Austin Coburn's win helped Old Dominion to its 500th program win.
NORFOLK, Va. -- Brandon Jeske scored a dual meet-winning takedown in the final five seconds of the 125 bout to propel the Old Dominion wrestling team (6-12, 1-6 MAC) to a thrilling 20-19 criteria win over Northern Illinois on Friday night at the Ted Constant Center. With the victory, ODU captured its 500th program win, and Steve Martin became the second-winningest coach in Old Dominion history.
Beginning at 133, NIU's Austin Eicher earned a 15-4 major decision over Josh Markham, but All-American Chris Mecate rebounded in a big way for the Monarchs, pulling out a pivotal 2-0 decision over No. 15 Steve Bleise, 2-0. No. 8 Alexander Richardsonfollowed up with a commanding 11-5 win over Gabe Morse at 149 to put the Monarchs out in front 6-4.
At 157, Andrew Morse regained the lead for the Huskies, 7-6, with a 3-0 victory over ODU's Austin Eads, but Seldon Wright earned his third straight win by defeating Shaun'Qae McMurtry in an exciting 7-6 bout at 165.
Jack Dechow, ranked 11th, sandwiched a big major decision win over Quinton Rosser at 184 between two Northern Illinois pins at 174 and 197, but Austin Coburn put the Monarchs in position to win the dual meet after bumping up to 285 and taking down Arthur Bunce, 4-2.
Trailing 19-16 on the scoreboard, the Monarchs tied the bout with Jeske's last second takedown to earn the come-from-behind criteria win. It was ODU's first MAC dual meet win of the season.
