Dennis Hastert, speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, will be at the 2005 NIU Wrestling Showcase Meet.

Hastert is a former teacher, football and wrestling coach at Yorkville High School. In his third term as speaker, Hastert will headline a fundraising dinner for NIU wrestling and a dual meet with Northwestern at the Convocation Center Dec. 1 at 7 p.m.

“We’re certainly honored and proud to have Dennis Hastert on our campus,” Athletics Director Jim Phillips said. “He is one of our own and, of course, one of the best-known, if not the best, grass-root advocates for the sport of wrestling in our nation. His long-time love of wrestling and coaching experience at Yorkville High School speaks volumes. He is a wrestling pioneer.”

Schenk places third

The NIU men’s golf team took home a fourth-place finish at the inaugural Big East/MAC Conference Men’s Golf Challenge.

Marquette University won the 11-team, 54-hole event. South Florida finished second, and MAC opponent Ohio edged NIU for third place.

“Marquette had a great final round to win it,” NIU coach John Cleary said. “Although we weren’t able to match our second round, we did well enough to take fourth place by ourselves. All in all, it was a good way to end the fall portion of our season.”

Zach Jenklin and Nick Schenk finished in a tie for third place. Jenklin was the leader in the clubhouse after the first day, with rounds of 69-70. A closing day 72 dropped the sophomore from Bloomington to third.

Schenk opened 74-70, but fired a stellar 67 on the final day to move into third.

Regional Golf

The 2007 NCAA Central Regional Men’s Golf Championships will be hosted by NIU at the prestigious Rich Harvest Links Golf Course. The Sugar Grove course is recognized as one of the finest layouts and facilities in the country.

In Golf Digest’s “100 Greatest Golf Courses,” Rich Harvest received a ranking of 45. The event will take place May 17 to 19, 2007.