Despite seeing his team lose its first two matches of the season, NIU wrestling coach Dave Grant was confident his young team would only improve as the season progressed.

Now, six weeks later, the Huskies are riding a 10-match winning streak and the team seems to only be getting better, Grant said.

“We did wrestle tough competition early, but we came on stronger, and the guys are really wrestling great,” Grant said. “They are listening to us as coaches and believing what we’re teaching, and you can see it in the results.”

With fellow senior co-captain George Kirgan still sidelined with a knee injury, Sam Hiatt has set the pace early in matches at 133 pounds for NIU (9-2 overall, 2-0 MAC), compiling a 19-5 individual record for the season. Hiatt was also the highest NIU placer at the Midlands Championships on Dec. 30, finishing sixth.

“Right now, we need to concentrate on going out and dominating,” Grant said. “Setting the tempo early and jumping out to quick starts are big, and Sam Hiatt has done that for us.”

Dominating victories are becoming more common. The Huskies have won six matches by at least 20 points and have outscored their last three opponents 110-12. One of the 20-point victories came against Big Ten opponent Purdue at the Dec. 12 Northern Illinois Duals, marking the first time NIU has beaten Purdue since 1985.

Despite winning multiple matches by large margins, the Huskies found themselves trailing MAC rival Kent State 16-18 going into the final weight class of the match on Friday. But freshman Derick Hunsinger won the match for NIU with an 8-2 victory over Kent State’s Ben Rings at 197 pounds. Hunsinger previously took fourth place at the Michigan State Open and first place at the UW-Stevens Point Open.

BOX SCORES

Dec. 12, Northern Illinois Duals

NIU 35, Loras 9

NIU 29, Purdue 9

Dec. 29-30, Midlands Championships

Senior Sam Hiatt, 133 pounds, sixth place

Jan. 8, Buckeye Duals

NIU 20, Buffalo 15

NIU 31, Clarion 3

NIU 25, Wyoming 12

Jan. 14

NIU 19, Kent State 18

Jan. 16, Wendy’s Duals

NIU 49, Ashland 0

NIU 31, Cleveland State 6

NIU 30, Slippery Rock 6