GCU Drops Match to Northern Illinois

Saturday, December 19

Phoenix, Ariz.

1 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Northern Illinois

12/19/2015 3:02:00 PM | Wrestling

By: Steven Gonzalez

PHOENIX – The Grand Canyon wrestling team returned home for the first time since Nov. 12 as the Antelopes welcomed Northern Illinois to town. In his first career match at GCU Arena, Zackary Velasquez was able to come up with a win but the Lopes fell to the Huskies 29-4. GCU is now 3-9 this season.

Grand Canyon would get its first win of the day from Velasquez in the 157-pound match. Velasquez was able to dictate the match and come away with his first major decision of the season, defeating Andrew Scott 12-3 to put GCU on the board with four points.

The Lopes were able to battle and compete throughout day as GCU lost five matches by three points or less.

Trayton Libolt started the day with a tight battle in the 125-pound match against Alijah Jeffery. Heading into the final round, Libolt was down 6-3 and was able to put five points on the board but Libolt would fall to Jeffery 10-8. Juaquin Olivas dropped a close 4-1 decision in the 133-pound match to Austin Eicher, Blake Monty came close to a victory at 149-pound contest but fell 8-5 to Gabe Morse and Trace Engelkes took snapped Kenny Moore's five-match winning streak in the 174-pound match with a 4-1 decision. In the final match of the day at 285-pounds, Sean Medley was in a battle with NIU's Arthur Bunce but Medley dropped a tight 4-1 contest.

Grand Canyon will be back in action at home on Tuesday, Jan. 5, as they host in-state opponent Embry-Riddle and Lock Haven.

Northern Illinois 29, Grand Canyon 4

125: Alijah Jeffery (NIU) def. Trayton Libolt (GCU) dec. 10-8, 3-0
133: Austin Eicher (NIU) def. Jauquin Olivas (GCU) dec. 4-1, 6-0
141: Steve Bleise (NIU) def. Uzo Owuama (GCU) major dec. 16-4, 10-0
149: Gabe Morse (NIU) def. Blake Monty (GCU) dec. 8-5, 13-0
157: Zackary Velasquez (GCU) def. Andrew Scott (NIU) major dec. 12-3, 13-4
165: Shaun'Qae McMurty (NIU) def. Bobby Reece (GCU) dec. 12-5, 16-4
174: Trace Engelkes (NIU) def. Kenneth Moore (GCU) dec. 4-1, 19-4
184: Quinton Rosser (NIU) def. Cale Wilson (GCU) dec. 10-3, 22-4
197: Shawn Scott (NIU) def. Austin Gaun (GCU) major dec. 10-2, 26-4
285: Arthur Bunce (NIU) def. Sean Medley (GCU) dec. 4-1, 29-4