Five former NIU athletes will be inducted into the school’s athletic Hall of Fame as part of NIU’s 98th Homecoming weekend, beginning Friday in the Duke Ellington Ballroom.

T.C. Dantzler, E.C. Hill, Julie Sexton, Ernie Wickstrom and John Wrenn make up the 23rd class in the NIU Athletics Hall of Fame history.

The inductees will be honored at halftime of Saturday’s football game against Central Michigan. The new Hall of Famers also will serve as Grand Marshals in the parade Saturday.

Julie Sexton

Softball (1988-91)

Sexton was a catcher at NIU and lettered all four years. The Huskies had a record of 127-58-2 in her tenure.

She led the Huskies in batting average two years with an average of .370 in ‘90 and .411 in ‘91.

Sexton ranks third all-time in batting average and second in slugging percentage for the Huskies.

Mike Korcek, who has been the Sports Information Director for 21 years and serves as the chair of the NIU Athletics Hall of Fame committee said: “Sexton could play with the guys. She had good power and a tremendous arm.”

John Wrenn

Asst. football coach (1960-68)

Wrestling coach (1960-62)

Men’s tennis coach (1970-76)

Wrenn coached the football’s offensive and defensive lines and specialized in defense.

He also led the wrestling team to a runner-up finish in the IIAC in ‘62.

“We don’t induct just head coaches,” Korcek said.

“[Wrenn] did a lot. He coached the O-line, D-line, wrestling and even tennis.”

Ernie Wickstrom

Football (1949-50)

Wickstrom was a first-team Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference athlete and earned team MVP honors in 1950.

He led NIU in total yards, receiving and scoring in 1950 and has three of the school’s 20 longest rushing gains in history.

Wickstrom also went on to sign with the NFL’s Chicago Cardinals in ‘54 and Green Bay Packers in ‘55.

Korcek said: “We fear forgetting someone in the past, so it’s rewarding to see an older player get inducted.”

T.C. Dantzler

Wrestling (1989-93)

Football (1991)

Dantzler is one of only two NIU wrestlers ever to qualify for NCAA championships in four consecutive years.

He compiled a won-lost-tie-pin record of 81-34-1-12 career and went 3-6 in NCAA appearances.

Dantzler also lettered in football as a walk-on and started five games at tailback for the Huskies.

He was also a two-time member of the Greco-Roman U.S. National team in 2002 and 2003 and won a bronze medal at the 2004 U.S. Nationals.

Korcek said: “Dantzler was a great kid, he represented our school and country well.”

E.C. Hill

Women’s basketball (1991-94)

Hill led the Huskies to a 66-26 record and three straight NCAA tournament appearances in her career.

She ranks No. 2 in assists and steals all-time at NIU and third in scoring average. She also ranked 16th nationally in scoring average in 1993.

Hill was a two-time NIU MVP and played in the WNBA.

Korcek said: “[Hill] was a great all-around player and she had great moves. She was a big Michael Jordan fan.”