Last season, the NIU wrestling team was young with five freshmen in its regular lineup.

One of the freshmen, Pat McLemore, surprised the MAC wrestling community by winning the conference championship at 141 pounds to advance to nationals. Overall, the Huskies finished third in the MAC and sent three wrestlers to nationals.

But the team also lost Pat Castillo, a three-time NCAA qualifer and two-time MAC champion due to graduation. In addition to Castillo, the team also suffered a blow when two-time NCAA qualifier Duke Burk decided to transfer to Iowa State after the season.

“Those two guys were like the guys where you go to a dual and you’re like ‘We’re going to get those points,” said sophomore Tristen DeShazer. “Pat’s still around helping us out [as an assistant coach], making us better. Hopefully we can be on Pat’s level someday.”

This season, head coach Dave Grant is faced with a team that will be just as young. Six freshmen won their matches at the team’s wrestle-offs last Friday with three of the victories coming from members of NIU’s recruiting class that was ranked 28th nationally – Izzy Montemayor (125), Steve Zimmerman (149), Derrick Yant (174). Winners of the team’s wrestle-offs have an inside shot of being in the regular lineup once duals start.

“We’re ready. Our guys are wrestling hard; they’re working hard,” Grant said. “We’ve got a lot of talented guys in our room right now.”

Because of the youth on the team, as well as the losses of both Castillo and Burk, NIU was picked to finish fourth out of six teams in the MAC. The Huskie wrestlers say they don’t mind the low ranking.

“Once we start winning, then people are going to say ‘Hey, who’s this team?'” said DeShazer, who is moving down a weight class from 141 to 133. “Everybody likes an underdog.”

“I really haven’t put too much bank on rankings,” said Scott Penny, a red shirt-freshman who won his wrestle-off at 197 pounds. “We have a young team, I’m anticipating good things.”

One boost that the Huskies will receive this season will be from McLemore, who was injured most of last season. McLemore was the lone Huskie at the top of the preseason ranking at his weight class at 141 pounds.

The Huskies start their season Saturday with a tournament, the Stevens Point Open, followed by the Purdue Duals on Nov. 15. The team’s first home meet is Dec. 13 against Loras.