (KSU), TF, 22-5 (4:49)
141: Jordan Decatur (KSU) over Tee Ward (NIU), TF, 20-3 (5:22)
149: Billy Meiszner* (KSU) over Charles Curtis (NIU), MD 14-0
157: Landen Johnson (NIU) over Dominic Paterra (KSU), Fall 3:23
165: Carson Miller (KSU) over Brett Smith (NIU), Dec 2-0
174: Tommy Bennett (NIU) over Hunter Andel (KSU), Dec 4-1
184: Holden Martin (KSU) over Austin Stewart (NIU), MD 13-2
197: Sean Carroll (NIU) over Corey Boerio (KSU), Dec 6-4
285: Brentan Simmerman (KSU) over Jacob Christensen (NIU), Dec 4-1
NIU vs Purdue
Jan. 12, 2025 | DeKalb, Illinois
125:
133:
141:
149:
157:
165:
174:
184:
197:
285:
2024-25 DUAL RESULTS
NIU vs Cleveland State
Jan. 31, 2025 | Cleveland, Ohio
125:
133:
141:
149:
157:
165:
174:
184:
197:
285:
NIU vs Buffalo
Feb. 7, 2025 | DeKalb, Illinois
125:
133:
141:
149:
157:
165:
174:
184:
197:
285:
125:
133:
141:
149:
157:
165:
174:
184:
197:
285:
NIU vs SIUE
Feb. 22, 2025 | Edwardsville, Illinois
125:
133:
141:
149:
157:
165:
174:
184:
197:
285:
2024-25 INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
149 165
COLLIN ARCH TOMMY BENNETT
Freshman (RS)
Sophomore (RS)
Palmyra, Mo. / Palmyra
Evergreen Park, Ill. /Brother Rice
133 133
MARKEL BAKER LUCIAN BRINK
Sophomore (RS) Senior
Freeport, Ill./Freeport/ Coshocton, Ohio / Coshocton
George Mason Overall Dual MAC MD TF Fall
2021 3-6 3-6 2-5 1 0 0
2021-22 6-10 0-4 0-2 2 0 0
Overall Dual MAC MD TF Fall
2022-23 11-11 4-2 4-1 1 0 0
2022-23* 27-12 0-0 10-5 1 4 1
2023-24 6-6 1-0 0-0 1 0 2
2023-24* 6-3 0-0 3-0 1 2 1
2024-25 5-7 0-0 0-0 1 1 0
2024-25 8-4 3-0 2-0 3 1 0
Career 31-40 8-12 6-8 6 1 2
Career 41-19 3-0 15-5 5 7 2
Opponent (School) - Date Results Opponent (School) - Date Results
Vince Perez (Central Michigan), 11/9/24 W, Dec 6-4 Logan Klinge (Grand Valley State), 11/9/24 W, TF 17-2
Zach Blankenship (Oklahoma State), 11/9/24 W, SV-1 4-1 Cael Hughes (Oklahoma State), 11/9/24 L, MD 11-2
Zan Fugitt (Wisconsin), 11/9/24 L, SV-1 5-2 Andrew Hampton (Michigan State), 11/9/24 W, MD 11-2
Lucian Brink (NIU), 11/9/24 L, Dec 11-6 Cody Phelps (Michigan), 11/9/24 W, Dec 9-2
Zach Blankenship (Oklahomas State), 11/9/24 W, SV-1 4-1 Markel Baker (NIU), 11/9/24 W, Dec 11-6
Massey Odiotti (Northwestern), 11/16/24 W, MD 14-3 Sean Spidle (Central Michigan), 11/9/24 L, MD 8-0
Nieko Malone (Rider), 11/22/24 W, MD 19-5 Kade Moore (Missouri), 12/7/24 L, MD 12-2
Adan Benavidez (Kent State), 12/19/24 W, TF 22-5 (4:49) Trayce Eckman (Bellarmine), 12/7/24 W, MFF
Jacob Macatangay (Purdue), 12/29/24 W, TF 21-6 Andrew Crapps (Missouri), 12/7/24 L, MD 11-2
Ryan Miller (Penn), 12/29/24 L, Dec 9-7 Marcel Lopez (SIUE), 12/7/24 L, 2-1
Logan Frazier (Indiana), 12/29/24 W, Dec 7-0 Vince Perez (CMU), 12/29/24 L, Dec 5-0
