Entering the MAC Wrestling Championships, NIU senior Pat Castillo was a favorite for the title.

The same couldn’t be said about Pat McLemore.

The redshirt freshman had only wrestled in three matches since November. Additionally, McLemore would have to beat Central Michigan’s Eric Kruger and Kent State’s Drew Lashaway to win the MAC title. Both were ranked nationally.

But McLemore pinned Kruger in the semifinals and defeated Lashaway 8-6 in the finals. The wins earned the freshman a trip to the NCAA wrestling championships in St. Louis.

McLemore was down 6-4 to Lashaway entering the third period. However, he quickly earned an escape and followed with a takedown for a 7-6 advantage. He also earned a bonus point for riding time advantage to finish with an 8-6 decision.

“I felt like nobody really knew me,” McLemore said. “But I think I got some recognition.”

NIU head coach Dave Grant had few doubts about McLemore’s ability.

“I think our coaching staff knew that he had that ability to do that,” Grant said. “He was our secret weapon going in.”

The Hinckley, Ohio, native was also able to wrestle in front of a lot of family and friends, since the MAC championships took place in Kent, Ohio, just a short drive from his hometown.

“It kind of felt like a home match,” McLemore said.

McLemore was also able to climb into the newest national rankings, coming in at No. 15. The Huskies now have three nationally ranked wrestlers in McLemore, No. 10 Castillo and No. 15 sophomore Duke Burk.

Castillo faced tough competition during the tournament, defeating No. 16 Dan Mitcheff of Kent State, 5-4 in the finals. The win earned Castillo his second-straight MAC title and a trip to nationals for the third-straight season.

“I’m glad I won the final bout,” Castillo said. “This is my last year going down there [to nationals], my last year to place in the tournament.”

Castillo was also named the Most Outstanding Wrestler of the MAC Championships for the second straight year.

“Pat’s well-respected with the coaches and wrestlers in his weight class,” Grant said. “He represents NIU in a very positive manner.”

Burk also earned a trip to nationals, gaining an at-large bid after losing to Central Michigan’s Brandon Sinnott in the finals. Burk has lost just twice since Midlands in December – both times to Sinnott.

NIU finished third as a team for the second year in a row, behind Kent State and Central Michigan, which won its seventh-straight MAC tournament title.

Kalen Knull, Brian Deutsch, and Brian O’Connor were able to earn third-place finishes for the Huskies.

The NCAA wrestling championships take place Thursday through Saturday in St. Louis.