If the first week of the season has proved anything for the NIU wrestling team, it’s that youth isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

After being redshirted last year, freshman Pat McLemore won his first tournament, beating Iowa State’s nationally ranked Nick Gallick to earn the 141-pound title at the Cyclone Open over the weekend. Despite his performance, McLemore didn’t jump into the national rankings as expected.

“He was able to avenge his loss from Thursday,” said assistant coach Mike Castillo about McLemore. “The new rankings came out and he’s not ranked. He probably feels he needs to make another statement or two.”

On the other hand, redshirt sophomore Duke Burk picked up where he left off after ending last season nationally ranked. Burk won the 174-pound weight class in the same tournament over the weekend and is now 5-0 on the season.

“He wants to make an impact not only on the team but nationally as well,” said Castillo about his 13th-ranked wrestler. “Right now, I feel he’s under-ranked and so does he.”

With one week of the season in the books, Castillo, older brother of NIU 133-pounder Pat Castillo, likes what he’s seen out of the younger wrestlers thus far. At the Cyclone Open, underclassmen Vince Castillo, Tristen DeShazer and Dan Ruettiger, all earned a place-finish.

“They are not taking a backseat to anyone,” said Castillo about the underclassmen. “They are going out there, wrestling hard and not worrying about making mistakes.”