In order to survive in Saturday’s NCAA West Regionals at Illinois State, NIU’s wrestling squad will need an all-around top-notch performance by all.

Despite the notion of team competition, the Huskies will divide into their separate weight classes and battle some of the Midwest’s best.

Head coach Ed Vatch feels confident that at least three of his wrestlers will make it to the championships held in Iowa City March 14-16.

“I certainly don’t want to break the streak,” Vatch explained. He is speaking of the nine-year streak NIU owns of putting at least one grappler in the championships.

“Obviously, T.C. Dantzler, Jim Kossakowski and Mark Kuehl are our three best shots,” Vatch said, “but we have several other guys with strong possibilities.”

Kossakowski leads the Huskies into the tournament with a 16-7 record, which includes a personal six-match winning streak.

Dantzler comes in at 13-3 while Kuehl boasts a 13-7 mark, as well as a third consecutive Tombstone Open title.

Besides the switching of weight classes between John Willems and Gene Marino, Vatch intends to go into the regional with the same lineup he has used all season.

Jeff Chumbley, Jim Gussman, Lonnie Morris, and Mel Heckman round out the Huskies’ squad.

Vatch is quick to point out that luck is just as big of a factor as skill when it comes to the tournament.

“If we can get in and get on a roll with a tournament like this, that’s all you need to do to get to the finals,” Vatch said.