NIU wrestling coach Dave Grant knows this year’s team is young, but the eighth-year coach thinks this is one of the most talented groups he ever has had.

Six of the Huskies’ 10 weight classes still are up for grabs, but Grant is confident with whom he has at the four classes that are solidified.

Ben Heizer (184 pounds), Sam Hiatt (133 pounds) and Josh Wooton (149 pounds) all made the NCAA Championships last season. Heizer was an All-American. George Kirgan (174 pounds) has experience from a year ago, going 6-7 with three pins at 174 pounds.

The Huskies begin the regular season with a dual-meet Nov. 30 at Wisconsin.

In the 125-pound weight class, two freshmen are making a push at an upperclassman. True freshman Gralan Early, who was a high school All-American his senior year, and redshirt freshman Landon Foy are competing for the starting nod with senior Dave Aranda.

At 141 pounds, Sam Hiatt’s younger brother Andy is competing to see time on the mat with Mike Grimes. Both placed at the Michigan State Open on Nov. 9.

Two-time All-American Scott Owen left a void last season in the 157-pound weight class when he graduated. He now is an assistant coach with the Huskies. Sophomore Alex Nelson, who wrestled at 149 pounds as a freshman two seasons ago, has experience in the MAC and is the front-runner at 157. Grant said redshirt freshman Joe Henning might be able to crack the starting lineup at 157.

Danny Burk and Johnny Galloway both could wrestle for the Huskies at 165 pounds.

“Burk looks pretty tough right now,” Grant said. “He’s been training hard and has improved a lot from last year. He’s probably one of our harder trainers in the room.

“Galloway is a three-time Iowa State Champion, so he’s pretty talented.”

In the 197-pound weight class, NIU had a mini-tournament to see who would come out on top. Grant said everybody beat everybody in the tournament, so he is leaning on sophomore Brandon Check. Freshmen Derick Hunsinger and Dave Herrera also could be used in that weight class, while redshirt freshman Dustin Docter also is in the mix.

Grant said the lead guy in the heavyweight division is freshman Joe Sapp. Grant said he will start anyone who will be competitive in that division.

Coming off three consecutive winning seasons and being ranked two of the last three years, Grant is looking forward to another successful season.

“We have a lot of young, talented guys,” Grant said. “We are going to have to develop them. We need to continue the style that we wrestle. We need to go out there and wrestle hard and let things happen the way that they come down. We’ve been training really hard. We’ve got great shape, and that always seems to help us out.”