After opening up the conference schedule with a loss against Kent State last year, the NIU wrestling team will try to start the year with a win when it takes on the Golden Flashes at 2:05 p.m. Sunday at the Convocation Center.

While this is the first MAC meet of the season for NIU (6-3 overall, 0-0 MAC), KSU (2-9 overall, 1-1 MAC) has already wrestled a pair of matches, including its first MAC win on Thursday.

At this time last season, NIU fell to KSU 18-14. Ben Heizer and Sam Hiatt are the only returning wrestlers from last year’s squad to score wins in their matches.

“We’re basically in a situation where we have some pretty tough weights,” NIU coach Dave Grant said. “They’re pretty tough at 184 [pounds]; they’re good where we’re good. I think that could be a really good thing. Our philosophy is to go out there and set the pace and be aggressive.”

The Huskies boast three wrestlers ranked in the top 20 in their weight classes. Heizer (17-1) is the No. 2 wrestler in the 184-pound weight class, Hiatt (14-4) moved up to No. 10 at 133 pounds and Josh Wooton (14-7) still is 20th at 149 pounds.

KSU has one ranked wrestler on its roster. Mike Tolar comes in at 18th in the 157-pound weight class.

In the MAC rankings, the Huskies have seven wrestlers ranked in the top four of their weight classes. Heizer, Hiatt and Wooton are all No. 1 in the MAC rankings.

KSU has five wrestlers in the top four in the MAC. None of the five are No. 1 in their weight class in the conference rankings.

“We’re doing a pretty good job; the kids are working hard in the weight room and what more can you ask from them?” Grant said. “They have good attitudes and they don’t complain. I think that we can take a major step here in the next couple of weeks and that’s what we’re looking for.”