CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – SIUE wrestling picked up a big 20-18 win over Northern Illinois to start the season at Huff Hall.

It was the first SIUE team to defeat the Huskies since the 1991-92 season when the Cougars were victorious 31-5. Northern Illinois came into Sunday's event with a 22-match winning streak against the Cougars.

"We won all of the tough matches against Northern," said SIUE Head Coach Jeremy Spates. "Last season, we were 0-3 at this meet so to get a win over Northern was nice."

SIUE dropped its other two matches 44-0 to No. 13 Illinois and 31-9 to Rider. The Northern Illinois win came in between the two losses.

"Illinois is a really talented team, but we gave them too much respect. I was disappointed with our start, but we bounced back which I think shows what kind of team we can be when the going gets tough."

Karsten Van Velsor applied the biggest victory with a first period pin at 149 pounds over Sal Annoreno. It was the first of five straight wins for the Cougars as Erik Travers (157), Connor McMahon, Jake Residori, and Derek Nagel earned victories.

"Karsten came up with a big pin for us, and Residori had two big wins today. McMahon also picked up a win over a top 25-ranked wrestler," said Spates.

SIUE returns to action next Saturday at Ypsilanti, Michigan, when the Cougars take on Clarion, Lock Haven, host Eastern Michigan, and Ohio.

SIUE 20, NIU 18

125 – Derek Elmore (N) pinned Kenny Baldridge, 1:44

133 – Jordan Northrup (N) dec. Patrick Myers, 7-0

141 – Tyler Argue (N) dec. Angelo Silvestro, 9-7

149 – Karsten Van Velsor (SIUE) pinned Sal Annoreno, 2:38

157 – Erik Travers (SIUE) dec. Andrew Morse, 7-3

165 – Connor McMahon (SIUE) dec. Shaun'Qae McMurtry, 5-4

174 – Jake Residori (SIUE) maj. dec. Dylan Dobzanski, 16-2

184 – Derek Nagel (SIUE) maj. dec. Quinton Rosser, 11-2

197 – Shawn Scott (N) dec. Cole Rogers, 3-2

HWT – Arthur Bunce (N) dec. Chris Johnson, 3-1

Rider 30, SIUE 9

125 – JR Wert (R) tech. fall Cameron Kelly, 19-3

133 – Robert Deutsch (R) dec. Patrick Myers, 3-1

141 – Chuck Zeisloft (R) tech. fall Trevor Feagans, 23-7

149 – BJ Clagon (R) tech. fall Karsten Van Velsor, 23-8

157 – Chad Walsh (R) dec. Erik Travers, 4-1

165 – Connor McMahon (SIUE) dec. Conor Brennan, 3-2 (OT2)

174 – Jake Residori (SIUE) pinned Ryan Wolfe, 3:18

184 – Clint Morrison (R) dec. Derek Nagel, 9-4

197 – Donald McNeil (R) dec. Cole Rogers, 5-1

HWT – Greg Velasco (R) dec. Chris Johnson 6-4 (OT3)

#11 Illinois 44, SIUE 0

125 - #1 Jesse Delgado (I) pinned Kenny Baldridge, 6:35

133 – Dominic Olivieri (I) dec. Patrick Myers, 5-1

141 – Steven Rodrigues (I) maj. dec. Angelo Silvestro, 12-3

149 – Kyle Langenderfer (I) tech. fall Karsten Van Velsor, 18-3

157 - #9 Isaiah Martinez (I) pinned Sam Zimmerman, 4:12

165 - #13 Jackson Morse (I) pinned Connor McMahon, 4:30

174 – Zac Brunson (I) maj. dec. Jake Residori, 9-0

184 - #11 Nikko Reyes (I) dec. Jake Tindle, 8-2

197 - Jeff Koepke (I) maj. dec. Cole Rogers, 10-2

HWT - Christopher Lopez (I) dec. Chris Johnson, 2-1 (OT2)

#11 Illinois 29, Rider 6

125 - #1 Jesse Delgado (I) tech. fall J.R. Wert, 22-5

133 - #17 Robert Deutsch (R) dec. Dominic Olivieri, 6-0

141 - #19 Steven Rodrigues (I) dec. #19 Chuck Zeisloft, 4-1

149 – B.J. Clagon (R) dec. Kyle Langenderfer, 5-4

157 - #9 Isaiah Martinez (I) dec. Chad Walsh, 8-4

165 - #13 Jackson Morse (I) dec. Conor Brennan, 8-6

174 – Zac Brunson (I) dec. Ryan Wolfe, 9-4

184 - Nikko Reyes (I) won by forfeit

197 - Jeff Koepke (I) dec. Donald McNeil, 3-1 (OT)

HWT - Christopher Lopez (I) dec. Greg Velasco, 5-2

Rider 28, NIU 9

125 – Derek Elmore (N) pinned J.R. Wert, 4:39

133 – Robert Detsch (R) dec. Jordan Northrup, 8-2

141 – Chuck Zeisloft (R) dec. Tyler Argue, 11-8

149 – BJ Clagon (R) pinned Sal Annonero, 5:47

157 – Andrew Morse (N) dec. Chad Walsh, 7-5

165 – Conor Brennan (R) dec. Shaun'Qae McMurtry, 10-5

174 – Ryan Wolfe (R) dec. Dylan Dobzanski, 7-3

184 – Clint Morrison (R) dec. Quinton Rosser, 6-4 (OT)

197 – Donal McNeil (R) maj. dec. Shawn Scott, 10-2

HWT – Greg Velasco (R) dec. Arthur Bunce, 5-2

#11 Illinois 37, Northern Illinois 10

125 – Derek Elmore (I) won by forfeit

133 – Tyler Argue (N) maj. dec. Dominic Olivieri, 8-0

141 - #19 Steven Rodrigues (I) tech. fall Tyler Argue, 23-7

149 – Kyle Langenderfer (I) pinned Sal Annoreno, 6:01

157 - #9 Isaiah Martinez (I) pinned Andrew Morse, 2:19

165 - #13 Jackson Morse (I) maj. dec. Shaun'Qae McMurtry, 12-3

174 – Zac Brunson (I) won by forfeit

184 - Nikko Reyes (I) maj. dec. Quinton Rosser, 15-5

197 – Jeff Koepke dec. Shawn Scott, 5-3

HWT – Brooks Black dec. Arthur Bunce 5-1