It’s unusual for a team to have a month off between competitions.

However, that’s what the NIU wrestling team faces as it travels to Kent State for the MAC wrestling championships, which begin Saturday.

NIU was scheduled to have two weeks off between meets, but the Feb. 17 meet against SIU-Edwardsville and Truman State was canceled. However, that hasn’t hindered the Huskies.

“This team is fired up and ready to go,” NIU head coach Dave Grant said. “I think I’ve trained harder with this team than we ever have going into a championship.”

NIU finished third in the MAC championships last season, behind Central Michigan and Kent State.

The same two teams figure to be the toughest competition for the Huskies again. Both the Chippewas and Golden Flashes are currently ranked in the nation’s top 25. Central Michigan ranks highest, coming to the MAC championship as No. 2 in the nation.

Sixty wrestlers will compete from the six MAC schools, with 19 NCAA championship bids on the line. There will be an automatic bid that goes to the winners of the 10 weight classes, as well as nine wild cards, which coaches will vote on after the finals.

NIU sent four wrestlers to nationals last year. Two of those are current wrestlers Pat Castillo and Duke Burk. The others, Johnny Galloway and Burk’s brother Danny, graduated after last season.

Castillo is searching for his second-straight MAC championship and third-straight NCAA championship appearance.

“I know what I have to expect,” Castillo said. “I’ve been feeling good throughout the last two weeks and I’m just about ready to go.”

Burk, ranked No. 13 in the nation, is searching for his first MAC title and faces a possible rematch with Central Michigan’s Brandon Sinnott looming in the finals.

Sinnott is ranked No. 4 in the nation and defeated Burk 4-1 on Feb. 7. The loss is Burk’s only defeat since Midlands in December.

“Obviously my mind is set on Sinnott, but I have to get the work done before that,” Burk said. “I’ve learned a lot from that match.”

Six of the 10 NIU wrestlers competing this weekend will be freshman making their first appearance in the MAC championships.

“Our young guys have done real well,” Grant said. “The sky is the limit with those guys.”

Following the MAC championships, NIU will have another week off before the NCAA championships March 20-22 in St. Louis.