Kevin Mulcahy

Staff writer

Panther wrestlers were unable to get a grip on the schedule and overcome the losses the team has suffered over the last few weeks as they were beaten by the nationally ranked Northern Iowa Panthers (#18) Sunday 41-3 .

“It was pretty rough,” said Eastern head wrestling coach Ralph McCausland. “We got smoked. We got pinned a couple of times and gave up big points.”

The match had an unusual beginning format since Northern Illinois was present for a match with Northern Iowa as well. The meet began with matches for 125 and 165 pounds simultaneously.

. “These were same time matches because Northern Illinois was there, but we face them next Sunday,” McCausland said. “This was a 2 round deal.”

The Panthers lost the two opening matches as well as the rest of the weights except for Louis Taylor who defeated his opponent at 174 pounds.

“I went in there thinking that we could split with them,” McCausland said. “We started at 125 and 165, they were same time matches. We got pinned at both weights.”

Eastern just wasn’t able to get an edge on the Panthers form Northern Iowa, and suffered greatly for it.

Panther Mike Stanley was pinned at 125-pounds, one of four pin falls suffered by the Eastern grapplers.

“Stanley wrestled very well,” McCausland said. “He just didn’t hold on to it.”

Some of the other wrestlers shared a similar fate as Joe Gassen was beaten 6-3 by his opponent, and Panther Frank DeFilippis was overtaken by his opponent 9- 6.

Junior Kyle Bracey’s opponent, Kyle Hanson, escaped with a victory at 184 pounds.

“Kyle let him get away from him,” McCausland said. “Kyle needs tempo.”

Joe Gliessner was beaten at 197 by Jason Paine, and heavy weight Winston Taylor lost a close match in the last minutes of the bout.

“I commend Winston,” McCausland said. “He wrestled a good match, but got caught in an inside cradle at the end. Gliessner just didn’t have a good feeling.”

Despite the loss McCausland was aware of the level of competition he was facing against Northern Iowa and knew that the experience level of his team would be a factor.

“They are a good team,” McCausland said. “They had a good intensity level the entire time. They had firepower and intensity. I knew it was going to be about gaining experience with the team this year, and we are gaining experience with each match.”

Despite a gloomy past few weekends McCausland is determined to shake this one off and continue to prepare for the national qualifier.

“We just have to wash our hands,” McCausland said. “We have to take and learn from each match. There are still two more matches before the national qualifier. We are going to persevere.”