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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

Then-senior forward Rodahn Evans celebrates with NIU hockey after scoring a goal against Drury University on Jan. 28. The Huskies won the game 4-0. (Photo courtesy NIU hockey)

Hockey preparing to usher in new standard

By Alex Crowe, Assistant Sports Editor | August 31, 2023

DeKALB – With scorching heat in the forecast daily, the frigid ice rink has been as alive as ever. After winning just four games in the 2022-2023 season, NIU hockey is gearing up to enter a new era for the 2023-2024 season.  PICTURE INTO FOCUS The...

Redshirt senior quarterback Rocky Lombardi evades Tulsa graduate linebacker Grant Sawyer duing a pass attempt in the first half of September 1st 2022 matchup. Lombardi led the Huskie scoring with three touchdowns through the air.

Complementary football vital to Huskies’ 2023 turnaround

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

DeKALB – Coming off a disappointing 3-9 record in 2022, NIU football looks to bounce back this season from its last place finish in the Mid-American Conference West.  “A facet of the game I’m looking to improve upon is our ability to play complimentary...

Sophomore midfielder Angel Rodriguez guides the ball at the NIU Soccer and Track and Field Complex on Aug. . Rodriguez scored the lone goal against University of Memphis. (Photo courtesy of NIU Athletics)

Offense sputters in Huskies’ loss to Memphis

By Alex Crowe, Assistant Sports Editor | August 27, 2023

DeKALB – A lack of offensive opportunities plagued NIU men’s soccer (1-1), contributing to its first loss of the season at the hands of the University of Memphis (2-0) Tigers by a final score of 3-1 Sunday at the NIU Soccer and Track and Field Complex.  The...

Junior catcher Colin Summerhill (left) approaches NIU Baseball Head Coach Mike Kunigonis in the dugout during the team's game against Toledo Sunday at Ralph McKinzie Field. The game was Kunigonis' last as a head coach at NIU, after his contract was not renewed and he was relieved from his position. (Sean Reed | Northern Star)

Kunigonis out as head baseball coach

By Alex Crowe, Assistant Sports Editor | May 8, 2023

DeKALB – NIU Vice President and Director of Athletics Sean Frazier announced Sunday that head coach Mike Kunigonis’ contract will not be renewed and has been relieved of coaching duties, effective immediately.  The announcement comes after the...

Huskie junior catcher and outfielder Colin Summerhill dives to third base as Rockets’s sophomore catcher Brayden White (18) catches the ball thrown to him by freshman third baseman Troy Sudbrook (10), completing a double play to get both Summerhill and Demetral. (Sean Reed | Northern Star)

Rockets rout Huskies on senior day

By Joseph Segreti, Sports Reporter | May 7, 2023

DeKALB – NIU baseball (8-38, 4-19 MAC) dropped a senior day slugfest as it closed out its final home series against the University of Toledo (23-24, 11-13 MAC) by a final score of 18-12. NIU honored seven seniors for the finale of baseball’s last...

Then-redshirt senior Cole Tucker walks in the endzone after missing a pass from freshman quarterback Nevan Cremascoli near the end of the first quarter. (Alyssa Queen | Northern Star)

Cole Tucker drafted 4th overall in CFL

By Ethan Gonzales, Former Sports Editor | May 4, 2023

DeKALB – Former NIU football wide receiver Cole Tucker was selected as the fourth overall pick by the Calgary Stampeders at the 2023 Canadian Football League Draft.  Tucker was the first wide receiver chosen in the CFL Draft and is the first Huskie...

NIU junior shortstop Andre Demetral (1) rounds to third base after stealing second base in the bottom of the first inning. Demetral scored off of a hit by junior first baseman Colin Summerhill, earning the Huskies their first run of the game and setting the score 3-1. (Mingda Wu | Northern Star)

Summerhill’s home run helps Huskies snap skid

By Zachary Bertram, Senior Sports Reporter | May 3, 2023

DeKALB – NIU baseball (8-35, 4-16 MAC) snapped its 11-game losing streak Wednesday with a 3-2 win over the University of Milwaukee-Wisconsin Panthers (20-22, 9-11 Horizon). Powered by a go-ahead home run from junior catcher and outfielder Colin Summerhill,...

Men's head golf coach John Carlson (Left) talks through a shot with then-senior Tommy Dunsire during the first round of the 2021 Saint Mary's Invitational at Poppy Hills Golf Course in Pebble Beach, California. (Wes Sanderson | Northern Star)

NIU men’s golf wins MAC Championship

By Eddie Miller, Sports Reporter | May 2, 2023

DeKALB – NIU men’s golf placed first at the MAC Championship, finishing four strokes ahead of Ball State University. The Huskies’ first place finish at the MAC Championship marked their first win at the tournament since 1985. NIU finished the...

NIU junior catcher Colin Summerhill (8) slides into third base after hitting a triple on Friday against Akron. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

Zips sweep doubleheader, series with Huskies

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

DeKALB – NIU baseball (7-35, 4-16 MAC) dropped both games of a doubleheader against the University of Akron Zips (17-27, 9-15 MAC). NIU pitching continued to struggle as they lost Game 1 11-9 and lost Game 2 8-4 for its 10th and 11th consecutive losses.  GAME...

Freshman Ben Sluzas hits off on Poppy Hills Golf Course in Pebble Beach, California. NIU competed in the Saint Mary's Invitational from Nov. 8 to Nov. 10, finishing in 17th place.

Sluzas wins second consecutive MAC Golfer of the Week honors

By Eddie Miller, Sports Reporter | April 28, 2023

DeKALB – Sophomore Ben Sluzas earned his second consecutive MAC Golfer of the Week after finishing first place in the Robert Kepler Intercollegiate. Sluzas finished two under par with a score of 211.  Sluzas finished the tournament six strokes ahead...

Junior infielder Andre Demetral (1) puts the tag down on a Central Michigan University player as he attempts to steal second base while junior infielder Aaron Harper (22) looks on. The Huskies were defeated by the Chippewas 17-7 on April 8. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

Zips slug their way to win over Huskies

By Joseph Segreti, Sports Reporter | April 28, 2023

DeKALB – NIU baseball’s (7-32, 4-13 MAC) losing streak stretched to nine games in a 19-7 slugfest loss to the University of Akron Zips (14-27, 6-15 MAC).  A rough start for junior pitcher Dominic Hann put the Huskies in an early six run hole after...

Freshman Ben Sluzas hits off on Poppy Hills Golf Course in Pebble Beach, California. NIU competed in the Saint Mary's Invitational from Nov. 8 to Nov. 10, finishing in 17th place.

Sluzas leading Huskies into MAC Championship

By Eddie Miller, Sports Reporter | April 27, 2023

DeKALB – As the 2022-23 season closes, NIU men’s golf prepares for its last tournament in the 2023 MAC Championship. Coming off back-to-back third place finishes, sophomore Ben Sluzas headlines the Huskies roster.  All 10 MAC teams automatically...