After placing six wrestlers, including four freshmen, at the Michigan State Open, the NIU wrestling team is trying to place more at the Missouri Open this weekend.

The Huskies will travel to take on some of the best teams in the country this weekend, including the No. 1-ranked team in the nation, Oklahoma State.

There are two brackets in the Missouri Open. One for freshmen and sophomores and another for the upperclassmen.

“We expect the freshmen to do well because they will be facing people their age or a year older than them,” NIU coach Dave Grant said. “We’re looking for some of our guys to go out there and prove themselves nationally.”

Two of the three nationally-ranked Huskies might not compete this weekend.

Ben Heizer, the No. 2-ranked 184-pound wrestler, will not compete because of a sore back that he said still is getting better.

“We just don’t feel we need to put him in a tournament like this right now at this point in the season,” Grant said.

Sam Hiatt, the 15th-ranked 133-pound wrestler, tweaked his knee on Tuesday and may not compete.

Josh Wooton, who won the 149-pound title at the Michigan State Open, will wrestle for the Huskies.

Two of NIU’s coaches also placed at the Michigan State Open.

Raphael Davis will be competing in this open, but Scott Owen is taking the tournament off to prepare for the Midlands Championships.

“We’re looking forward to carrying on some of the things that we did at the Michigan State Open,” Grant said.