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Northern Star

Northern Illinois University’s student news organization since 1899

 

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The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

Senior outfielder/catcher Colin Summerhill swings at a pitch in an NIU baseball home game against Ball State University on Friday. Summerhill notched four RBIs in the Huskies 12-3 rout of the Cardinals on Saturday. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

Brouwer’s no-hit bid powers Huskies to weekend win

By Zachary Bertram, Senior Sports Reporter | May 4, 2024

DeKALB – Redshirt sophomore pitcher Adam Brouwer was dominant on the mound as NIU baseball (16-30, 10-13 MAC) tied the series against the Ball State University Cardinals (26-19-1, 13-10 MAC) with a 12-3 win Saturday. Brouwer went seven or more innings...

A graphic displays 10 photos of NIU student-athletes from various athletic programs under a red box with white lettering. The Northern Star Sports Staff compiled its top-10 NIU Athletics programs of the academic year. (Eddie Miller | Northern Star)

COLUMN: Ranking the Top-10 NIU Athletics programs of 2023-24

By Northern Star Sports Staff | May 2, 2024

There have been plenty of ups and downs throughout the 2023-24 academic year across the 16 sports that make up NIU Athletics. As the spring semester closes, the Northern Star Sports Staff focuses on the ups. From MAC Championships to stunning individual...

A graphic shows redshirt junior quarterback Ethan Hampton, redshirt junior quarterback Jalen Macon and redshirt freshman quarterback Josh Holst. Sports Reporter Skyler Kisellus believes the three have emerged as the top contenders to succeed Rocky Lombardi as NIU’s starting quarterback. (Eddie Miller | Northern Star)

COLUMN: Evaluating NIU’s top quarterback options

By Skyler Kisellus, Sports Reporter | May 2, 2024

NIU football may have wrapped up spring practices last week, but its ongoing competition for the most important position in team sports remains unsettled. With three-year starter Rocky Lombardi graduated and now vying for a roster spot in the NFL,...

Sophomore forward Xavier Amos looks for an open teammate in an NIU mens basketball home game against Appalachian State University on Nov. 11. Amos announced his commitment to the University of Wisconsin-Madison via Instagram on Monday. (Courtesy of NIU Athletics)

Xavier Amos commits to Wisconsin

By Zachary Bertram, Senior Sports Reporter | April 30, 2024

DeKALB – Former NIU sophomore forward Xavier Amos announced his commitment to the University of Wisconsin-Madison for the 2024-25 season via his Instagram on Monday.  Amos is the second of seven 2023-24 Huskies who entered the transfer portal to...

A graphic shows sophomore pitcher/utility Danielle Stewart as the Huskie of the Week. Stewart recorded NIU softballs first no-hitter since 2006 on Friday and struck out 17 batters in 10 innings pitched for the week. (Eddie Miller | Northern Star)

Stewart’s no-hitter earns Huskie of the Week

By Northern Star Sports Staff | April 29, 2024

NIU softball’s first no-hitter since 2006 boosted sophomore pitcher/utility Danielle Stewart to her first Huskie of the Week honor of the season and third of her career. After allowing no hits in three innings against Valparaiso University, Stewart...

Redshirt junior quarterback Ethan Hampton (2) throws the ball during the Spring Showcase. Besides the Victor E. Fan Fest, fans tailgated in the various fields and parking lots near the Stadium. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

Huskies show progress at annual Spring Showcase

By Skyler Kisellus, Sports Reporter | April 28, 2024

The NIU football team concluded its spring practices Saturday with its annual Spring Showcase at Huskie Stadium, spending most of its two-hour afternoon workout in 11-on-11 scrimmage situations. NIU football head coach Thomas Hammock felt his team...

Former NIU football safety Jimmie Ward prepares for a snap in an NIU football game against Arkansas State University at the GoDaddy Bowl on Jan. 8, 2012. Ward is set to be inducted into the NIU Athletics Hall of Fame class of 2024. (Courtesy of NIU Athletics)

Ward added to 2024 NIU Athletics Hall of Fame class

By Zack Rodriguez, Sports Reporter | April 25, 2024

Former NIU star safety Jimmie Ward will be inducted into the NIU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2024, NIU announced Tuesday.  Ward joins the 2024 class along with former quarterback Jordan Lynch, gymnast Holly Reichard, volleyball star Kate McCullagh and...

NIU junior pitcher Conner Lutes (36) pitches during the second inning against UIC. Lutes pitched five innings, gave up one earned run and had one strikeout. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

Huskie bats go cold in loss to UIC

By Zachary Bertram, Senior Sports Reporter | April 25, 2024

After a three-run first inning, the Huskies’ offense went quiet as NIU baseball (13-27, 7-11 MAC) fell 5-4 to the University of Illinois Chicago Flames (25-12, 9-6 MVC) Wednesday.  An early lead and a quality start from junior pitcher Conner Lutes...

The Huskies baseball team celebrate after freshman catcher Cooper Cohn (4) hit a home run to win the game against Valparaiso on Tuesday. NIU was tied 9-9 after the top of the ninth inning until Cooper hit the home run with only one out in the inning. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

Cohn’s ninth-inning heroics push Huskies past Valparaiso

By Joseph Segreti, Sports Reporter | April 23, 2024

DeKALB – Freshman catcher Cooper Cohn walked off Valparaiso University with a towering solo home run in the ninth inning as the Huskies won 10-9.  COHN CALLED GAME The freshman backstop had his fair share of struggles in this game, dropping two...

A graphic shows redshirt sophomore Adam Brouwer as the Huskie of the Week. Brouwer pitched 7.2 innings for NIU baseball Saturday and only allowed one earned run in his outing. (Eddie Miller | Northern Star)

Brouwer’s quality start earns Huskie of the Week honors

By Northern Star Sports Staff | April 22, 2024

DeKALB – Redshirt sophomore pitcher Adam Brouwer’s gem on Saturday earned NIU baseball its second straight Huskie of the Week honor.  Brouwer totaled 7.2 innings pitched in Saturday’s matchup against Kent State, tallying five strikeouts and...

Sigma Nu celebrates first place for the 2024 Tugs season. Sigma Nu has earned first place in the past four Tugs championships. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

Tugs dynasty grows: Sigma Nu completes 4-peat

By Ethan Gonzales, Sports Editor | April 21, 2024

Editor’s note: This piece has been updated to clarify that Sigma Nu has won three consecutive Tugs championships prior to this year, as the IFC did not sanction a Tugs championship in 2021 due to COVID-19.   DeKALB – No. 1 Sigma Nu defeated...

Redshirt sophomore Adam Brouwer delivers a pitch against Miami University at McKie Field at Hayden Park in Oxford, Ohio. Brouwer led the Huskies to a 7-3 win over Kent State University Saturday after giving up just one earned run over 7.2 innings pitched. (Ellison Neumann | Courtesy of Miami Athletics)

Brouwer’s strong start powers NIU baseball to first home win

By Zachary Bertram, Senior Sports Reporter | April 21, 2024

DeKALB – After dropping Game 1 of the three-game series 7-3 to the Kent State University Golden Flashes (18-18, 9-8 MAC) on Friday, NIU baseball (12-25, 7-10 MAC) flipped the script Saturday with a 7-3 victory to even the series. A dominant start...