DeKALB | In what coach Dave Grant describes as one of the toughest events of the year, the NIU wrestling team travels to Las Vegas this weekend for the 25th annual Cliff Keen Invitational.

The event features 50 teams spanning from coast to coast. Unlike the other tournaments the Huskies have competed in this year, this will not be an open tournament. There will only be one wrestler from each team per weight class.

All four of the Huskies nationally-ranked wrestlers — Joe Cornejo, Duke Burk, Pat Castillo and Johnny Galloway — are expected to represent their respective weight classes. Coach Grant also plans on sending Chad Vandiver, Justin Metcalfe, Kalen Knull, Danny Burk, Nick McClone and Jeff Burdorf to the mat for NIU.

The event will be double-elimination format and each match will be seven minutes long with riding time. There will also be wrestle-back rounds to eighth place.

The invitational will feature five of the top 10 wrestlers in the country, giving NIU another chance to shine on the national stage.

“This is one of the top tournaments in the nation,” coach Grant said. “We’ve trained really hard this week and know each and every match will be a tough one.”

Even with all that, Grant wants his wrestlers to approach each match the way they have the whole season.

“We have to remain solid and continue being aggressive,” Grant said.