For the first time in NIU wrestling history, the Huskies had two wrestlers earn All-American honors in the same season.

The 157-pound Scott Owen and 184-pound Ben Heizer took fifth and sixth place, respectively, in their weight classes. Sam Hiatt (133 pounds) won two matches in his first ever NCAA Championships. Freshman 141-pound Josh Wooton also won two matches.

“It was a great tournament and a great year,” coach Dave Grant said. “Our guys went out and wrestled hard, and I think we earned some respect. Our veterans really stepped up and the young guys won a couple of matches as well. I’m really proud of the way we wrestled.”

After breezing through his first couple of matches, Owen lost to Alex Tirapelle from University of Illinois, who took second place, with a final of 5-1, sending Owen to the consolation bracket.

Owen then lost to third-seeded Shane Roller of Oklahoma State 9-8. That set up a re-match with Keaton Anderson of Ohio State, who beat Owen earlier in the year. Owen took advantage of his reunion with Anderson, defeating him 7-4 to take fifth-place honors.

“It was a little bit of sweet revenge,” Grant said. “It was a good win. Anderson was ranked No. 1 for most of the year. Scott had some chances in his first match.”

Heizer also went through the first day with ease before losing to fourth-place finisher Hessman Smith of Iowa.

Heizer lost to Oklahoma’s Josh Lambrecht 8-3 in the semifinals to set-up a fifth-place match with Clint Wattenberg of Cornell. Heizer lost 9-5 to take sixth-place and earn his first ever All-American honor.

“Ben fell behind early and was aggressive trying to make a comeback,” Grant said. “I think this will give him a lot of motivation for next year. It’s always big when you can finish ahead of two higher-seeded guys.”

NIU took 22nd place at the NCAA Championships, 10 spots ahead of Central Michigan, thanks in large part to Owen and Heizer.

Owen, a sixth-year senior, earned his second straight All-American honor for the Huskies.

“Scott has been the cornerstone of our program,” Grant said. “He has been Northern Illinois wrestling. Scott is a great leader and a lot of guys have taken their cues from him. In all my years of coaching, I don’t think that I’ve worked with anyone who has worked harder than Scott Owen. It’s been a privilege to coach him.”