This is the time of year when a wrestler gets tested the most.

Instead of being able to go home and chow down on Thanksgiving, NIU wrestlers have to lay off the turkey and stuffing so they can make weight at Saturday’s Rochester Duals in Minnesota.

“It’s Thanksgiving this week? I didn’t even know,” said head coach Dave Grant sarcastically. “If you want Thanksgiving break, Christmas or Spring break, you’re in the wrong sport.”

Saturday’s meet features NIU, Northern Colorado, North Dakota State and the No. 1 team in the country, Minnesota. But after facing third-ranked Iowa State twice in three days, squaring off against the nation’s best doesn’t have the NIU grapplers intimidated.

“Having already wrestled Iowa State twice takes away the mystique of Minnesota,” said redshirt sophomore Duke Burk. “The atmosphere was more intimidating there and I think our guys will be ready.”

Minnesota has eight wrestlers ranked in the top 10 of their respective weight class, while NIU has two wrestlers ranked: Pat Castillo and Burk. Three freshman, T.J. Wunnicke, Pat McLemore and Bryan Deutsch, have all climbed into the newest MAC rankings. McLemore, a redshirt freshman, made his way into the rankings by beating the nation’s 14th-ranked wrestler two weekends ago to win the 141-pound championship at the Cyclone Open.

“They are all young guys and it leads to excitement,” Grant said about the success of his freshman. “It’s nice getting them in and seeing them do well.”

After dropping two close decisions to the No. 7-ranked wrestler in the 133-pound class, senior and 10th-ranked Castillo has a chance to redeem himself when he faces Minnesota’s second-ranked Jayson Ness on Saturday.

Another marquee match-up features 13th-ranked Burk facing sixth-ranked Gabe Dretsch of Minnesota in the 174-pound match-up. Burk is undefeated thus far and thinks the switch from wrestling at 184 pounds last year to 174 this year has helped.

“Making weight is harder but I think I’m bigger at 174,” Burk said. “I can control matches more and I’ve been looking forward to this match for a while. If I can get the win, it’s a big statement, but we’ll see how it unfolds.”