Skip to Main Content
Advertisement
 
Ensure student journalism survives. Donate today.
The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

NIU redshirt sophomore wrestler Jacob Brya locks shoulder to shoulder with Purdue University redshirt freshman Cole Solomey during the 141-pound matchup in a dual meet on Jan. 12 inside the Convocation Center in DeKalb. NIU will pay a $28,000 affiliate membership fee to the Pac-12 over five years. (Northern Star file photo)

NIU to pay Pac-12 $28K for wrestling affiliate membership

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | October 7, 2025

DeKALB — One of the final dominos of NIU’s conference realignment fell last week, with the school’s wrestling program set to become an affiliate member of the Pac-12 Conference in the 2026-27 academic year. The Northern Star has obtained a copy...

NIU redshirt junior wrestler Blake West looks up as he grapples with Purdue University redshirt senior Matt Ramos during the 125-pound matchup in a dual meet on Jan. 12 inside the Convocation Center in DeKalb. NIU will join the Pac-12 as an affiliate member for wrestling in 2026. (Northern Star file photo)

NIU wrestling to join Pac-12 as affiliate member in 2026

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | October 1, 2025

DeKALB — The NIU wrestling program will compete in the Pac-12 Conference beginning in the 2026-27 school year, the school announced in a news release Wednesday. NIU will join Oregon State and fellow affiliate members Cal Poly, Cal State Bakersfield...

A graphic shows NIU student-athletes from various sports with arrows indicating highs and lows. Sports Editor Edison Miller discusses the high and low points for NIU Athletics throughout March. (Edison Miller | Northern Star)

MILLER: Highs and lows of NIU Athletics in March

By Edison Miller, Sports Editor | March 31, 2025

With March coming to a close, the madness associated with it hasn’t.  As NIU’s spring sports are in full swing, the winter sports have wrapped up their season. Nonetheless, programs like women’s tennis and wrestling have flourished amid the...

NIU wrestling redshirt junior Blake West takes down Southern Illinois University Edwardsville freshman Drew Davis as the Huskies defeated SIUE by a score of 19-12 on Feb. 22. West, along with redshirt sophomore Landen Johnson, were eliminated from the NCAA Wrestling Championship on Friday. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

Huskie duo comes up short in NCAA Tourney

By James Bennett, Sports Reporter | March 22, 2025

NIU wrestling competed in the NCAA tournament with two wrestlers taking the mat Thursday and Friday in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NIU redshirt junior Blake West and redshirt sophomore Landen Johnson represented the Huskies in their respective weight...

NIU wrestling redshirt junior Blake West faces off with University at Buffalo sophomore Max Elton during the Beauty and the Beast meet on Feb. 7. West became the Mid-American Conference 125 pound champion during the MAC Championships on Saturday. (Marco Alvarez | Northern Star)

Blake West wins NIU’s first 125 pound MAC Championship since 2007

By L.J. Bennett, Sports Reporter | March 10, 2025

NIU wrestling competed in the final day of the Mid-American Conference championship on Saturday in Trenton, New Jersey, after having five wrestlers advance to the second day of competition.  WEST SHINES BRIGHTEST  NIU redshirt junior Blake West...

A graphic shows NIU student-athletes from various sports with arrows indicating highs and lows. Sports Editor Edison Miller points out the best and worst moments for NIU Athletics throughout February. (Edison Miller | Northern Star)

Highs and lows of NIU Athletics in February

By Edison Miller, Sports Editor | March 5, 2025

With NIU’s spring sports ramping up and winter sports dying down, NIU Athletics faces one of the busiest times of the year. While certain teams have hit their stride, others have cracked under the pressure.  Here are two high points, as well as...

