Skip to Main Content

Northern Star

 

Advertisement

 

 
Northern Star

Northern Illinois University’s student media since 1899

 

Ensure student journalism survives. Donate today.

The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

NIU football players celebrate and sing the “Huskie Fight Song” after their 24-16 win against Central Michigan University on Nov. 30. NIU will conclude the 2024 season at the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl on Dec. 23 in Boise, Idaho, facing off Fresno State in a rematch of the 2010 Humanitarian Bowl. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

NIU football to face Fresno State in Famous Idaho Potato Bowl

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | December 8, 2024

DeKALB – After finishing the regular season 7-5 to secure its first winning season since 2021, it was announced Sunday that NIU football (7-5, 4-4 MAC) will face off against the Fresno State Bulldogs (6-6, 4-3 MWC) in the 2024 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl...

Freshman forward Jayden Mott prepares to shoot a free throw on Tuesday at the Convocation Center. Mott made his second-straight start on Saturday as NIU men's basketball lost 101-57 to the University of Northern Iowa. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

Slow start cripples Huskies as they fall to Northern Iowa

By Joseph Segreti, Sports Reporter | December 8, 2024

NIU men’s basketball dropped its sixth straight road game to start its season as they lost to the University of Northern Iowa Panthers 101-57.  NIU started the game dreadfully slow, as the Huskies first field goal of the game came at the 10:16 mark...

Redshirt sophomore Jacob Brya wraps around Rider University graduate student McKenzie Bell from behind on Nov. 22 at the Convocation Center. Brya took third place in the 141 lbs. division at the Cougar Clash on Saturday as NIU wrestling took fifth place out of eight teams. (Northern Star File Photo)

Wrestling meets mixed results in Cougar Clash

By James Bennett, Sports Reporter | December 8, 2024

NIU wrestling took the trip to Edwardsville for the Cougar Clash on Saturday. The Huskies mustered two podium finishes on the day and placed fifth as a team with 88 total points.  PODIUM FINISHERS At 125 lbs, Huskies’ redshirt junior Blake West...

NIU senior safety Nate Valcarcel (9) assists senior linebacker Jaden Dolphin (26) in a tackle during the 117th Homecoming game against University of Toledo on Oct. 19 at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb. Valcarcel and seven other Huskies received all-conference honors from the Mid-American Conference on Thursday. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

8 NIU football players earn All-MAC honors

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | December 6, 2024

DeKALB – After finishing the regular season with a winning record for the first time since 2021, eight NIU football players received all-conference honors, according to a release from the Mid-American Conference office Thursday. OL J.J. Lippe –...

NIU football head coach Thomas Hammock (left) hypes up his players before they run onto the field for a game against the University at Buffalo on Sept. 21 at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb. Hammock added 19 freshmen and two transfers to NIU’s 2025 signing class on the first day of the NCAA’s early signing period Wednesday. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

NIU inks 18 freshmen, 2 transfers on National Signing Day

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | December 4, 2024

DeKALB – As NIU waits to learn its bowl game destination, head coach Thomas Hammock built for his team’s future by signing 18 freshmen and two transfers on the first day of the early signing period Wednesday. The 2025 recruiting class – Hammock’s...

Senior guard James Dent Jr. (14) shoots a fade-away jumper against Benedictine University on Tuesday at the Convocation Center. Dent is averaging 13.6 points per game as NIU men's basketball stands at 3-6 on the season. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

SEGRETI: New stars can’t overcome men’s basketball’s struggles

By Joseph Segreti, Sports Reporter | December 4, 2024

NIU men’s basketball currently sits at a record of 3-6 as the Huskies enter the final stretch of their non-conference schedule.  Coming into this season, expectations were low for head coach Rashon Burno’s new look team.  The Huskies brought...

Sophomore guard Kailon Nicholls (5) cuts around Benedictine University junior guard Brandon McCoy (1) and charges towards the basket on Tuesday at the Convocation Center. Nicholls finished with a career-high 14 points as NIU men's basketball defeated Benedictine 89-70 on Tuesday. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

Men’s basketball cruises past Benedictine, ends losing streak

By Lucas Didier, Sports Editor | December 3, 2024

DeKALB – NIU men’s basketball (3-6) soundly defeated the Benedictine University Eagles (1-6) by a score of 89-70 as multiple Huskies reached career highs in points. The win snaps a five-game losing streak. “Good opportunity to get back on the...

Redshirt junior Jacob Christensen stares down his Rider University opponent on Nov. 22 at the Convocation Center after his opponent broke free. Christensen competes as a heavyweight in the 285-pound weight class for NIU wrestling in 2024-25. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

What does it take to maintain weight as a collegiate wrestler?

By Claire Valenti, Sports Reporter | December 2, 2024

We’ve all seen videos of wrestlers shaving their heads and sprinting on treadmills in desperate attempts to shake weight off before weigh-ins. We’ve heard stories of wrestlers endlessly chugging water and eating six meals in a day hoping to gain a...

NIU redshirt junior quarterback Ethan Hampton (2) attempts a pass during an overtime loss to the University at Buffalo on Sept. 21 at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb. Hampton announced Sunday that he intends to enter the transfer portal when it opens Dec. 9. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

BREAKING: NIU starting quarterback Ethan Hampton to enter transfer portal

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | December 1, 2024

DeKALB –  NIU redshirt junior quarterback Ethan Hampton announced on social media Sunday that he plans to enter the transfer portal with two years of eligibility remaining, ending an up-and-down career with the Huskies. The news comes one day after...

Senior defensive back Jashon Prophete (1) holds a bone in the air in front of his teammates after NIU football's 24-16 win against the Central Michigan University Chippewas on Saturday. The Huskies celebrated senior night during their final game of the regular season on Saturday and celebrated 30 seniors, 20 of which have spent their whole college career at NIU. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

NIU thwarts Central Michigan, freezing temps on Senior Day

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | December 1, 2024

DeKALB – The NIU football team overcame below freezing temperatures Saturday night at Huskie Stadium to defeat Central Michigan University 24-16 and send its 30 graduating seniors off with one final victory at home. The Huskies (7-5, 4-4 MAC) rushed...

NIU senior defensive tackle Devonte O’Malley (8) and redshirt senior tight end Tristen Tewes (82) wield flags as they lead the Huskies onto the field before kickoff of NIU’s 29-16 win against the University of Akron on Nov. 13 at Huskie Stadium. O’Malley and Tewes will be among the 30 seniors honored before Saturday’s home finale against Central Michigan University. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

NIU seeks strong home finish in Senior Day clash

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | November 27, 2024

DeKALB – The NIU football team will close out the regular season Saturday against longtime foe Central Michigan University as the largest senior class in team history prepares to play in front of the home crowd one last time. Fresh off a 20-9 loss...

NIU men’s basketball sophomore guard Kailon Nicholls fends off two Elon University defenders Wednesday in the Huskies’ 75-48 loss. Nicholls finished with 2 points Saturday in NIU’s 98-52 loss against Elon University. (Marco Alvarez | Northern Star)

DePaul’s three-point barrage sinks Huskies

By Joseph Segreti, Sports Reporter | November 23, 2024

NIU men’s basketball (2-4) dropped its third straight contest in a 98-52 blowout against the DePaul University Blue Demons (6-0) on Saturday.  “We didn’t play well,” NIU men’s basketball head coach Rashon Burno said. “We’re struggling...