For the third year in a row, the NIU wrestling team took second place at the MAC championships held March 6 and 7 in Athens, Ohio.

Central Michigan took first place with 89 team points; NIU had 73 points and Ohio took third with 55.5 points.

The Huskies had four wrestlers place in either first or second place in their weight classes.

“We got a solid effort from everyone on this team,” NIU coach Dave Grant said. “We fought as a team, and you really can’t ask for anything more as a coach.”

NIU is sending Sam Hiatt, Ben Heizer and Josh Wooton to the NCAA championships in St. Louis from March 18 to 20.

Hiatt, a junior, won the 133-pound title with a 6-4 decision over CMU’s Jordan Webster. It was Hiatt’s second straight MAC title.

Heizer, a senior, captured the 184-pound crown as he beat Eddie Magrys of Eastern Michigan by a 2-0 decision.

“It was great to see Sam [Hiatt] and Ben [Heizer] take home MAC championships,” Grant said.

Wooton, a sophomore, took second place in the 149-pound weight class as he fell to CMU’s Adam Cunningham 6-4.

Redshirt freshman Andy Hiatt will be an alternate at the NCAAs in the 141-pound weight class.

Andy Hiatt took second place in the 141-pound weight class as he lost to CMU’s Jason Mester in a 12-4 major decision, a win of 8-14 points.

“I am really proud of our team and the effort they put forth,” Grant said. “This was supposed to be a rebuilding year for us, and we had four freshman in our lineup this weekend, but we still persevered and maintained our position at the top of the conference.”

Jake Percival of Ohio and Mester of CMU were named the MAC Co-Wrestlers of the Year.

CMU’s Tom Borrelli was named MAC Coach of the Year.

Percival also took home the Most Outstanding Wrestler of the tournament.