Having a meet canceled is not always bad.

The NIU wrestling team’s dual meet tonight with Illinois will be changed due to scheduling problems. However, the Huskie freshmen grapplers will tangle with the Illini tonight in Champaign.

The rescheduling could not have come at a better time, said head coach Ed Vatch.

“It was great for us, because we would’ve had to forfeit two weight classes anyways,” Vatch said. “We would’ve had to forfeit Brett Messerli at 142 pounds and Tom Hoy at 190 pounds.”

Messerli would have had to sit out this weekend with a nagging knee injury, which prevents him from doing any running.

“The doctors just can’t pin-point the problem Brett is having in his knee,” Vatch said. “The doctors don’t know what is wrong with it.

“Tom would’ve been out due to a separated shoulder,” Vatch said. “It’s not severe, but I don’t want to take a chance on losing him for a year because of one dual meet.”

Hoy said he feels he should be back in action next week.

NIU is looking forward to getting Hoy back in action due to his impressive showing against some stiff competition at the Wisconsin Northern Open last weekend.

“If you look at the big-name teams, they put their pants on just like you and if you can hang with them, you can hang with anyone,” Hoy said.

Vatch is also happy to see his 158-pounder Tim Cocco back in action again with healthier ribs.

The second-year coach said he is impressed with the way his team turned around in the Wisconsin Northern Open.

“I honestly think we made a turn,” Vatch said. “We had a lot of respect for ourselves.

“We had Madonia beat up the eighth-rated wrestler in the country at 167 pounds. Anton Kossakowski went up against the number-one seat in the tournament at 190 pounds and was beating him going into the third round. Anton lost it because he was to aggressive and you can not be mad at him for being too aggressive.”

The Huskies will be hosting the Northern Illinois Duals on Saturday, December 12th at 10 a.m. The competition is a quad meet, which will consist of NIU, Northern Michigan, Wisconsin-Stevens Point, and Illinois State.