DETROIT, Mich. | When competing in the NCAA wrestling championships, the goal is to advance to the final day of action and earn All-American status.

NIU’s four NCAA qualifiers – Pat Castillo, Johnny Galloway, Duke Burk and Danny Burk – all picked up wins and advanced, but were unable to earn All-American status.

The luck of the draw was not in NIU’s favor in Detroit, as both Danny Burk and Castillo in the first round faced off against – and lost to – the eventual champion of their respective weight class.

After winning the MAC tournament, Castillo came into the NCAAs with a No. 15 national ranking and a tremendous amount of momentum. However, Castillo was unseeded in the tournament, losing to eventual 125-pound champion Paul Donahoe of Nebraska in the first round. Castillo ultimately dropped a 4-3 double-overtime decision to Oklahoma State’s Tyler Shinn.

As was the case in last year’s NCAA tournament, Galloway came close to garnering All-American status, but couldn’t get over the hump. A win over Missouri’s Mathew Pell would have ensured Galloway a top eight finish and NIU’s first All-American since 2004. However, it was not to be, as Galloway lost by pin fall at the 6:08 mark.

Freshman Duke Burk made his first tournament appearance and made the opportunity. Burk wrestled his way to a 4-3 upset victory over sixth seeded John Dergo of Illinois in the first round, before dropping a 6-0 decision to Iowa State’s Jake Varner. On the second day of action, Burk made it to the third round of the wrestlebacks, which is a consolation bracket.

Senior Danny Burk made the most of his first and final appearance in the NCAA tournament, winning three matches before dropping a 3-2 decision to conference rival Brandon Sinnott of Central Michigan.

“Our guys did a great job here. I was really pleased with our effort,” NIU head coach Dave Grant said. “We wrestled some of the toughest guys, and I’m proud of what we did.”