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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

Senior Cheng En Tsai strikes the ball at the Nelson Tennis Center at Chick Evans Field House on March 2. Tsai won both his matches Friday as NIU men's tennis defeated Ball State University 5-2. (Northern Star File Photo)

Men’s tennis downs Ball State, wins 10th home match

By Kalin Schaefer, Sports Reporter | April 13, 2024

NIU men's tennis (18-4, 7-2 MAC) remained undefeated at home, earning its tenth home win against the Ball State University Cardinals (11-9, 5-4 MAC) by a score of 5-2.  The Huskies won two doubles matches before conceding two singles matches.  Senior...

Redshirt sophomore heavyweight wrestler Jacobi Jackson scans his opponent in an NIU wrestling home match. Jackson suffered two major injuries before finishing his 2023-2024 season as a ranked wrestler. (Courtesy of NIU Athletics)

From rehabilitation to ranked: the triumph of Jacobi Jackson

By Zack Rodriguez, Former Sports Reporter | April 10, 2024

Redshirt sophomore heavyweight wrestler Jacobi Jackson played a pivotal role in the Huskies' pursuit of the MAC West title. Yet, his journey to success encountered significant obstacles, temporarily diverting him from his path to dominance. HIGHLY...

Junior left fielder CJ Cepicky (39) flips his bat after hitting a two-run home run to left field during the fourth inning against Bowling Green. Cepicky’s home run cut the Falcon's lead to 4-3. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

Explosive second inning lifts Huskies over Eastern Illinois

By Joseph Segreti, Sports Reporter | April 9, 2024

NIU baseball outlasted Eastern Illinois University’s late- inning surge to secure a midweek 14-12 victory.  EARLY OFFENSE The Huskies’ offense exploded early in its matinee matchup against the Panthers, scoring eight of the teams’ 14 runs...

NIU sophomore Iker Gaztambide Arrastia gets set for an opponent's serve during a doubles match on March 2. Gaztambide Arrastia was the only Huskie to win a match as NIU men's tennis lost 6-1 to the University of Toledo Sunday. (Northern Star File Photo)

Men’s tennis loses 6-1, snaps MAC win streak at 5

By Kalin Schaefer, Sports Reporter | April 9, 2024

NIU men’s tennis (17-4, 6-2 MAC) earned its second MAC loss after losing to the University of Toledo (11-10, 6-3 MAC) in a 6-1 defeat, snapping the five match win streak in the conference. After staring slow in doubles matches, the Huskies couldn’t...

Senior outfielder/catcher Collin Summerhill drives a baseball off his bat against Bowling Green State University on Saturday. The Huskies were swept by the Falcons in a doubleheader Saturday. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

Huskies bats silenced by Bowling Green pitching

By Zachary Bertram, Senior Sports Reporter | April 7, 2024

DeKALB – The Bowling Green State University Falcons (15-10, 12-0 MAC) continued their reign over the Mid-American Conference with a doubleheader sweep of NIU baseball (10-21, 6-9 MAC) to remain unbeaten in conference play. After taking down the Huskies...

NIU senior Armin Koschtojan gets set to serve in a doubles match on March 2. Koschtojan was one of five NIU men's tennis players to win a singles match in a 5-2 win over the University at Buffalo Friday. (Northern Star File Photo)

Men’s tennis grabs fifth straight MAC win

By Kalin Schaefer, Sports Reporter | April 6, 2024

Earning its fifth straight win in MAC competition, NIU men’s tennis (17-3, 6-1 MAC) defeated the University of Buffalo (4-13, 0-8 MAC) in a 5-2 victory. The Huskies are now above Western Michigan in the standings, holding first place in the conference.  NIU...

Redshirt sophomore guard Zion Russell passes the ball in an NIU men's basketball home game against the University at Buffalo on Feb. 13. Russell is among seven Huskies that have entered the transfer portal since the end of the 2023-24 season. (Ryanne Sandifer | Northern Star)

COLUMN: Underachieving Huskies wrecked by transfer portal

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

Senior guard Keshawn Williams and junior guard David Coit are the newest former Huskies to enter the transfer portal. The Huskies’ two most recent leading scorers join junior guard Zarique Nutter, redshirt sophomore guard Zion Russell, sophomore forward...

Junior guard David Coit surveys the court with Ball State junior guard Jaylin Anderson guarding him in an NIU men's basketball game on Feb. 20. Coit and senior guard Keshawn Williams both entered the transfer portal on Monday. (Northern Star File Photo)

David Coit, Keshawn Williams enter transfer portal

By Ethan Gonzales, Former Sports Editor | April 1, 2024

DeKALB – Junior guard David Coit and senior guard Keshawn Williams have entered a transfer portal, per multiple social media posts. Coit was NIU’s leading scorer for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons and earned All-MAC Third Team honors for both...

NIU sophomore Christopher Norlin celebrates during a doubles match on March 2. Norlin won in singles and doubles as NIU men's tennis defeated University of Illinois Chicago 6-1 Saturday. (Northern Star File Photo)

Men’s tennis thumps UIC, wins fifth straight

By Kalin Schaefer, Sports Reporter | March 31, 2024

Extending its winning streak to five matches, four of which being in conference play, NIU men’s tennis (16-3, 5-1 MAC) defeated the University of Illinois Chicago (9-8, 1-5 MAC) in a 6-1 victory.  The Huskies swept doubles matches to earn the double’s...

NIU football players run onto the field of Huskie Stadium before their game against Eastern Michigan University on Oct. 21, 2023. Head coach Thomas Hammock previewed the 2024 regular season at the Pre-Spring Press Conference. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

Hammock previews NIU spring football, position competitions

By Zack Rodriguez, Former Sports Reporter | March 31, 2024

NIU football head coach Thomas Hammock spoke to the media at the NIU Football 2024 Pre-Spring Press Conference. In case you missed it, here are the biggest takeaways from Hammock's 22 minutes at the podium.  EMPHASIS ON SPECIAL TEAMS  Hammock...

Senior outfielder/catcher Collin Summerhill catches a baseball before an NIU baseball game against Louisiana State University. Summerhill hit his ninth home run of the 2024 season in a 5-3 win over the University of Toledo on Saturday. (Courtesy of Jonathan Mailhes)

Huskies avoid sweep behind Summerhill longball

By Zachary Bertram, Senior Sports Reporter | March 31, 2024

Senior catcher/outfielder Colin Summerhill’s ninth home run of the season proved to be the difference in NIU baseball’s (10-18, 6-6 MAC) 5-3 triumph over the University of Toledo Rockets (13-14, 8-4 MAC) Saturday.  "Games like today are big, when...

Junior pitcher Tommy Meyer throws a pitch in an NIU baseball game against Louisiana State University. Meyer gave up eight runs in three innings before the Huskies rallied to cut Toledo's lead to one run in the ninth inning. (Courtesy of Jonathan Mailhes)

Baseball rallies late, falls short to Toledo

By Joseph Segreti, Sports Reporter | March 29, 2024

NIU baseball (9-18, 5-6 MAC) dropped its second consecutive game in a loss to University of Toledo (13-13, 8-3 MAC) by a score of 8-7 to fall below .500 in MAC play for the first time this season. POOR STARTING PITCHING For the second consecutive...