Beginning tonight, the NIU wrestling team will face its toughest weekend before the Mid-American Conference championships in March.

The Huskies take on Central Michigan University tonight and the University of Northern Iowa on Sunday. Both are ranked in the top 25 nationally.

NIU hopes to improve its overall record at 6-5-2, and 1-2-1 in the MAC. The Huskies will have a good measuring stick of where they are when defending MAC champions Central Michigan come to Chick Evans Field House at 7 p.m.

“A lot of guys are going to really have to step up for us,” said senior Scott Owen.

Seventeen of the wrestlers involved in the meet are ranked in the top four of the MAC. Key match-ups to watch are in the 141-,149- and 174-pound weight classes.

Ryan Egan might return from a slight shoulder injury to face CMU’s Jason Mester. Egan holds the No. 1 spot in the MAC, while Mester is No. 2 in the 141-pound weight class.

NIU freshman Jamie Hey wants to finish his climb to the top of the MAC as he faces No. 1-ranked Ty Morgan at 149. In the past few matches, Hey has been able to position himself at No. 2.

At 174 pounds, sophomore Bill Lowney will take on No. 2-ranked Kevin Carr of CMU.

NIU travels to Cedar Falls on Sunday to face Northern Iowa, ranked 20th in the nation — a good test for a young team. Northern Iowa has five wrestlers ranked in top 20 nationally.

Sophomore Jon Lovrich will have the toughest match in the heavyweight class against fifth-ranked Paul Hynek.