Red Sox vs. Yankees. Bears vs. Packers. David vs. Goliath. Any of these match-up clichés could be appropriately used to describe the rivalry between the NIU and Central Michigan wrestling teams.

After being reduced to bridesmaids the last four seasons, the Huskies will renew their annual grudge match with the Chippewas this weekend.

The No. 24 Huskies (6-4-2 overall, 2-0-1 MAC) will begin the weekend facing No. 5 Central Michigan (10-4, 2-0) at 7:30 p.m. Friday in Mt. Pleasant, Mich. NIU then hosts North Dakota State (6-3) at 2:05 p.m. Sunday at the Convocation Center.

For four straight years, NIU has gone into the year-end MAC Tournament with high expectations, only to finish second to CMU each time. This year, the Chippewas look stronger than ever with six wrestlers ranked in the top 20, including No. 1-ranked Wynn Michalak at 197 pounds. CMU’s dominance is underscored by the fact that the team has won its last four matches by a total of 142-18.

NIU senior Josh Wooton was a MAC champion last year at 141 pounds, but he knows the road to the championship goes through Mt. Pleasant.

“My guy beat me at Midlands but then I majored him last year,” Wooton said about potential opponent Brandon Carter. “They have two guys at 141, and I’ve beaten both of them. I really don’t think it matters. I’m just concentrating on going one match at a time and getting to nationals. This is my last year and I want to end on a big note.”

With both squads ranked in the top 25, this year’s dual will feature a number of marquee matches.

One match with potential fireworks will be at 125 pounds as NIU’s No. 12 Pat Castillo takes on No. 13 Luke Smith. The two explosive attackers have faced each other before, with Castillo beating Smith in the semi-finals at the Midlands Championships in December.

“I just want to stay after him and wrestle my style,” said Castillo, who has lost only one match since December. “That Lock Haven match was a wake-up call for some things to work on. [Smith] is a really tough guy. I feel like I can beat anyone right about now.”

Another premiere dual will be No. 12 Mike Grimes facing No. 6 Mark DiSalvo at 149 pounds. DiSalvo, a returning All-American, handed Grimes a hard-fought one-point defeat in last year’s MAC Tournament.

Derek Hunsinger’s second match back from injury will be his toughest yet as he will go one-on-one with No. 1-ranked Michalak. Michalak is 24-1 on the year with a team-high 10 pins.

The under card for the weekend will be when North Dakota State visits DeKalb on Sunday. The Bison have won their last six meets, but have only faced one top 25-ranked team, compared to seven for the Huskies.