Today is the first of three days in St. Louis for the NCAA wrestling championships for four Huskies.

Ben Heizer, Sam Hiatt and Josh Wooton will represent NIU, which jumped back into the Top 25 on Tuesday with a No. 23 showing.

“All three of these wrestlers have been here before,” NIU coach Dave Grant said. “They are all used to the atmosphere, and this should come out as a positive to them.”

Redshirt freshman Andy Hiatt, 141 pounds, is an alternate for the NCAA championships.

This is the third consecutive year the Huskies have sent three or more wrestlers to represent NIU at the NCAA championships.

“We have made a steady improvement each season,” Grant said. “We’ve had outstanding years with great individuals. We’ve consistently been there because of our training and our quality people in the room.”

Heizer received a No. 2 seed in the 184-pound bracket. Hiatt drew the No. 10 seed in the 133-pound weight class, and Wooton went unseeded in the 149-pound weight class.

An All-American last season, Heizer (26-1) will match up against Rutgers’ Rudy Medini Jr. (20-6). Even though Heizer is a higher seed this year than he was last year, his outlook doesn’t change.

“I really don’t have any added pressure,” Heizer said. “Whether you’re the No. 2 seed like I am or a lower seed, you still have to go out there and beat everyone.”

Hiatt, who made it to the third round of the consolation bracket at the NCAA championships last season, will face Bloomsburg’s Bryan Hart. Hart finished the regular season 22-12 and Hiatt was 22-6.

Wooton (22-9) made it to the fourth round of the consolation bracket last season in the 141-pound weight class, but this year he went up in weight and will face Jeff Ratliff from Ohio State. Ratliff (32-12) is the No. 11 seed.

“We all have pretty good chances to come out winners,” Sam Hiatt said. “We are all in good situations in our brackets. All we have to do is be ready to go.”