The NIU wrestling team finished the 1987-88 season with an overall 5-14-1 dual-meet record.

The Huskies’ season record does not exemplify the quality of wrestling displayed by coach Ed Vatch’s young squad.

Vatch will see most of his top grapplers in the lineup for next season, but will lose two prized wrestlers due to graduation.

The Huskies will be without tough 150-pound wrestler Tim Cocco, who finished his senior season with an impressive 27-11-1 record.

One of Cocco’s highlights for the season was his 1-1 tie against Andrew Skove of Ohio State on Feb. 2. The top-rated Buckeye finished sixth in the country at last week’s national championship.

NIU also will lose their intense 190-pound big man, Tom Hoy.

The senior finished the season with a 16-15 record. He was plagued by many injuries that cost him from having an All-American season.

The Huskies will return a group of workhorses for next season. With the experience gained this season by these young thoroughbreds, look for the Huskies to turn some heads during the course of next season.

Returning next season is the Huskies’ lone Nationals qualifier, Anton Kossakowski at 177 pounds.

Kossakowski passed his freshman season with flying colors, earning The Northern Star’s pick as Wrestler of the Year.

The freshman finished the season with a 24-9-1 mark. He finished second at the NCAA West Regional this season, earning him a chance to participate at the National Championship.

The Huskies also will return sophmore Joe Madonia at 167 pounds for next season.

Madonia finished with a strong 26-12 record this season and was the only Huskie grappler to earn a top-20 ranking in the nation earlier this season.

A big surprise for the Huskies this season was a strong finish from 150-pounder Brett Messerli.

The freshman finished the season with a 5-4-1 record after being out a good portion of the beginning of the season due to a knee ailment.

The only Huskie to return to this season’s lineup who qualified for Nationals in 1987 was 126-pounder Tino Gonzalez.

The sophomore posted a solid 17-21 record this season, but look for him to get back on track for the 1988-89 season and another trip to the Nationals in 1989.

The Huskies received a solid performance from their freshman heavyweight Mark Kuehl.

Kuehl finished with an impressive 23-18 record and made a lot of people believe in him with his gutsy performances.

The Huskies also will return junior Mike Gonio at 134 pounds and freshman Scott Swanson at 118 pounds for next season.

The Huskies gained a lot of respect from teams around the Midwest with their top-notch performances.

The Huskies lost a nail-biter with Northwestern on Feb. 2. The Huskies cut a 20-0 lead after forfeiting their 142-pound match to win five of their last six matches to lose 24-20.

The Huskies were hurt all year by having to forfeit their 142-pound weight class for most of the season. The Huskies would have to fight from a 6-0 deficit every match and it would just add extra pressure for the Huskies.

The record of 5-14-1 is not a true indication of the talent displayed by the the Huskies this season.

The Huskies lacked a little inconsistency from their lower weight classes, but their upper weight classes were very explosive and could be stacked up with anyone in the Midwest.