Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Eastern Michigan
Northwestern and Eastern Michigan Wrestle to 18-18 Draw
11/22/2009 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Nov. 22, 2009
YPSILANTI, Mich. -- Facing an 18-13 deficit with one match remaining, Northwestern received a tech fall bonus point win by sophomore John Schoen at 197 pounds to finish in an 18-18 tie vs. Eastern Michigan on Sunday. The Wildcats and Eagles each won five of the 10 bouts in the match.
Eastern Michigan held in 18-10 team lead with two matches still to go when NU's Aaron Jones stepped in at 184 and picked up a critical 4-0 decision over Nick Hendrick, setting up the chance for Schoen to pull the Wildcats level. Jones and Hendrick were scoreless until the third period when Jones scored on an escape and a takedown, using his riding time advantage to tack on a third point.
Schoen was all over Josh Lewis from the start, repeatedly taking down the Eagle in an effort to either rack up enough points for the tech fall or secure a six-point pin. Schoen led 20-9 and eventually amassed the requisite 15-point lead (25-10) to even the team score.
Northwestern lost consecutive 4-0 decisions at heavyweight and 125 pounds to start the match before senior Eric Metzler put the Wildcats on the board with a 2-1 decision over Sean Clair. Metzler trailed 1-0 in the third before scoring two points on a reverse and riding out the match to hold on for the victory.
NU surrendered six points with a forfeit at 141 pounds, but Andrew Nadhir won his seventh match of the season at 149 in a 4-2 decision against J.J. Johnson.
Kevin Bialka lost a 7-0 decision at 157 pounds but sophomore Robert Kellogg picked up a critical four points at 165 with a 16-6 major decision over EMU's Lester France. That victory pulled NU to within five at 18-10 and gave Kellogg's teammates at the upper weights the opportunity to even the score.
NU's most recent tie before Sunday came at Michigan last season when the teams ended in an 17-17 deadlock. Prior to that, the 'Cats had not tied a dual match since December of 1999.
Northwestern is away from match competition for the next 12 days before traveling to face Northern Illinois at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 3.
NORTHWESTERN 18, EASTERN MICHIGAN 18
HWT: David Wade (EMU) dec. Ben Kuhar (NW), 4-0 (EMU 3, NW 0)
125 lbs.: Chris Jenkins (EMU) dec. Bobby Joyce (NW), 4-0 (EMU 6, NW 0)
133 lbs.: Eric Metzler (NW) dec. Sean Clair (EMU), 2-1 (EMU 6, NW 3)
141 lbs.: Andrew Novak (EMU) forfeit (EMU 12, NW 3)
149 lbs.: Andrew Nadhir (NW) dec. J.J. Johnson (EMU), 4-2 (EMU 12, NW 6)
157 lbs.: Aaron Sulzer (EMU) dec. Kevin Bialka (NW), 7-0 (EMU 15, NW 6)
165 lbs.: Robert Kellogg (NW) maj. dec. Lester France (EMU), 16-6 (EMU 15, NW 10)
174 lbs.: Justin Brandel (EMU) dec. Frank Battaglia (NW), 5-1 (EMU 18, NW 10)
184 lbs.: Aaron Jones (NW) dec. Nick Hendrick (EMU), 4-0 (EMU 18, NW 13)
197 lbs.: John Schoen (NW) tech. fall Josh Lewis (EMU), 25-10 (EMU 18, NW 18)
