Sending out six freshmen and three sophomores in a line up of just 11 wrestlers makes winning dual meets difficult.

The Tigers (0-3) have had some successes at individual tournaments this season, but dual meet wins have been hard to come for this young team.

"The youth and the inexperience are showing," said Northwestern head coach Jim Moll. "Hopefully as the season progresses our kids will progress and build on their experience and wrestle better."

Bangor took advantage of that inexperience to pick up a 61-18 win over the Tigers last Saturday.

The host Slaters built up a 45-6 lead by winning seven straight bouts early in the match.

Northwestern gave up 18 points (three matches) on forfeits, including the 285-pound bout that gave the Slaters a 6-0 lead to start.

Tiger freshman Quintin Bernhard (106) evened the score when he pinned Gavin DeBoer in a minute and 28 seconds.

Northwestern freshman Jarrett White, a first-place finisher at the season-opening Nazareth Tournament, jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the 116-pound bout, but Bangor senior Christian Farah turned the tables and pinned him in 1:53.

At 120, freshman Jason Hottinger was in a tight match with Edward Young. Hottinger led 5-2 heading into the third period, but late in the match, thanks in part to two locked hands violations, Young had a 6-5 lead.

With just 28 seconds left in the bout, Young pinned Hottinger and gave his team an 18-6 lead.

"There were a couple matches that we were winning and guys got put on their back and pinned," said Moll. "That's disappointing to have matches end like that."

Robert Lindsay pinned Northwestern sophomore Hanny Awadallah at 126 and the Slaters picked up a forfeit win at 132 to take a 30-6 lead.

Bangor's Dallas Labar (138) pinned freshman Joe Colucci in 3:17. The Slaters Charles Sell (145) pinned sophomore Zach Hunsberger in 1:40.

At 152, Northwestern freshman Andrew Sorensen and Bangor's Brandon Tochet went into the third period tied 3-3. Tochet finished off a 7-3 win to put his team ahead 45-6 with just five bouts remaining.

Mitchell Evans (160) ended Bangor's run when he pinned the Slaters' Kaleb Happel in 2:59.

Evans, a senior who earned a tournament title at Mt. Carmel, has been gaining momentum after starting slow in his first few matches of the season.

"Mitchell Evans looked really flat at Nazareth," said Moll. "He's looked great ever since. Something has sparked in him and he's been on a mission."

Mike Ortiz (170), a champ at two early season tournaments, won his bout at Bangor by forfeit.

At 182, Bangor's Michael O'Dell nearly put sophomore Alex Russo on his back a few times. Russo did everything he could to fight off getting pinned while giving up a 19-7 major decision.

"That match was the best match he has ever wrestled," said Moll. "He's a fighter. He doesn't back down. He's inexperienced. He's only been wrestling for three years."

The Tigers have a few grapplers who have only been with the sport since eight grade, which makes them less experienced than most opponents they meet on the mat.

The Slaters' Mark Boudreau earned a forfeit win at 195 before Andrew Lumsden pinned Tiger freshman Jacob Murray in the final bout.

The scoreboard showed a lopsided Bangor win, but the Tigers showed some grit in matches, which was noticed by the Slaters' head coach.

"They're going to be improving," said bangor head coach Rick Thompson of this young Tiger team. "In a couple of years, if they're patient, they're going to be all right."