This Saturday, NIU wrestling will have its first home meet when it hosts the Huskie Duals.

Four other schools will be competing in duals on Saturday, like Indiana University, Tiffin University, Cleveland State University and South Dakota State University.

Indiana University’s Hoosiers are the only one of the five teams coming into Saturday with a dual record of 1-0 with a win over Manchester, 44-12.

Last weekend, NIU competed in the Eastern Michigan Open tournament along with Cleveland State and Tiffin University.

The Huskies opened the season well at the EMU event, as 13 NIU wrestlers placed in the tournament. Six of the 13 were freshmen led by Shawn Scott, who won the freshmen/sophomore division at 197 pounds.

NIU wrestling coach Ryan Ludwig said heading into the first dual meet, his team has to carry the momentum from last week into the first dual meets of the season.

“What we’ve gotta do is we gotta take the positives that we got out of the EMU open and apply them in the room,” Ludwig said. “And make sure that we’re staying up with the things that got us successful in the EMU open, but also we gotta work really hard on the little details that we think we missed at the EMU open, and if we turn those things around we think we will have even more success.”

Ludwig said he is excited to see how the freshmen react in their first collegiate dual meet.

“Well, we’re really looking forward to getting home and competing, especially in some dual meet action,” Ludwig said. “I think it’s an exciting time for NIU wrestling right now. We got a lot of young hungry guys in the lineup and a lot of older guys that are raising themselves to another level and turning a corner and breaking barriers, so we’re really looking forward to competing at home and showcasing our talent here.”

With NIU facing two teams that were also at the EMU open, some Huskie wrestlers will be facing opponents they may have faced just last week. Junior Matt Mougin said facing the same route this early in the season can be challenging.

“I don’t think there are any challenges,” Mougin said. “I guess it’s more about how you wrestle and not letting the previous match bother you. You just need to go out and wrestle how you wrestle.”