The Niles wrestling team opened the home portion of its schedule Wednesday night with a sweep of Big 16 Conference foes Kalamazoo Central and Mattawan.

The Vikings defeated the Maroon Giants 41-27 in the opening round and then knocking off the Wildcats 39-34.

Niles started out its match against Kalamazoo Central picking up two forfeits out of the first four bouts. After John Couch picked up a forfeit at 171, Ryan Casey defeated Will Sleeman at 189, 15-6.

The Maroon Giants earned their first points of the night as they got a come-from-behind pin at 215-pounds by Ryan DeYoung.

Balasz Bruckner picked up a forfeit at 285 before the Vikings gave up the forfeit at 103 to Romeo Riley.

David Markowicz earned a decision at 112-pounds before Josh Dayhuff defeated Evan Stivers 9-4 at 119-pounds.

Kalamazoo Central would win the next three bouts to take the lead on the Vikings before Casey Burandt stopped the bleeding and got the Vikings back into the win column with a pin of Velzen Davidson in 1:29.

Back-to-back forfeits to Jerrico Lamberton and Donte Stevens swung the match back into the Vikings’ favor and Niles capped off the victory with a 16-5 victory by Fritzel Findeisen at 160-pounds.

Against Mattawan, the Vikings rolled out to a 24-12 advantage on the Wildcats only to have Mattawan rally to tie the match at 24-24.

Burandt stuck Velzen Davidson in 1:29 to give Niles back the lead at 30-24.

A Mattawan major decision at 145 cut the lead to 30-28, but a pin by Donte Stevens of Nathan Handley in 3:32 at 152-pounds and then a 9-7 decision by Findeisen at 160 locked up the win for the Vikings.

“It was ugly. We got outwrestled and we probably didn’t deserve to win either one of them,” Niles coach Todd Hesson said. “I’ll blame it on coaching. We weren’t prepared. That being said, we still won and we keep moving forward.”

Kalamazoo Central…27

Niles…41

103: Romeo Riley (KC) wins by forfeit

112: David Markowics (KC) d. Nicholas Zimmerman, 4-2

119: Josh Dayhoff (N) d. Evan Stivers, 11-2

125: Luis Rodriguez (KC) d. Darek Mills, 9-4

130: Drew Leggett (KC) wins by injury default

135: Lucas Matoz (KC) d. Ryan Roberts, 7-4

140: Casey Burandt (N) p. Velzen Davidson, 1:29

145: Jerrico Lamberton (N) wins by forfeit

152: Donte Stevens (N) wins by forfeit

160: Fritzel Findeisen (N) d. Kenny Jones, 16-5

171: John Couch (N) wins by forfeit

189: Ryan Casey (N) d. Will Sleeman, 15-6

215: Ryan Deyoung (KC) p. Alec Landon, 5:04

285: Balasz Bruckner (N) wins by forfeit

Mattawan…34

Niles…39

103: Blain Dempsey (M) wins by forfeit

112: Nicholas Zimmerman (N) p. Nick Cousins, 2:49

119: Jeremy Handley (M) p. Josh Dayhoff, 2:34

125: Parker French (M) d. Nicholas Borkowski, 7-4

130: Jakob Stuedemann (M) d. Darek Mills, 4-2

135: Austin Forshee (M) p. Ryan Roberts, 1:46

140: Casey Burandt (N) p. Mark Sugdam, 1:57

145: Logan Walters (M) d. Jerrico Lamberton, 15-4

152: Donte Stevens (N) p. Nathan Handley, 3:32

160: Fritzel Findeisen (N) d. Devan Gumard, 9-7

171: Brett Dempsey (M) p. John Crouch, 3:05

189: Ryan Casey wins by forfeit

215: Alec Landon (N) p. Jimmy Crislip, 1:37

285: Balasz Bruckner (N) wins by forfeit