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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

University of Iowa senior guard Caitlin Clark celebrates with her teammates after defeating Louisiana State University in the Elite 8 on Monday. Opinion Columnist James Bennett believes that womens sports deserve more respect from the general public. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

COLUMN: Women’s sports deserve more respect

By James Bennett, Opinion Columnist | April 2, 2024

Sports are a huge part of modern popular culture. They serve as entertainment for fans and give the athletes involved something to work for as they aspire to reach new heights. There is, however, a problem within sports culture and how it pertains to...

A graphic shows senior infielder Caitlyn Shumaker as the Huskie of the Week. Shumaker broke NIUs stolen base record and went 6-for-10 to lead the Huskies to their first series win of the 2024 season. (Eddie Miller | Northern Star)

Shumaker steals Huskie of the Week honors

By Northern Star Sports Staff | April 1, 2024

After conquering the NIU career stolen bases record, senior infielder Caitlyn Shumaker has earned NIU softball’s first Huskie of the Week honor of the season. Shumaker’s 61 steals surpasses Jill Carpenter, who set the record in 2000. The Bellefontaine,...

Junior guard David Coit surveys the court with Ball State junior guard Jaylin Anderson guarding him in an NIU mens 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, 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...

Senior third baseman Caitlyn Shumaker (3) rounds first base after hitting a single to left field against Kent State Saturday. Shumaker broke the NIU softball career record of 61 stolen bases. (Northern Star File Photo)

Shumaker swipes NIU’s stolen bases record

By Skyler Kisellus, Sports Reporter | April 1, 2024

DeKALB – NIU softball’s all-time stolen bases leaderboard has a new name atop its list. Senior infielder Caitlyn Shumaker logged the 60th and 61st stolen bases of her NIU career during Saturday’s 5-2 victory over Kent State University to become...

A graphic shows the dates of this week in Huskie sports. NIU baseball is set to play its first home game of the 2024 season after playing 28 games on the road. (Eddie Miller | Northern Star)

Baseball returns to DeKalb this week in Huskie sports

By Northern Star Sports Staff | April 1, 2024

After multiple postponed home games, NIU baseball is finally set to make its home debut Wednesday this week in Huskie sports. BASEBALL Wednesday, April 3 vs. University of Illinois Chicago, 3 p.m. DeKalb / Ralph McKinzie Field at Walt and Janice...

NIU sophomore Christopher Norlin celebrates during a doubles match on March 2. Norlin won in singles and doubles as NIU mens 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...

Freshman Morgan Gioia (9) and Lydia Bauer (8) run at the Redbird Tune Up on Feb. 16.  Track & Field took three combined top 10 finishes at the Redbird Challenge and Bobcat Invitational. (Courtesy of Illinois State Athletics)

Calloway highlights track and field’s split squad action

By Joseph Segreti, Sports Reporter | March 31, 2024

Freshman Arianna Calloway’s first place finish highlighted NIU track and field’s split squad action this weekend at the Redbird Challenge and the Bobcat Invitational.  BOBCAT INVITATIONAL The Huskies sent a majority of their top athletes, such...

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, 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...

Sophomore Jenna Horne awaits a strike from her opponent at the Nelson Tennis Center at Chick Evans Field House. Womens tennis fell 1-6 to Eastern Michigan University Friday. (Courtesy of NIU Athletics)

Women’s tennis crushed by Eastern Michigan

By Kalin Schaefer, Sports Reporter | March 30, 2024

Dropping to 1-3 in MAC play, NIU women's tennis (12-8, 1-3 MAC) was defeated 1-6 in its match against the Eastern Michigan University Eagles (8-8, 2-2 MAC).  The Huskies went down early when the Eagles clinched the doubles point and were unable to...

Senior catcher/outfielder Ellis Erickson rounds third base in an NIU softball home game against Kent State University on Friday. Erickson scored the game-winning run to seal the Huskies 3-2 walk-off victory over the Golden Flashes. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

Shumaker walks off Kent State to snap losing skid

By Skyler Kisellus, Sports Reporter | March 30, 2024

DeKALB – NIU softball (8-19, 2-5 MAC) entered its MAC home opener Friday as the loser of its past six games, including a 17-5 trouncing in its home opener just three days earlier. After falling into a 2-1 deficit against the MAC’s second-ranked team,...

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 Toledos 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...