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The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star
The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

Claire Valenti, Sports Reporter

All content by Claire Valenti
NIU softball junior utility player Danielle Stewart prepares to hit a pitch against Bowling Green State University on April 5. Stewart earned MAC Player of the Week after logging seven hits in the Huskies' three-game series against the University at Buffalo, which wrapped up on Saturday. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

Stewart’s swings secure MAC Player of the Week

By Claire Valenti, Sports Reporter
April 15, 2025
NIU softball sophomore middle infielder/outfielder Alana Powell and senior middle infielder Jenna Turner celebrate after making a play against Bowling Green State University on April 5. The Huskies took on the University at Buffalo in a doubleheader on Saturday, claiming two victories. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

Turner breaks NIU softball run record, Huskies total 25 runs in doubleheader

By Claire Valenti, Sports Reporter
April 13, 2025
NIU gymnastics junior Kiera O'Shea poses after completing the vault event against Eastern Michigan University on Feb. 2. Rotating with the University of Alabama gymnastics team, O'Shea competed in the NCAA Regional tournament for the second consecutive year on Friday in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Sofia Howell | Northern Star)

Kiera O’Shea ends season at NCAA regionals

By Claire Valenti, Sports Reporter
April 4, 2025
Surrounded by her teammates, NIU softball sophomore shortstop Alana Powell (8) runs out as her name is announced during the player introductions prior to NIU's game against Ohio University on Friday. The Huskies swept Ball State University in a doubleheader on Tuesday. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

Huskies sweep Cardinals on the road

By Claire Valenti, Sports Reporter
April 1, 2025
NIU softball junior utility player Danielle "Dee Dee" Stewart catches the ball shortly after a Ohio University batter crosses first base Friday at Mary M. Bell Field in DeKalb, The Huskies fell to Ohio twice in a doubleheader, falling by a score of 8-4 in Game 1 and 10-1 in Game 2. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

Huskies drop two against Ohio

By Claire Valenti, Sports Reporter
March 29, 2025
NIU softball then-junior mid infielder/outfielder Jenna Turner slides into third base while a Ball State University defender attempts to tag her out on April 30. The Huskies were defeated by Northwestern University by a score of 11-2 in five innings on Wednesday. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

Softball takes loss at Northwestern

By Claire Valenti, Sports Reporter
March 26, 2025
NIU gymnastics freshman Drake White swings towards the low bar during the meet against Illinois State University on Friday. NIU gymnastics lost to ISU for the first time at home since 2013 on Jan. 24. The Huskies wrapped up the Mid-American Conference Championship on Saturday, finishing sixth out of seven teams. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

Huskies take sixth place in MAC Championship

By Claire Valenti, Sports Reporter
March 23, 2025
NIU softball then-sophomore pitcher Lily Cassell prepares to pitch at Mary M. Bell Field last spring. The Huskies fell to Miami University (OH) by a score of 5-3 on Friday, kicking off a three-game series against the RedHawks. (Photo courtesy of NIU Athletics)

Softball stunned by Miami in Oxford

By Claire Valenti, Sports Reporter
March 22, 2025
NIU gymnastics sophomore Isabella Ross prepares to compete in the balance beam event against Kent State University on Feb. 7. The Huskies fell to the University of Illinois by a score of 194.875-193.475 on Sunday. (Ethan Rodriguez | Northern Star)

Huskies take loss in last regular season meet

By Claire Valenti, Sports Reporter
March 16, 2025
NIU gymnastics senior Alana Anderson turns during her flip on the high bar as part of her exhibition routine on Jan. 25. against Illinois State University. The Huskies fell to Central Michigan University by a score of 194.400-194.175 on Friday. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

Kelly takes all-around title, Huskies fall to Central Michigan

By Claire Valenti, Sports Reporter
March 15, 2025
NIU gymnastics freshman Drake White flips into her dismount off the uneven bars during the Huskies’ meet against Illinois State University on Jan. 25. The Huskies defeated Bowling Green State University in their last home meet of the season on Sunday. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

Gymnastics victorious over Bowling Green in last home meet of season

By Claire Valenti, Sports Reporter
March 10, 2025
NIU gymnastics junior Samantha Nickle flips into the corner during her floor routine against Illinois State University on Jan. 24. The Huskies fell to the Ball State University Cardinals in a head-to-head matchup by a score of 196.900-193.975 on Sunday. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

Huskies take loss at Ball State

By Claire Valenti, Sports Reporter
March 2, 2025
NIU softball senior middle infielder and outfielder Jenna Turner catches a softball with her right foot on second base during an exhibition game during the fall. The Huskies split wins on Monday in a doubleheader against Lindenwood University. (Photo courtesy of NIU Athletics)

Softball splits doubleheader against Lindenwood

By Claire Valenti, Sports Reporter
February 24, 2025
NIU gymnastics sophomore Mikayla Brown is congratulated by the NIU Gymnastics team after her floor routine in the Huskies home meet against Illinois State University on Jan. 24. The Huskies competed in the Western Michigan University Tri-Meet on Sunday, falling to Western Michigan while overtaking the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

