Up until the final seconds, the thought didn't even cross Josh Wooton's mind. While most wrestlers would loathe the feeling of wrestling their final match for days before it took place, the feeling didn't hit Wooton until he was caught on his back unable...

Just keep talking. That is Nick Hall's mantra. As the No. 1 starter for the NIU baseball team, Hall has earned a reputation as an entertaining personality in the Huskie dugout. Sitting at 4-4 with a 5.47 ERA on the season, the senior pitcher spoke to...

With names like Scott Owen, Sam Hiatt and Josh Wooton, the NIU wrestling team has made a reputation for itself thanks to a solid group of lightweight wrestlers. Coach Dave Grant added another premier recruit Thursday by signing two-time Ohio state champion...

Will McDermott, a name that is unknown now, could be a staple in NIU wrestling in a couple years. McDermott was redshirted for his freshman season, but he did see action in tournament play. The Northern Star had a chance to talk to the 141-pound Mundelein...

NIU wrestling Coach Dave Grant knew he had a challenge this year when facing eight top 25-ranked opponents, the hardest schedule in school history. But the NIU wrestling team capped the season with its fifth-straight 10-win campaign and sent three wrestlers...

Last season, the NIU wrestling team sent four wrestlers to the NCAA Championships and came away with two victories. But over the weekend in Oklahoma City, the Huskies' trio of Josh Wooton, Johnny Galloway and Pat Castillo combined for seven victories...

Since sixth grade, NIU wrestler Pat Castillo has taken an annual road trip to watch the NCAA Championships. Now in his first year as a starter, the 125-pound sophomore is finally making that trip to the NCAAs as a participant. "I feel pretty good about...

125 pounds: Luke Smith (Central Michigan) def. Pat Castillo (NIU) 6-1 in OT The rubber match between Castillo and Smith was fraught with drama. They split their previous two meetings and both were ranked in the top-15 in the country. From the get go,...

All-American status was on NIU senior Josh Wooton's mind as he blew through the 141-pound bracket. Afterward, he spoke confidently about his fourth career trip to the NCAA Championships. On the other end of the spectrum, junior teammate Mike Grimes tossed...

Mike Grimes could see it all unfold. The fans in the stands. The anticipation in the air. A MAC championship within his grasp. Saturday afternoon, NIU wrestling teammates Grimes and Danny Burk found themselves sitting in the Convocation Center bleachers,...

Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau were the originals back in 1968. But at first glance, Mike Grimes and Danny Burk easily could be recast in the NIU version of "The Odd Couple." First, there is the blond-haired Grimes — a brash and outspoken 149-pound...

With the MAC championships only 10 days away, it's time to predict which wrestlers will come out on top in each weight class. 125: No. 13 Pat Castillo (NIU, 25-7). Runner-up: No. 12 Luke Smith (CMU, 18-5) By far the deepest class in the MAC with four...