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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

A graphic shows senior defensive tackle James Ester, junior running back Antario Brown, and junior safety Nate Valcarcel in action for NIU football. Sports Reporter Eddie Miller predicts these three players could make it to NFL rosters. (Eddie Miller | Northern Star)

COLUMN: 3 NIU football players have NFL-level talent

By Eddie Miller, Sports Reporter | November 3, 2023

DeKALB – With three regular season games left, NIU football has had a much improved year compared to 2022. NIU holds an incredible amount of talent on the roster, with a few players that could – one day – go pro.  It is worth mentioning, “going...

Sophomore midfielder Angel Rodriguez navigates the ball through a Loyola defender. Rodriguez scored the game-winning goal late in the Huskies' game against Bowling Green State University on Wednesday. (Scott Walstrom | NIU Athletics)

Arima’s goal lifts men’s soccer to playoffs

By Kalin Schaefer, Sports Reporter | November 1, 2023

DeKALB – In a must win game for the NIU men’s soccer team (6-8-1, 3-4-1 MVC), goals from sophomore midfielder Angel Rodriguez and junior forward Taisei Arima led the Huskies to a victory over the Bowling Green State University Falcons (7-7-3, 4-4...

Redshirt freshman Danny Curran (right) grapples with redshirt freshman Dylan Gvillo (left) during the Huskie Duals exhibition last Friday. The Huskies' first dual takes place Friday against Lindenwood and St. Ambrose. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

NIU wrestling: New faces, returning stars

By Zack Rodriguez, Former Sports Reporter | November 1, 2023

DeKALB – Roll out the mats, break out the headgear and prepare the ringworm ointment, as the NIU wrestling season is rapidly approaching. LAST SEASON RESULTS  Last season, NIU wrestling finished with an 8-5 overall record and went  5-1 in the...

A cartoon illustrates former NIU football kicker Mathew Sims' vibrant smile and pre-kick setup. Sims finished as NIU's second all-time leading scorer in school history and was known as a great teammate and friend. (Eleanor Gentry | Northern Star)

Remembering NIU’s kicking hero

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | November 1, 2023

His name was Mathew Sims. He was the kicker NIU football placed its collective trust upon to pull the Huskies through on the gridiron. It’s Dec. 2, 2011, at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. The 9-3 NIU Huskies and the 9-3 Ohio University Bobcats...

Redshirt junior wide receiver Trayvon Rudolph receives a handoff during NIU football's game against Eastern Michigan University on Oct. 22. The Huskies' comeback bid fell short in a 37-31 loss to Central Michigan on Tuesday. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

Football’s MACtion comeback falls short

By Zachary Bertram, Senior Sports Reporter | October 31, 2023

DeKALB – After trailing 24-3 at halftime and 37-11 during the third quarter, NIU football (4-5, 3-2 MAC) was unable to complete a miraculous second half comeback, falling 37-31 to the Central Michigan University Chippewas (5-4, 3-2 MAC). With the...

Then-sophomore guard David Coit dribbles the ball past a Kent State University defender in the quarterfinals of the MAC Tournament on March 9. Senior Sports Reporter Zach Bertram highlights Coit's journey from Atlantic Cape Community College to NIU. (Sean Reed | Northern Star)

From D3 to D1: David Coit’s path to NIU

By Zachary Bertram, Senior Sports Reporter | October 31, 2023

DeKALB – Before leading the country in scoring at the NJCAA Division III level at Atlantic Cape Community College and transferring to NIU, junior guard David Coit was a kid who fell in love with the game of basketball at a young age. “My father...

Eastern Michigan then-sophomore guard Emoni Bates (21) approaches NIU then-sophomore guard Zarique Nutter (2) as he jumps up to the hoop during the March 3 game at the NIU Convocation Center. The Huskies defeated Eastern Michigan by a final score of 85-66. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

Men’s basketball ready for season after MAC Tournament appearance

By Zachary Bertram, Senior Sports Reporter | October 30, 2023

DeKALB – After competing in the MAC tournament last season for the first time since 2019, NIU men’s basketball looks to improve upon its 13-19 record in the 2022-2023 season. The Huskies posted a 9-9 conference record in 2022-2023, good for seventh...

Redshirt senior quarterback Rocky Lombardi hands the ball off to redshirt junior running back Gavin Williams in a 35-11 loss against the University of Nebraska. The Huskies travel to Central Michigan looking to stay ahead of the Chippewas in the MAC West standings. (Mark Kuhlmann | NIU Athletics)

Football preparing for Central Michigan battle

By Zachary Bertram, Senior Sports Reporter | October 29, 2023

DeKALB – After earning its third consecutive victory, with a 20-13 win over Eastern Michigan University and clawing back to a .500 record after a 1-4 start, NIU football (4-4, 3-1 MAC) travels to Mount Pleasant, Michigan, to take on the Central Michigan...

Junior forward Taisei Arima rushes the ball up the field in men's soccer's MVC opener against Missouri State. The Huskies were shut out by the University of Illinois Chicago by a final score of 2-0 Friday. (Scott Walstrom | NIU Athletics)

Men’s soccer’s offense burned by Flames

By Kalin Schaefer, Sports Reporter | October 28, 2023

After being outshot 11-22, NIU men’s soccer (5-8-1, 2-4-1 MVC) was defeated in a 2-0 shutout loss by the University of Illinois Chicago Flames (9-4-3, 4-2-2 MVC).  NIU remains in possession of the sixth spot in MVC standings as the team looks to...

Then-junior Mikael Vollbach stands ready to receive a serve during men's tennis' match against the University of Illinois Chicago on Feb. 22. Vollbach and senior Cheng En Tsai won two doubles matches before falling in the Round of 16 at the ITA Regional this weekend. (Courtesy of NIU Athletics)

Norlin earns four wins at ITA Regional

By Lucas Didier, Sports Editor | October 24, 2023

DeKALB – NIU sophomore Christopher Norlin took the spotlight in a solid showing from NIU men’s tennis at the ITA Midwest Regional Championships this past weekend in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Norlin won all three of his qualifying matches to earn a place...

Redshirt junior punter Tom Foley prepares to punt the ball during football's game against the University of Nebraska on Sept. 16. Foley was named the MAC West Specialist Player of the Week. (Courtesy of NIU Athletics)

Foley earns football’s third consecutive MAC Player of the Week honor

By Zachary Bertram, Senior Sports Reporter | October 23, 2023

DeKALB – NIU redshirt junior punter Tom Foley was named the MAC West Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance in NIU football’s (4-4, 3-1 MAC) 20-13 win over Eastern Michigan University Saturday.  Foley punted the ball four times Saturday...

Senior goalkeeper Jakub Rojek protects the net during NIU's men's soccer's game against Aurora University on Sept. 4. The Huskies will need Rojek to keep up his strong play in order to make the MVP tournament. (Scott Walstrom | NIU Athletics)

COLUMN: Men’s soccer’s offense must prove itself

By Kalin Schaefer, Sports Reporter | October 23, 2023

After a loss at Western Michigan University and a win at home against Belmont University, NIU men’s soccer has two games left in the regular season.  Looking to end the season with a .500 win percentage, the Huskies (5-7-1, 2-3-1 MVC) are in sixth...