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Northern Star

Northern Illinois University’s student media 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

Redshirt sophomore guard Zion Russell (10) attempts a free throw late in the second half of an NIU mens basketball home game. Russell announced Sunday that he will be transferring to Niagara University. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

Zion Russell commits to Niagara University

By Zachary Bertram, Senior Sports Reporter | May 6, 2024

DeKALB – NIU redshirt sophomore guard Zion Russell announced his commitment to Niagara University for the 2024-25 season via Instagram Sunday.  Russell is the fourth of seven 2023-24 Huskies that entered the transfer portal to find a new home.  Sophomore...

Freshman catcher Cooper Cohn (4) beats a throw to first base on May 3 at Ralph McKinzie Field at Walt and Janice Owens Park. NIU baseball lost the series finale against Ball State University by a score of 13-10 on Sunday. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

Huskies out-slugged by Ball State, drop series finale

By Joseph Segreti, Sports Reporter | May 5, 2024

DeKALB – NIU baseball lost a slugfest against Ball State University, as the Cardinals slugged four home runs, losing by a score of 13-10.  EARLY DEFICIT The Huskies starting pitcher for the day, senior pitcher Dominic Hann, totaled three innings...

Senior Julia Finegan (2) runs at the Redbird Tune Up on Feb. 16. Finegan finished third in the 800-meter run at the Fighting Illini Tune Up on Saturday. (Courtesy of Illinois State Athletics)

Huskies net 2 first place finishes in visit to Urbana-Champaign

By Joseph Segreti, Sports Reporter | May 5, 2024

Senior Tara Stauffacher’s first place finish in shot put highlighted NIU women’s track and field's successful day at the Fighting Illini Tune Up.  Stauffacher championed shot put with her best throw measuring in at 12.13 meters, beating out second...

Senior catcher/outfielder Ellis Erickson dives back to first base on Tuesday at Mary M. Bell Field. NIU softball dropped all three games of its regular season finale against Miami University on Saturday. (Northern Star File Photo)

Softball swept in series versus No. 25 RedHawks

By Skyler Kisellus, Sports Reporter | May 5, 2024

DeKALB – NIU softball (18-34, 9-19 MAC) mustered four total runs in weekend action against the 25th-ranked Miami University RedHawks (45-7, 26-1 MAC) on Saturday and Sunday at Mary M. Bell Field to conclude the regular season. The Huskies were blanked...

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...

Freshman catcher Cooper Cohn (4) hits a home run during the second inning at Ralph McKinzie Field at Walt and Janice Park. NIU baseball dropped the series opener against Ball State University by a score of 4-3 on Friday. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

Ball State outlasts Huskies, NIU drops series opener

By Joseph Segreti, Sports Reporter | May 3, 2024

DeKALB – NIU baseball (15-30, 9-13 MAC) dropped its third straight contest, losing to the Ball State University Cardinals (26-18-1, 13-9 MAC) by a score of 4-3. TOUGH START FOR BRACHBILL Freshman pitcher Ty Brachbill started the series opener...

Junior Felix Krammer lines up a shot at the Badger Invitational in October of 2023. Krammer, along with junior Ben Sluzas, was voted to the All-MAC Second Team for the 2023-24 season. (Northern Star File Photo)

Sluzas, Krammer earn All-MAC Second Team honors

By Eddie Miller, Assistant Sports Editor | May 3, 2024

After all nine coaches voted, the Mid-American Conference announced the All-MAC first and second team selections Friday. Two Huskies were awarded, with juniors Felix Krammer and Ben Sluzas each earning second team honors.   This is Sluzas’ second...

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...

Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze and quarterback Caleb Williams hold their jerseys at a press conference in Lake Forest, Illinois on Friday. Odunze and Williams were both selected in the 2024 NFL Draft. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

COLUMN: Grading the Bears’ 2024 draft class

By Eddie Miller, Assistant Sports Editor | May 2, 2024

Although the Chicago Bears only made five draft selections in the 2024 NFL draft, general manager Ryan Poles surely made a splash. After taking a look at Chicago’s newest players, I give the Bears’ draft an overall grade of A-. CALEB WILLIAMS:...

NIU senior infielder Andre Demetral gets set to throw the ball to first base on April 24 at Curtis Granderson Stadium. Demetral scored two runs as NIU baseball fell 6-5 to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Panthers on Wednesday. (Northern Star File Photo)

Timely hitting evades NIU baseball in loss to Milwaukee

By Zachary Bertram, Senior Sports Reporter | May 2, 2024

NIU baseball (15-29, 9-12 MAC) was unable to come up with the clutch hit needed Wednesday, falling to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Panthers (14-28, 9-12 Horizon League) 6-5. The Huskies scored just one run after the second inning, leaving...

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,...

Then-sophomore guard Keshawn Williams (0) shoots a layup over Kent State Universitys then-redshirt junior guard Sincere Carry on March 1, 2022 at the NIU Convocation Center in DeKalb. Williams announced on his Instagram Monday that he will be transferring to Colorado State University for the 2024-25 season. (Northern Star File Photo)

Keshawn Williams commits to Colorado State

By Zachary Bertram, Senior Sports Reporter | May 1, 2024

DeKALB – NIU senior guard Keshawn Williams announced his commitment to Colorado State University for the 2024-25 season via his Instagram on Monday. Williams is the third of seven 2023-24 Huskies that entered the transfer portal to commit to a new...