Sophomore 165-pound Jeremy Benesh was named MAC Wrestler of the Week after his win over sixth-ranked Tyron Woodley.

“It’s a great honor for Jeremy and our wrestlers,” coach Dave Grant said. “Jeremy has been right there numerous times with a lot of top-ranked wrestlers and he turned the corner this weekend. By beating the sixth-ranked guy, he allowed us to beat the No. 8 team in the country.”

On Feb. 3, 141-pound freshman Josh Wooton earned MAC Wrestler of the Week after he beat CMU’s Jason Mester, the conference and nation’s top-ranked wrestler.

Sam Hiatt, a 133-pounder, earned the award the week before Wooton after defeating the conference’s top-ranked wrestler, Ohio’s Anthony Carrizales.

As the success of the Huskies’ wrestlers continues to gain more accolades, so does the team.

On Tuesday, NIU jumped in the rankings from the No. 20 spot in the country to No. 16 after its victory over eighth-ranked Missouri on Sunday, the second Top 10 team it has defeated this year.

Ranked by Wrestlingmall.com, the highest the Huskies have been ranked all year is 15th.

Two more wins this season would equal the single-season school record and would give NIU the most wins ever in a two-year stretch.

“I think all the hard work we’ve put in during the start of the season has started to pay off,” Grant said. “Our guys have a fantastic attitude and we want that to continue. They’ve got a belief that if you compete hard that all things are possible and that is what has been happening this year.”