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The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

Northern Illinois University’s student media since 1899
The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

NIU baseball head coach Ryan Copeland speaks at an NIU Athletics press conference in the spring. Heading into Year 3 at the helm, Copeland sports and overall record of 42-66 as the Huskies' head coach. (Edison Miller | Northern Star)

NIU Baseball sees resurgence under Copeland’s leadership

By Joseph Segreti, Sports Reporter | June 1, 2025

After seeing success at every level of baseball, NIU baseball head coach Ryan Copeland has helped bring success back to NIU’s program, while continuing to rebuild a team that won just 10 games in 2023.  NIU COACHING CAREER  Holding a 42-66 record...

NIU redshirt junior linebacker Marc Pretto (23) initiates a tackle against redshirt freshman running back Romelo Ware (11) during 11-on-11 drills in NIU’s Spring Showcase on April 26 in DeKalb. Pretto is projected to have a larger role on NIU’s defense in 2025 as the starting weakside linebacker. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

Post-spring NIU football depth chart projection: Who will start on Huskies’ defense?

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | May 7, 2025

Last season, NIU fielded one of the top defenses in the country, finishing among the top 25 Football Bowl Division teams in most defensive statistical categories. Since then, that unit has undergone a drastic overhaul. Defensive coordinator Nick Benedetto...

NIU redshirt sophomore running back Jaylen Poe (28) celebrates with redshirt junior offensive lineman Abiathur Curry (55) after scoring a rushing touchdown during 11-on-11 drills in the team's Spring Showcase on Saturday at Huskie Stadium. Curry and Poe are projected to have large roles on the Huskies' offense this season. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

Projecting NIU football’s offensive starters after spring ball

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | May 5, 2025

NIU football is one step closer to its swansong season in the Mid-American Conference after wrapping up a four-week stretch of spring practices last week. The 15 practices, including the annual Spring Showcase on April 26, offered an early glimpse...

NIU baseball senior outfielder CJ Cepicky (39) beats the tag at third with a slide during the Huskies’ game against Akron University on April 18. Assistant Sports Editor Kalin Schaefer breaks down her three greatest takeaways from the Huskies’ 2025 season. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

SCHAEFER: Three takeaways from baseball’s turbulent season

By Kalin Schaefer, Sports Editor | April 30, 2025

Sitting in 10th place in the Mid-American Conference with a conference record of 5-16, NIU baseball holds a .364 winning percentage with 10 games left in its season. Despite a talented offense, the Huskies need to work out some inconsistencies and pitching...

NIU women’s tennis junior Nataly Ninova follows through after returning the ball during the Huskies’ match against the University at Buffalo on April 13. The Huskies received an invitation to compete at the Universal Tennis Rating Sports NIT Championship, scheduled to take place from May 7-9 in Rome, Georgia. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

Women’s tennis earns berth to NIT Championship

By Kalin Schaefer, Sports Editor | April 30, 2025

After falling in the Mid-American Conference championship match to the University at Buffalo, NIU women’s tennis has been invited to compete in the Universal Tennis Rating Sports National Invitational Tournament Championship. This is the first time...

NIU softball senior first baseman Madison Mathews (21) doubles back after rounding third base during the first inning of Game 2 against Western Michigan University on Tuesday. The Huskies split the doubleheader, dropping a 4-3 first game before a 9-7 victory in Game 2.  (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

Softball rides late-game surge to salvage split with Western Michigan

By Logan Whittington, Sports Reporter | April 30, 2025

NIU softball (19-27, 13-12 MAC) split Tuesday’s doubleheader against the Western Michigan University Broncos (14-35, 8-16 MAC), losing 3-4 in Game 1 and winning Game 2 by a score of  9-7.  GAME 1 In the top of the first inning, Western Michigan...

NIU men's golf senior Felix Krammer tracks his golf ball as it falls into Hole 4 during the first round of the Kishwaukee Collegiate on April 5 at the Kishwaukee Country Club in DeKalb. Krammer finished in sixth place in his final collegiate tournament on Tuesday, leading NIU to a fourth-place finish at the Mid-American Conference Championship. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

NIU golf tees off against conference foes, narrowly misses podium

By Edison Miller, Editor in Chief | April 29, 2025

Coming into its 2024-2025 campaign, NIU men’s golf head coach John Carlson had one goal: To earn a spot in the NCAA Regional Tournament.  “We set out a goal at the beginning of the year to earn a way to the NCAA Regionals,” Carlson said. “We...

NIU baseball senior outfielder Gavin Baldwin (33) jogs home after hitting a home run against the University of Illinois Chicago on March 26. The Huskies set a record for most home runs in a single season in Tuesday’s loss to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

Home run record set by Huskies in loss to Milwaukee

By Kalin Schaefer, Sports Editor | April 29, 2025

Breaking a record that’s stood for over 20 years, NIU baseball (16-28, 5-16 MAC) hit four home runs in a 18-15 loss at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (15-27, 11-9 Horizon League) to set a program record for most home runs in a single season.  With...

Senior defensive end Roy Williams (97) celebrates after receiving a “The Hard Way” recognition for his performance during the 2024 season. Williams enters the upcoming season as one of the most experienced players on NIU’s new-look defense. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

Gallery: NIU football hosts Spring Showcase

By Totus Tuus Keely, Assistant Photo Editor | April 29, 2025

NIU redshirt senior offensive lineman J.J. Lippe (79) signals a first down as redshirt senior offensive lineman Logan Zschernitz (65) faces the huddle during NIU’s season finale against Central Michigan University on Nov. 30 at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb. Lippe and Zschernitz were among four NIU football players signed by NFL teams as undrafted free agents after the 2025 NFL Draft concluded Saturday. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

4 former Huskies sign UDFA deals with NFL teams, 2 earn minicamp invites

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | April 29, 2025

DeKALB – For the sixth straight year, no NIU football players were selected in the annual NFL draft, but six seniors have earned opportunities to play at the next level. Four former Huskies – fullback Brock Lampe (New England Patriots), offensive...

A graphic depicts NIU women's tennis junior Nataly Ninova as this week's Huskie of the Week. Ninova earned the award after leaving the Mid-American Conference Tournament undefeated in singles matches, earning a spot on the MAC All-Tournament team. (Edison Miller | Northern Star)

Huskie of the Week: Ninova’s postseason performance earns final honor of 2024-2025 academic year

By Northern Star Sports Staff | April 28, 2025

For the third time this season, NIU women’s tennis junior Nataly Ninova has been named the Northern Star’s Huskie of the Week.  Winning both of her singles matches at the Mid-American Conference Championship tournament, Ninova was named to the...

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