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Northern Star

Northern Illinois University’s student news organization 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

Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields throws a pass in an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers on Jan. 7. The Bears fanbase is torn between keeping Fields or trading him and selecting quarterback Caleb Williams with the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft. (AP File Photo)

Look Both Ways: the Justin Fields debate

By Zachary Bertram and Zack Rodriguez | February 27, 2024

KEEP JUSTIN By: Zach Bertram, Senior Sports Reporter For the second consecutive year, the Chicago Bears hold the No. 1 pick of the NFL Draft. Despite having the power to draft any college quarterback they’d like, the Bears should stick with current...

Spring 2024 intramural standings, schedule

By Northern Star Staff | February 27, 2024

OPEN BASKETBALL LEAGUE  Team Name: Win-Loss Sunset Ballers: 5-0 Uncle Es: 3-1 N.G.T Switches: 3-1 Flint Tropics: 3-2 Brick Squad: 2-3 Hukies: 1-3 Rec Well: 1-4 Dekalb Destroyers: 0-4 GREEK BASKETBALL LEAGUE Team Name:...

Junior Reagan Welch prepares for a strike at the Nelson Tennis Center at Chick Evans Field House. Welch won her singles match against Valparaiso University sophomore Elizabeth Sobieski Saturday, as well as her doubles match with senior Anastasia Rakita. (Courtesy of NIU Athletics)

Women’s tennis sneaks past Valparaiso

By Kalin Schaefer, Sports Reporter | February 27, 2024

NIU women’s tennis slid past Valparaiso University (7-5) in a 4-3 win and improved to a 7-5 record on the season on Saturday. The Huskies fought in both singles and doubles en route to the victory, and wins in both were crucial.  Senior Diana...

A graphic shows redshirt sophomore Jacobi Jackson as the Huskie of the Week. Jackson defeated his Southern Illinois University Edwardsville opponent Friday to clinch NIU wrestlings MAC West division title. (Eddie Miller | Northern Star)

Jackson nabs Huskie of the Week after conference-clinching victory

By Northern Star Sports Staff | February 26, 2024

DeKALB – Redshirt sophomore Jacobi Jackson garnered wrestling’s first Huskie of the Week honor of the year with a dual-deciding win against  redshirt sophomore Dan McKiernan of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Friday. After blowing a...

NIU senior gymnast Alyssa Al-Ashari salutes at the end of her bars routine in the second rotation of the Beauty and the Beast Meet on Feb. 9 at the Convocation Center. Al-Ashari serves as one of the Huskies four team captains while being a consistent standout on the uneven parallel bars and the balance beam. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

Alyssa Al-Ashari’s ascent to bar and beam stardom

By Skyler Kisellus, Sports Reporter | February 26, 2024

Every routine for Alyssa Al-Ashari starts the same way. Once the shamrock green flag waves from the nearby judges table, she gives her opening salute, and takes a deep breath in. As she expels the air from her lungs, the noise around her fades to...

Graduate student golfer Zach Place watches his putt during an NIU mens golf practice. Place led the Huskies in scoring average with 70.800 during the 2023 fall season.  (Courtesy NIU Athletics)

Sluzas, Place lead NIU men’s golf into spring season

By Eddie Miller, Sports Reporter | February 26, 2024

DeKALB – The 2024 spring competition season is set for NIU men’s golf with their first event starting Monday at the Lake Las Vegas Invitational. The Huskies will face two top-three nationally ranked programs in Auburn University and Vanderbilt University.  “It's...

A graphic shows the dates of this week in Huskie sports. NIU mens golf is set to begin its 2024 spring season following its MAC Championship title run in 2023. (Eddie Miller | Northern Star)

Spring debut of men’s golf headlines this week in Huskie sports

By Northern Star Sports Staff | February 26, 2024

NIU men’s golf is set to begin its 2024 spring campaign and defend their 2023 MAC Championship title this week in Huskie sports. MEN’S GOLF Monday, Feb. 26: at University of Louisiana at Lafayette, all day. Henderson, Nev. / Reflection Bay...

NIU senior outfielder/catcher Colin Summerhill throws during Thursday’s 10-2 loss to then-second-ranked Louisiana State University at Alex Box Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Summerhill’s RBI double in the ninth inning of Saturday’s rematch helped the Huskies avoid a shutout in their 5-2 defeat to the third-ranked Tigers. (Courtesy of Jonathan Mailhes)

Baseball outhits No. 3 LSU in weekend finale

By Skyler Kisellus, Sports Reporter | February 25, 2024

Despite playing under the sunny Saturday skies of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, NIU’s offense played eight innings of baseball as cold as the temperatures back home in DeKalb, Illinois. Trailing 5-0 with two hits entering the ninth inning, NIU baseball...

Junior guard David Coit shoots a fadeaway jumper over an Ohio University defender on Saturday. Coit finished with a game-high 28 points against the Bobcats. (Ryanne Sandifer | Northern Star)

Huskies trounced by Bobcats at home

By Ethan Gonzales, Sports Editor | February 25, 2024

DeKALB – NIU men’s basketball (9-18, 3-11 MAC) was demolished by Ohio University (15-12, 9-5 MAC) 80-59 Saturday following an ugly 3-for-21 shooting performance from behind the arc. Junior guard David Coit finished with 27 points, but shot just...

Senior forward Brooke Stonebraker (34) attempts to box out Bowling Green State University senior forward Sophie Dziekan (3). Stonebraker scored 13 points in a 82-73 loss to the Falcons Saturday. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

Women’s basketball falls short in offensive outburst

By Lucas Didier, Assistant Sports Editor | February 25, 2024

DeKALB – NIU women’s basketball (13-13, 6-8 MAC) drops 82-73 shootout as the Bowling Green State University Falcons (14-11, 8-6 MAC) soared on the back of junior guard Amy Velasco. Velasco was a powerhouse on both sides of the ball, accumulating...

Redshirt sophomore Blake West attempts to pin Southern Illinois University Edwardsville redshirt sophomore Davian Guanajuato on Fridays Senior Day event for NIU wrestling. West defeated Guanajuato 4-3 on Friday to finish the season undefeated in dual matchups. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

Return of the MAC: Wrestling champions the West

By Zack Rodriguez, Sports Reporter | February 24, 2024

DeKALB – Redshirt sophomore Jacobi Jackson pinned his opponent with seconds remaining in the first period as NIU Wrestling (13-2, 7-1 MAC) fended off Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (6-6, 3-4 MAC) 22-13 to clinch the MAC West at Victor E....

Then NIU junior catcher Colin Summerhill (8) slides into third base after hitting a triple on April 28, 2023 against University of Akron. Summerhill had 2 hits, 2 runs and 3 RBIs in a 14-4 win over Northwestern State University Friday. (Northern Star File Photo)

Huskies ride first inning flurry in slaughter over Northwestern State

By Zachary Bertram, Senior Sports Reporter | February 24, 2024

NIU baseball (2-5) exploded for seven runs in the first inning, setting the tone early in a convincing 14-4 victory over the Northwestern State University Demons (2-4) Friday. Freshman pitcher Ty Brachbill spun a gem for the Huskies in his second career...