Since sixth grade, NIU wrestler Pat Castillo has taken an annual road trip to watch the NCAA Championships. Now in his first year as a starter, the 125-pound sophomore is finally making that trip to the NCAAs as a participant.

“I feel pretty good about it,” the No. 12-ranked Castillo said. “My confidence is high going in there. I’ve already wrestled like 10 ranked guys this year. I’ll have to upset a few people, but for me it’s not an upset. I know I can get on that podium.”

The No. 24 Huskies will send senior Josh Wooton, junior Johnny Galloway and Castillo to the NCAA Championships March 16 through 18 in Oklahoma City, Okla.

In total, 330 qualifiers from 11 Division I wrestling conferences will descend on the Downtown Arena for the three-day championships. The MAC has a total of 19 qualifiers, with seven wrestlers coming from No. 4-ranked Central Michigan and four from No. 25-ranked Kent State.

Wooton and Galloway both made the trip to St. Louis last season and this year is Wooton’s fourth time as a qualifier. After coming so close to All-American in three previous years, it’s all or nothing for the 141-pound senior.

“A couple wins would be a disappointment,” Wooton said Sunday after winning a MAC championship. “I want to make it to the national finals, All-American at least. I think it’s a very realistic goal. I’ve beaten several guys ranked ahead of me.”

Combined, the three wrestlers boast a record of 78-23 on the season, good for a .772 winning percentage. With Galloway winning a MAC championship and Castillo and Wooton both ranked No. 12 in their respective weight classes, NIU coach Dave Grant likes his wrestlers’ chances to make All-American.

“I think all three of them have great chances,” Grant said. “They all have great assets, great conditioning and great attitudes. We’ve been in a lot of big events this year with the Midlands, National Duals. This is the same thing.”

Besides fulfilling his lifelong dream, Castillo said he hopes the NCAAs will bring closure as well. Castillo lost a close match in overtime in the 125-pound MAC championship to CMU rival Luke Smith, and he is hoping that disappointment will be quickly forgotten.

“[It’s] hard to do,” Castillo said. “I’ve been hard on myself for a few days. But it’s something I got to get over, like it never happened. I just get out there and wrestle and use it as a little motivation to get at people a little more.”