NIU wrestling redshirt junior Blake West battles University at Buffalo sophomore Max Elton in the meet on Feb. 7. The Huskies finished the regular season with a 7-3 (6-1 MAC) record after defeating Southern Illinois University Edwardsville 19-12 on Saturday.  (Marco Alvarez | Northern Star)

Wrestling wraps up regular season, defeats Cougars

By Andy Inboden, Sports Reporter | February 23, 2025

NIU wrestling (7-3, 6-1 MAC) earned a 19-12 win over the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Cougars (7-8, 4-3 MAC) on Saturday night at First Community Arena in Edwardsville, Illinois. The Huskies started at 125 pounds, when nationally ranked...

NIU wrestling redshirt sophomore Markel Baker holds Purdue University Boilermaker redshirt junior Dustin Norris from behind in the 133-pound match amid the Huskies 29-8 loss against Purdue on Jan. 12. Baker earned Mid-American Conference West Wrestler of the Week honors after upsetting the No. 2 ranked 133-pound wrestler in the NCAA on Friday. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

Baker nabs MAC West Wrestler of the Week

By Northern Star Sports Staff | February 19, 2025

NIU wrestling redshirt sophomore Markel Baker earned Mid-American Conference West Wrestler of the Week after upsetting the second-ranked 133-pound wrestler in the NCAA.  Now the No. 33 ranked 133-pound wrestler, Baker defeated then No. 2 ranked 133-pound...

NIU wrestling redshirt sophomore Jacob Brya battles Bulls redshirt junior Andy Lucinski in the meet against University at Buffalo on Feb. 7. The Huskies bested Cal Poly on Friday by a score of 25-19. (Marco Alvarez | Northern Star)

Wrestling Mangles Mustangs

By L.J. Bennett, Sports Reporter | February 16, 2025

NIU wrestling (6-3, 5-1 MAC) triumphed over the No. 22 ranked California Polytechnic State Mustangs (4-9, 0-2 PAC-12) 25-19 in Friday's matchup.  HOT START NIU would get off to a hot start in Friday's matchup. Starting at 125 lbs when redshirt...

NIU wrestling redshirt sophomore Landen Johnson, bleeding in the mouth, holds Purdue redshirt sophomore Kade Law to the ground at the Convocation Center on Jan. 12. After claiming an overtime victory against University at Buffalo redshirt junior Kaleb Burgess on Friday, Johnson earned Mid-American Conference West Wrestler of the Week honors. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

Overtime victory earns Johnson MAC Wrestler of the Week

By Northern Star Sports Staff | February 11, 2025

NIU wrestling No. 31-ranked 157-pound redshirt sophomore Landen Johnson earned this week’s Mid-American Conference West Wrestler of the Week after claiming an overtime victory over a nationally ranked opponent Friday. Johnson matched up against previously...

NIU wrestling redshirt sophomore Jacob Brya rests on his knees after defeating University at Buffalo Andy Lucinski by a score of 10-1 Friday at the Convocation Center. The Huskies defeated Buffalo by a score of 28-8, sparking a three-game winning streak. (Marco Alvarez | Northern Star)

Huskies bulldoze Buffalo in Beauty and the Beast Dual

By James Bennett, Sports Reporter | February 8, 2025

NIU wrestling (5-3, 5-1 MAC) trounced the University at Buffalo Bulls (4-10, 2-3 MAC) by a score of 28-8 Friday in the annual Beauty and the Beast meet. The win is the third in a row for the Huskies and puts them at first in the MAC West.  A COMPLETE...

A graphic shows NIU student-athletes from various sports with arrows indicating highs and lows. Sports Editor Edison Miller points out the best and worst moments for Huskie sports throughout January. (Edison Miller | Northern Star)

MILLER: Highs and lows of NIU Athletics in January

By Edison Miller, Sports Editor | February 5, 2025

A month removed from the new year, some NIU sports teams are kicking off their spring season while others are continuing business as usual. In January, teams like men’s and women’s basketball struggled while women’s tennis and wrestling shined. Here...

Sign In

Register

Reset Password

Please enter your username or email address, you will receive a link to create a new password via email.