BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – After suffering a tantalizingly close setback in its opening match, the Cleveland State University wrestling rebounded by claiming a comfortable 28-12 win over Northern Illinois at the Hoosier Duals Saturday inside University Gym.

The Vikings then dropped their final dual of the day to Indiana, 37-7. CSU had suffered a tough, 21-20, decision to SIU Edwardsville to begin the day.

The 16-point win over Northern Illinois was especially notable due to the fact that the Vikings dropped a 36-9 decision to the Huskies just one season ago.

Ten of the 12 Vikings that competed Saturday picked up at least one victory. The Vikings won two matches at five weight classes—149, 157, 165, 184 and 197.

True freshman John Kelbly led the way for CSU, claiming a pair of bonus-point wins at 197 pounds. He posted a pin over Northern Illinois and a 13-point major decision victory against Indiana.

Redshirt senior Nick Corba won both of his matches at 184 pounds, posting wins via decision over foes from SIUE and NIU. Redshirt freshman Ryan Ford won two of his three matches Saturday, with all of his matches concluding in decisions.

Redshirt senior Gabe Stark (174) and junior Evan Cheek (141) both tallied a bonus-point win Saturday.

Redshirt sophomore Ryan Montgomery and true freshman Georgio Poullas both won a match at 157 pounds with the former netting a win via major decision.

After falling behind, 18-0, after the first four weight classes in its opening dual against SIUE, the Vikings rallied furiously.

Montgomery's 15-4 major win began the comeback before junior John Vaughn picked up six points. Stark then posted a shutout major decision before Corba pulled the Vikings within one on the team scoreboard.

The Cougars won at 197 pounds via decision to take a four-point lead into the final bout. Sophomore Collin Kelly picked up a win at the heavyweight class, but the victory via decision left CSU a single point short.

The Vikings then put together their best performance of the young season against a Northern Illinois team that they lost to last year.

After taking a 6-5 team lead after two matches, CSU reeled off wins in four straight and six of the next seven. Cheek won via a 14-3 major decision, Ford battled to take a 2-1 win, Poullas won a 10-8 affair to pick up his first collegiate dual win and Vaughn tallied a 3-1 victory. After a loss at 174, Corba won, 8-5, to effectively clinch the CSU team win before Kelbly added some style points by pinning his opponent in the third period.

Ford and Kelbly ended their respective days with wins over Indiana as Cleveland State suffered the team defeat. The true freshman used a 17-4 win to take down his Big Ten opponent.

After its first four dates of competition occurred away from home, Cleveland State will be home for its next three events, beginning with a pair of duals next Friday, Dec. 8, and Saturday, Dec. 9.

SIU Edwardsville 21, Cleveland State 20
125: Zac Gentzler (SIUE) over Cameron Lathem (CSU) – Fall 5:40 | SIUE leads, 6-0
133: Jon Antonelli (SIUE) over Andrew Coghill (CSU) – Fall 2:04 | SIUE leads, 12-0
141: John Muldoon (SIUE) over Evan Cheek (CSU) – 5-2 dec. | SIUE leads, 15-0
149: Tyshawn Williams (SIUE) over Ryan Ford (CSU) – 13-7 dec. | SIUE leads, 18-0
157: Ryan Montgomery (CSU) over Karsten Van Velsor (SIUE) – 15-4 MD | SIUE leads, 18-4
165: John Vaughn (CSU) over N/A (SIUE) – Forfeit | SIUE leads, 18-10
174: Gabe Stark over Logan Gruszka (SIUE) – 9-0 MD | SIUE leads, 18-14
184: Nick Corba (CSU) over Bryce Shewan (SIUE) – 8-4 dec. | SIUE leads, 18-17
197: Christian Dulaney (SIUE) over John Kelbly (CSU) – 12-5 dec. | SIUE leads, 21-17
285: Collin Kelly (CSU) over Tommy Helton (SIUE) – 5-3 dec. | SIUE wins 21-20 

Cleveland State 28, Northern Illinois 12
125: Cameron Lathem (CSU) over N/A (NIU) – Forfeit | CSU leads, 6-0
133: Alijah Jeffrey over Andrew Coghill (CSU) – 18-3 TF 4:40 | CSU leads, 6-5
141: Evan Cheek (CSU) over Bryce Thurston (NIU) – 14-3 MD | CSU leads, 10-5
149: Ryan Ford (CSU) over Zack Velasquez (NIU) – 2-1 dec. | CSU leads, 13-5
157: Georgio Poullas (CSU) over Caden McWhirter (NIU) – 10-8 dec. | CSU leads, 16-5
165: John Vaughn (CSU) over Andrew Scott (NIU) – 3-1 dec. | CSU leads, 19-5
174: Quinton Rosser (NIU) over Gabe Stark (CSU) – 11-8 dec. | CSU leads, 19-8
184: Nick Corba (CSU) over Bryce Gorman (NIU) – 8-5 dec. | CSU leads, 22-8
197: John Kelbly (CSU) over Max Ihry (NIU) – Fall 6:59 | CSU leads, 28-8
285: Caleb Gossett (NIU) over Collin Kelly (CSU) – 15-2 MD | CSU wins, 28-12 

Indiana 37, Cleveland State 7
125: Elijah Oliver (IU) over Cameron Lathem (CSU) – 19-3 TF 4:23 | IU leads, 5-0
133: Garrett Pepple (IU) over Andrew Coghill (CSU) – Fall 3:39 | IU leads, 11-0
141: Cole Weaver (IU) over Evan Cheek (CSU) – 5-3 dec. | IU leads, 14-0
149: Ryan Ford (CSU) over Davey Tunon (IU) – 4-2 dec. | IU leads, 14-3
157: Jake Danishek (IU) over Ryan Montgomery (CSU) – Fall 2:32 | IU leads, 20-3
165: Bryce Martin (IU) over John Vaughn (CSU) – 9-1 MD | IU leads, 24-3
174: Devin Skatzka (IU) over Gabe Stark (CSU) – Fall 3:32 | IU leads, 30-3
184: Norman Conley (IU) over Chris Morrow (CSU) – 5-3 dec. | IU leads, 33-3
197: John Kelbly (CSU) over Jake Hinz (IU) – 17-4 MD | IU leads, 33-7
285: Fletcher Miller (IU) over Collin Kelly (CSU) – 9-1 MD | IU wins, 37-7