A 9-16 season record can lead to frustration for a collegiate coach, but it can also be misleading on its surface.

“It was kind of frustrating in many circumstances,” NIU wrestling coach Ed Vatch said, “because our record didn’t look as good as some of our individual performances did.”

After last season’s 15-7 mark, the best of Vatch’s four-year stint at the helm of the Huskies, NIU faced the toughest schedule in recent memory.

“This was probably the best schedule we’ve ever had,” Vatch said. “We wrestled three of the top six teams and probably five of the top 12.”

The 1989-90 season has been one of subsequent setbacks for the Huskies. Bill Jepsen was hindered with several injuries for most of the year. Tino Gonzales asked to be red-shirted and did not return. Two-time NCAA national qualifier Anton Kossakowski, a pre-season No. 4 at 190 pounds, was ineligible and later left the team. Ted Anderson (167) transferred to a pre-med program after last season.

“Ted was probably the biggest blow,” Vatch said. “He was the team captain and a great leader.

“If you look at all those losses and injuries, sometimes it’s tough to stay positive and keep moving forward.”

The squad is now looking toward the regional tournament, to be held March 10 at Eastern Illinois. Vatch feels that this year he has a good chance to advance some of his men to the national tournament.

“Realistically, looking in terms of performance, we have five guys with a great chance to get out (of regionals),” Vatch said. “But when you have 100 guys and only 21 go to nationals, the odds aren’t real great.”

Heavyweight Mark Kuehl will drop to 190 pounds for regionals, and Vatch anticipates a first or second seeding for him. Kuehl is one of three Huskies who earned 17 wins this season. He finished at 17-8, Joe Madonia (177) was 17-7-3 and 167-pounder Jim Kossakowski ended 17-6-1.

“Mark has a great chance to go to nationals,” Vatch said. “If there’s anybody who deserves to go to the NCAAs and become an All-America, it’s Mark.”

Madonia, along with Scott Frego, are the only seniors that will be leaving the team. Vatch also feels Madonia has a chance.

“Joe has all the tools, it’s in his court now,” he said. “It’s on the line for him as a senior so he has to put up or shut up.”

Vatch has yet to meet his ultimate goal and is becoming realistic about meeting it.

“The national championship is the highest goal, that’s what I want,” he said. So I’ve geared myself in that direction now.”

The struggling season is what it took for his squad to tighten as a group, Vatch said. And when things looked down for himself, he always had someone he could talk to.

“One thing that has helped my attitude a lot is the assistance I’ve gotten from Keith Hackett (the associate athletic director),” he said. “He’s done a great job in terms of support for the team and for the guys.”

Vatch still holds to the theory that the regular-season records mean nothing once the regionals arrive.

“If I could get a national championship out of one of these guys, I wouldn’t care if we didn’t win a dual all year.”