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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 outfielder/infielder Parker Shupe throws from the outfield in an NIU baseball game against Louisiana State University. NIU baseball started the 2024 season 7-14, but already look to surpass the total win count of the 2023 season. (Courtesy of Jonathan Mailhes)

COLUMN: NIU Baseball poised for a bounce back season

By Zachary Bertram and Joseph Segreti | March 21, 2024

Under first year NIU baseball head coach Ryan Copeland, NIU baseball (7-14, 4-2 MAC) is well on its way to shattering both their conference win total and overall win total from a season ago.  After going 5-24 in conference play in 2023, the Huskies...

Senior pitcher Ryan Linkletter throws a pitch in an NIU baseball game against Lousiana State University. Linkletter gave up four runs on three hits against Illinois State University on Wednesday. (Courtesy of Jonathan Mailhes)

Baseball drops midweek shootout against Illinois State

By Joseph Segreti, Sports Reporter | March 20, 2024

NIU baseball (7-14, 4-2 MAC) dropped its matinee slugfest to Illinois State University (10-9) Wednesday by a score of 16-12.  In a game where the Huskies gave up 16 runs, NIU used nine pitchers over eight innings with freshman pitcher Alex Day having...

NIU then-redshirt junior quarterback Jordan Lynch prepares to throw a pass during a game against the University at Buffalo on Oct. 13, 2012, at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb. Lynch was announced Friday as a member of the 2024 classes of the NIU Athletics Hall of Fame and MAC Hall of Fame. (Scott Walstrom | NIU Athletics)

Former Huskie star Jordan Lynch to join NIU, MAC Halls of Fame

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | March 17, 2024

DeKALB – One decade after finishing his storied playing career, former NIU quarterback Jordan Lynch will be inducted into the NIU Athletics Hall of Fame and the MAC Hall of Fame this year, the institutions announced Friday. Once an All-American and...

Then-junior infielder Eric Erato swings at a pitch against the University of Illinois Chicago on April 25, 2023. Erato went 3-for-5 in NIU baseball's 6-1 victory over Ohio University on Sunday. (Mingda Wu | Northern Star)

Shutdown pitching powers NIU to first MAC-series win since 2021

By Zachary Bertram, Senior Sports Reporter | March 12, 2024

Behind a dominant start from redshirt sophomore pitcher Adam Brouwer, NIU baseball (5-11, 2-1 MAC) cruised to a 6-1 rubber match victory over the Ohio University Bobcats (5-8, 1-2 MAC) in its first series of conference play Sunday. After a doubleheader...

Redshirt sophomore Blake West eyes his Kent State University opponent in Day 1 of the MAC Championships Friday. West qualified for the NCAA Tournament after falling in the championship round of the MAC Championships. (Elsye Jones | Courtesy of NIU Athletics)

Wrestling places 7th at MAC Championships

By Zack Rodriguez, Former Sports Reporter | March 12, 2024

DeKALB – Seven Huskies merit a MAC Championship spot while one earned admission to the NCAA Championships during the 2024 MAC Championships Friday and Saturday on the campus of Kent State University. NIU extended its NCAA qualifier streak to 51 consecutive...

Freshman Saul Berdullas throws up a serve against Omaha on March 2. Berdullas was the lone Huskie to win a singles match in a  5-2 loss to Western Michigan University. (Norther Star File Photo)

Men’s tennis falls to Western Michigan, ends winning streak at 9

March 11, 2024

Losing to Western Michigan University (10-3, 2-0 MAC), NIU men’s tennis’ (11-3, 1-1 MAC) winning streak has ended at nine matches.  The Huskies won two matches to clinch the doubles point, before losing all but one of the singles matches.  Seniors...

Senior infielder Aaron Harper throws a baseball to a teammate before NIU baseball's matchup with Louisiana State University. Harper recorded three hits in Game 2 of the Huskies' doubleheader against Ohio University Friday. (Courtesy of Jonathan Mailhes)

Baseball splits doubleheader with Ohio, wins first MAC game of 2024

By Joseph Segreti, Sports Reporter | March 9, 2024

NIU baseball split a doubleheader against the University of Ohio Friday to open MAC play. With the win, the Huskies earned their first conference win of the 2024 season.  GAME 1  The Huskies’ offense provided early support for freshman pitcher...

Freshman Sam Klein (left) and sophomore Iker Gaztambide Arrastia (right) reach for a handshake at the Nelson Tennis Center at Chick Evans Field House. Gaztambide Arrastia won his doubles match with sophomore Christopher Norlin as NIU defeated Ball State University 5-2. (Scott Walstrom | NIU Athletics)

Men’s tennis wins 9th straight with win over Ball State

By Kalin Schaefer, Sports Reporter | March 9, 2024

Adding another win to the now nine match win streak, NIU men’s tennis (11-2, 1-0 MAC) defeated Ball State University (6-6, 0-1 MAC) 5-2, earning its first conference win. The Huskies won two of the three matches to clinch the doubles point, dropping...

Junior guard David Coit scans the court while Buffalo freshman guard Bryson Wilson guards him on Friday. Coit scored a career-high 37 points en route to a 78-68 victory over the Bulls. (Paul Hokanson | Courtesy of UB Athletics)

3 Huskies post season highs in season finale victory

By Zachary Bertram, Senior Sports Reporter | March 9, 2024

Junior guard David Coit exploded for a career-high 37 points as NIU men’s basketball (11-20, 5-13 MAC) ended an otherwise lackluster season on a high note, taking down the University at Buffalo Bulls (4-27, 2-16 MAC) 78-68 Friday.  “He’s (Coit)...

Former NIU quarterback Rocky Lombardi drops back during passing drills at Thursday's Pro Day inside the Chessick Practice Center. Lombardi worked out in front of scouts from at least 11 NFL teams. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

6 former Huskies participate in annual Pro Day

By Zack Rodriguez, Former Sports Reporter | March 7, 2024

DeKALB – Six former Huskies and five other draft-eligible players worked out in front of NFL scouts ahead of April's 2024 NFL Draft Thursday at the Chessick Practice Center for NIU’s annual Pro Day. Measurements were taken ahead of on-field testing....

NIU senior Mikael Vollbach gets set to receive the serve during singles. Vollbach scored the Huskies’ second point in a tight match that went to a second set tiebreaker as he defeated University of Nebraska Omaha sophomore Ryoma Mishiro with scores of 6-4, 7-6 and 7-5. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

Vollbach earns MAC Scholar Athlete of the Week honors

By Kalin Schaefer, Sports Reporter | March 7, 2024

NIU men’s tennis senior Mikael Vollbach was named the MAC Scholar Athlete of the Week, the conference announced Wednesday.  MAC faculty athletics representatives consider athletic performance from the previous week and grade-point average when selecting...

Then-senior linebacker Tyler Jackson (0) lines up behind then-redshirt sophomore George Gumbs Jr. and then-junior defensive tackle Cade Haberman in an NIU football home game against Ohio University on Oct. 14, 2023. NIU football's 2024 schedule was released Tuesday. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

NIU finalizes 2024 football schedule

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

DeKALB – The NIU football team is set to face a pair of Power Five opponents in the University of Notre Dame and North Carolina State University in its 2024 schedule announced by NIU and the Mid-American Conference Tuesday. NIU will play six games...