A roster comparison between the NIU and Southern Illinois-Edwardsville wrestling teams shows underclassmen dominate both teams.

But the similarities end there as this weekend’s matchup will feature two programs headed in separate directions.

The No. 23 Huskies (12-4 overall) will visit SIU (2-11-1) at 2 p.m. Sunday for their last non-conference meet of the season.

With only two meets left until the MAC championships, the Huskies will face a team that has had at least nine different freshmen or sophomores start. The Huskies have started eight underclassmen in their lineup for most of the year.

But the results have been drastically different. The top nine underclassmen starters for NIU have achieved a 133-88 record this season while their SIUE counterparts have combined for a 71-91 mark.

“Our young guys are wrestling like juniors and seniors,” NIU coach Dave Grant said. “They build off each other’s momentum and we become a fighting force instead of a bunch of individuals.”

The emergence of young wrestlers such as Chad Vandiver and Johnny Galloway have turned a potential rebuilding year into a quest for a MAC title. Vandiver has compiled a 20-9 record at 125 pounds and the 165-pound Galloway leads the team with a 23-7 record and six pins.

“We keep getting better as the year goes on,” Vandiver said. “We’re not cocky, but we know we can wrestle with anyone. You have to have a certain amount of confidence.”

That confidence propelled NIU to an 11-meet win streak after dropping its first two meets to Big Ten opponents Wisconsin and Northwestern. But Vandiver said the team’s work ethic is even more important to the team’s success.

“A lot of times in the third period the other team gets tired,” Vandiver said. “But we still have plenty of gas left in the tank.”