Gymnastics takes second in WMU Tri-Meet, Huskies prevail on vault

By Claire Valenti, Sports Reporter
February 23, 2025
NIU then-sophomore Lily Cassell prepares to pitch to a batter during the 2024 spring season. The Huskies fell to the University of Mississippi Sunday by a score of 6-0. (Photo courtesy of NIU Athletics)

Softball unable to keep up with Ole Miss

By Claire Valenti, Sports Reporter
February 17, 2025
NIU gymnastics senior Isabella Sissi flips over the high bar during the meet against Illinois State University on Jan. 14. NIU took second in the SEMO-Tri Meet on Friday with a score of 193.550. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

Huskies dominate on vault, O’Shea places first in fifth consecutive meet

By Claire Valenti, Sports Reporter
February 16, 2025
Members of the NIU gymnastics team huddle amid the Huskies' meet against Kent State University on Friday at the Convocation Center in NIU's annual Beauty and the Beast event. The Huskies fell to Kent State by a score of 195.200-193.450. (Erin Marie Barker | Northern Star

3 Huskies shine on vault, gymnastics falls to Kent State

By Claire Valenti, Sports Reporter
February 8, 2025
NIU softball senior middle infielder and outfielder Jenna Turner catches a softball while stepping on second base during an exhibition game in the fall. The Huskies opened their spring season Thursday, leaving winless in a double header against Grand Canyon University. (Photo courtesy of NIU Athletics)

Huskies swept by Grand Canyon to open softball season

By Claire Valenti, Sports Reporter
February 7, 2025
Junior gymnast Kiera O’Shea salutes at the end of her floor exercise routine during the fourth rotation of the Huskies’ dual meet victory over Eastern Michigan University on Sunday inside the Convocation Center in DeKalb. The victory over Eastern Michigan was the Huskies' first Mid-American Conference victory this season. (Sofia Howell | Northern Star)

Gymnastics wins first meet of season, claims seven podium spots

By Claire Valenti, Sports Reporter
February 2, 2025
NIU gymnastics freshman Drake White looks up to the sky after crawling to the corner during her floor routine in the Huskies' meet against Illinois State University Friday at the Convocation Center in DeKalb. The Huskies lost to Illinois State Tuesday by a score of 193.92-192.950. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

Gymnastics falls to ISU despite three first place finishes

By Claire Valenti, Sports Reporter
January 29, 2025
NIU gymnastics sophomore Dawsyn Sallee poses after completing her event Friday against Illinois State University at the Convocation Center in DeKalb. The Huskies fell short of Illinois State by a score of 196.150-192.275 on Friday as NIU hosted it's senior night. (Totus Tuus Keely | Nothern Star)

Huskies celebrate their seniors, fall short against Redbirds

By Claire Valenti, Sports Reporter
January 25, 2025
NIU gymnastics then-junior gymnast Isabella Sissi swings her arm up after landing a backflip during the beam event as teammates cheer behind. Sissi scored a 9.850 on the uneven bars event Friday at the Eastern Michigan University Quad Meet to tie for second place. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

Gymnastics finishes third in EMU quad-meet

By Claire Valenti, Sports Reporter
January 18, 2025
NIU gymnastics interim head coach Dawnita Teague speaks with an NIU gymnast at the Convocation Center. Teague has coached at NIU since 2007 and now fills the empty position left by Sam Morreale's retirement on Sept. 26. (Courtesy of NIU Athletics)

Dawnita Teague brings energy and experience to NIU gymnastics

By Claire Valenti, Sports Reporter
December 6, 2024
Redshirt junior Jacob Christensen stares down his Rider University opponent on Nov. 22 at the Convocation Center after his opponent broke free. Christensen competes as a heavyweight in the 285-pound weight class for NIU wrestling in 2024-25. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

What does it take to maintain weight as a collegiate wrestler?

By Claire Valenti, Sports Reporter
December 2, 2024
The NIU wrestling coaching staff encourages from the sidelines in the Huskies' meet against Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in February. The Huskies suffered their first loss Saturday against Northwestern University. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

Wrestling takes first loss against Northwestern

By Claire Valenti, Sports Reporter
November 17, 2024
Then-junior gymnast Isabella Sissi swings her arms out as she poses during her floor routine. NIU gymnastics revealed its 2025 schedule on Thursday. (Northern Star File Photo)

Gymnastics reveals 2025 schedule

By Claire Valenti, Sports Reporter
October 31, 2024
Chicago Blackhawks center Teuvo Teräväinen (86) prepares for the face-off against the Detroit Red Wings during the first period of a preseason game on Sept. 25 in Chicago. Teräväinen signed with the Blackhawks in the 2024 off-season after being traded from Chicago in 2016. (Erin Hooley | AP Photo)

COLUMN: Blackhawks can bounce back in 2024-25

By Claire Valenti, Sports Reporter
October 7, 2024
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