Angelo Rini (Indiana), 12/29/24 L, Dec 9-7 Andrew Hampton (Michigan State), 12/29/24 L, Dec 8-3
197 141
SEAN CARROLL DANNY CURRAN
Sophomore Sophomore (RS)
Overland Park, Kan./ Carol Stream, Ill./DeKalb/
St. Thomas Aquinas NC State
CHARLES CURTIS
Freshman
Canton, Ohio/Perry 141
JAKE EVANS
Junior (RS)
Elyria, Ohio / Elyria 174
Overall Dual MAC MD TF Fall
2021-22 3-2 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
2022-23 5-6 0-0 0-0 0 1 1
Overall Dual MAC MD TF Fall 2023-24 2-7 1-1 0-0 0 0 1
2024-25 5-2 0-2 0-1 0 0 1 2024-25 4-10 0-2 0-1 0 2 2
Career 5-2 0-2 0-1 0 0 1 Career 14-25 1-3 0-1 0 3 4
157 184
BRODY HALLIN DOMINIC HEIM
Junior (RS) Freshman
McHenry, Ill. / McHenry Shakopee, Minn./Shakopee
157 197
LANDEN JOHNSON SPENCER MOOBERRY
Sophomore (RS) Junior (RS)
Owatonna, Minn./Owatonna/ Osage, Iowa/Osage/NDSU
NDSU
Overall Dual MAC MD TF Fall
Overall Dual MAC MD TF Fall 2021-22* 6-9 0-0 0-0 0 0 4
2022-23* 13-3 0-0 0-0 1 0 8 2022-23* 9-7 1-2 0-0 0 0 6
2023-24* 11-12 6-7 0-0 2 1 2 2023-24* 10-13 4-8 0-0 2 0 2
2024-25 9-8 1-2 1-1 0 1 6 2024-25 4-3 1-1 1-0 1 0 2
Career 33-23 7-9 1-1 3 2 16 Career 29-32 6-11 1-0 3 0 14
Opponent (School) - Date Results Opponent (School) - Date Results
Chase Saldate (Michigan), 11/9/24 L, Fall 2:32 No. 25 Evan Bates (Northwestern), 11/16/24 L, TF 19-4, 6:09
Gavin Model (Wisconsin), 11/9/24 W, Fall 4:16 Steyn De Lange (Rider), 11/22/24 W, Fall 6:05
Steele Starren (Oregon State), 11/9/24 W, Fall 1:44 Evan Grazzini (Bellarmine), 12/7/24 W, MD 16-7
Brock Herman (Ohio State), 11/9/24 L, MD 9-1 Andrew Donahue (Northern Colorado), 12/7/24 L, MD 13-5
No. 12 Trevor Chumbley (Northwestern), 11/16/24 L, Dec 8-2 Kennedy Wyatt (Bellarmine), 12/7/24 W, 5-1
Colton Washleski (Rider), 11/22/24 L, MD 17-6 Tyler Perry (Northern Colorado), 12/7/24 L, 6-3
Vinny Zerban (Northern Coloardo), 12/7/24 L, MD 17-3 Jesse Cassatt (Missouri), 12/7/24 W, Fall 1:41
Cody Wagner (Little Rock), 12/7/24 W, Fall 5:51
Brody Hallin (NIU), 12/7/24 W, 6-4
Vinny Zerban (Northern Colorado), 12/7/24 L, Fall 2:10
Ryan Bennett (Illinois), 12/7/24 W, TF-1.5, 16-1, 4:22
Dominic Paterra (Kent State), 12/19/24 W, Fall 3:23
Cody Tavoso (Princeton), 12/29/24 W, Fall 5:51
Dylan Evans (Pittsburg), 12/29/24 L, Dec 7-3
Braden Stauffenberg (Michigan State), 12/29/24 W, Dec 7-5
Jeremy Ginter (Cal Baptist), 12/29/24 W, Fall 3:40
Jude Swisher (Penn), 12/30/24 L, Fall 1:19
149 174
LUCAN O’BRIEN DAMARION ROSS
Freshman Freshman
Lakewood, Ohio/St. Edwards Fort Dodge, Iowa/Fort Dodge
165 184
BRETT SMITH SPENCER STEINER
Freshman (RS) Sophomore (RS)
Troy, Mo./Buchanan Fresno, Calif./Clovis North/CMU
157 141
KAVAN TROY TEE WARD
Junior (RS) Freshman
Rochester Hills, Mich. / Rochester Freemont, Mich./Freemont