Casual observers of NIU athletics may feel the Huskies’ most prominent sports figures are Stacey Robinson, Donnell Thomas and Lisa Foss.

The expert observer, though, will be sure to add three names to that list: Jim Kossakowski, Mark Kuehl and T.C. Dantzler.

The reason these names may seem unfamiliar is because they don’t perform their athletic heroics before thousands of frenzied fans. Instead, they do their duties in front of mere hundreds in the thankless world of amateur wrestling.

Together Kossakowski, Kuehl and Dantzler have been piling up wins for NIU’s wrestling team and its fans.

First, there is Jim Kossakowski (167-pounds). His record is 12-7, admittedly a down year for him. But don’t be fooled by it. He is a widely recognized matman in wrestling circles.

“He received a lot of attention from the regional coaches last year,” NIU wrestling head coach Ed Vatch said. “They definitely know who he is.”

Last year Kossakowski placed third in regionals, and he had hoped to improve on that this year.

“I lost a lot of matches this year I know I shouldn’t have,” Kossakowski said. “I lost four matches by one point. Those were tough matches. People get upset when they lose, but you’ve got to learn from it.”

Vatch thinks this junior is the toughest customer on NIU’s wrestling team.

“He’s a very physical and hard-nosed wrestler,” Vatch said. “He’s very stingy when it comes to wrestling. He doesn’t give away cheap points. The more physical the match, the better he gets. He’s a brawler.”

Though not quite the brawler Kossakowski is, 190-pounder Mark Kuehl also possesses formidable skills. With a record of 14-6-1, this senior is the model of the diligent worker.

“Whatever he does, he throws himself into it 100 percent,” Vatch said. “He’s a very self-motivated individual. I think he can go to the nationals. He should have gone last year.”

Kuehl didn’t go to the nationals last year because for the first time in his college career, he had to wrestle at 190 pounds.

Delving into his crystal ball, Kuehl predicts when the nationals role around in March, he’ll be one of the contestants.

“I should be able to qualify for nationals,” he said, “because I can compete with anyone in the nation.”

Kuehl’s bold comments are pale in comparison to the bravado 158-pounder T.C. Dantzler exhibits. He’s flashy and blithe, not conservative and somber like many amateur wrestlers are.

Dantzler’s record is a sterling 11-3, but the sophomore said, “I don’t have as many pins as I’d like. It’s just so much more dominating. Coach Vatch said this is (collegiate wrestling), and you’re not going to get that many pins, but I like them anyways.”

Vatch acknowledged that Dantzler is a showman on the mat. But unlike many showmen, Vatch feels Dantzler can back up the talk with the walk.

“He’s a hot dog,” Vatch said. “He really enjoys wrestling. If he believes in his abilities like I believe in his abilities, he’ll be a national champion this year.”