In the largest single-day college wrestling open of the year, the NIU wrestling team won one title and placed 11 wrestlers at the Kaufman-Brand Open on Saturday.

In the team’s final tune-up before the beginning of the dual meet season, the Huskies traveled to Nebraska-Omaha to compete against 41 schools and more than 700 wrestlers. Perennially-ranked wrestling programs such as Iowa, Iowa State, Nebraska, Minnesota, Wisconsin and defending national champion Oklahoma State also made the trip to UNO’s campus.

Despite the stiff competition and grueling 15-hour tournament schedule, NIU placed 11 wrestlers in the top six of the weight classes. The young Huskie squad particularly excelled in the Under-20 Division, where freshman Duke Burk took home the 184-pound title while two other freshmen reached a championship match.

“We’ve been teaching them to be mean, fierce competitors,” NIU coach Dave Grant said. “That’s the one thing opposing coaches notice the most. Win, lose or draw, we’re working hard until the final whistle. We now know we can compete against anyone.”

Burk won his second straight open title and has yet to lose a match this season. The Peoria native dominated his bracket with a technical fall and two major decisions before scoring a 3-1 victory over Nebraska’s Vince Jones.

Not to be outdone by his younger brother, sophomore Danny Burk also reached the 174-pound final but was denied his second straight championship with a 9-4 loss.

Junior Mike Grimes sped through his bracket to the championship match at 149 pounds as well. But the No. 9-ranked Grimes lost a 3-2 heartbreaker to No. 4-ranked Ty Eustice of Iowa in the championship.

Senior teammate Josh Wooton also lived up to his No. 12 ranking by going 5-1 and capturing third place at 141 pounds.

Also reaching the finals in their respective brackets were freshmen Joe Cornejo at 149 pounds and Brett Ambrosino at 165 pounds. Other placers for the Huskies included 157-pound Scott Wallace in third place, 125-pound Pat Castillo in fourth place, 165-pound Alex Nelson in fifth place and 133-pound brothers Andy and Max Hiatt in sixth place.