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Northern Star

Northern Illinois University’s student media 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

NIU wrestling head coach Ryan Ludwig screams at his wrestler in a home dual against Central Michigan University on Saturday. Ludwig eclipsed the 100 career-win mark on Dec. 19, 2023. (Elyse Jones | Courtesy of NIU Athletics)

From the Mat to Mentorship: Ludwig paving the path to 100 wins

By Zack Rodriguez, Former Sports Reporter | January 30, 2024

Thirteen consecutive NCAA qualifiers, 13 All-MAC honorees, 34 MAC champions, and 40 Academic All-MAC selections and a feat repeated just twice in program history: 100 career wins. In the grand tapestry of NIU wrestling head coach Ryan Ludwig's coaching...

Redshirt freshman Tommy Bennett holds off Central Michigan University redshirt sophomore Tyler Swiderski in a dual against the Chippewas on Saturday. Bennett defeated Swiderski 5-4 in a decision victory. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

2 wrestlers shine in return, program clinches 10th win

By Zack Rodriguez, Former Sports Reporter | January 28, 2024

DeKALB – Key contributions from two returnees powered a late surge as NIU Wrestling (10-2, 4-1 MAC) crept past Central Michigan University (3-6, 1-1 MAC) 22-10 at Victor E. Court on Saturday. NIU wrestling head coach Ryan Ludwig achieved double-digit...

Redshirt sophomore Blake West pins his Kent State University opponent on Dec. 19. West recorded his 20th victory of the 2023-2024 season on Saturday against Cleveland State University. (Scott Walstrom | Courtesy of NIU Athletics)

Wrestling owns East tiebreaker, garners first road victory

By Zack Rodriguez, Former Sports Reporter | January 20, 2024

A belated rejuvenation by Cleveland State University (3-7, 1-2 MAC) came up short as NIU wrestling (9-2, 3-1 MAC) clinched its inaugural road victory of the spring season on Friday. The Huskies now hold sole possession of the top spot in the MAC West.  Redshirt...

Then-redshirt freshman Blake West opposes Buffalo’s then-redshirt freshman Mason Bush in NIU wrestling's match against Buffalo on Feb. 4. West earned third place at 125 pounds in the Cougar Clash on Saturday. (Northern Star File Photo)

West earns third, Huskies take fifth at Cougar Clash

By Zack Rodriguez, Former Sports Reporter | December 4, 2023

DeKALB – Redshirt sophomore Blake West earned his second third-place medal of the year on Saturday as NIU finished fifth as a team at the Cougar Clash. NIU has had seven or more wrestlers place through the first three tournaments this season. Replicating...

Redshirt sophomore Blake West fights for ground against his opponent at the Red-Black Dual on Oct. 27. West finished 2-0 on Sunday at the Boilmaker Duals. (Amanda Springer | NIU Athletics)

3 wrestlers finish 2-0 at Boilermaker Duals

By Zack Rodriguez, Former Sports Reporter | November 20, 2023

DeKALB – NIU wrestling split matchups, securing a commanding 32-12 victory against the University of Indianapolis but faced defeat against host Purdue University during the Boilermaker Duals on Saturday.  Following an undefeated performance against...

Redshirt freshman Danny Curran grapples with redshirt freshman Dylan Gvillo during the red/black dual on Oct. 27. The Huskies took 11th place at the MSU Open on Saturday (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

Wrestling earns 11th place at MSU Open

By Zack Rodriguez, Former Sports Reporter | November 11, 2023

DeKALB – 14 NIU grapplers earned podium spots en route to NIU Wrestling's 11th-place team finish at the MSU Open on Saturday.  NIU had four more placers than it did in last year's MSU Open on Nov. 5, 2022. HUSKIES IMPROVE After failing to...

Redshirt freshman Danny Curran (right) grapples with redshirt freshman Dylan Gvillo (left) during the Huskie Duals exhibition last Friday. The Huskies' first dual takes place Friday against Lindenwood and St. Ambrose. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

NIU wrestling: New faces, returning stars

By Zack Rodriguez, Former Sports Reporter | November 1, 2023

DeKALB – Roll out the mats, break out the headgear and prepare the ringworm ointment, as the NIU wrestling season is rapidly approaching. LAST SEASON RESULTS  Last season, NIU wrestling finished with an 8-5 overall record and went  5-1 in the...

Central Michigan redshirt freshman Chandler Amaker (left) and NIU redshirt senior Izzak Olejnik battle at 165 during a dual meet Friday. (Courtesy Central Michigan Athletics)

MAC champion Olejnik enters transfer portal

By Alex Crowe, Assistant Sports Editor | March 27, 2023

DeKALB – Redshirt senior wrestler Izzak Olejnik announced that he is entering the transfer portal via his Twitter Monday. Olejnik is fresh off his second straight Mid-American Conference Championship at 165 pounds. He also finished in eighth place...

NIU redshirt senior Izzak Olejnik grapples with Kent State University sophomore Enrique Munguia during Sunday's dual meet. The 165-pound wrestlers clashed in a battle of nationally-ranked opponents. Olejnik and Munguia were ranked No. 10 and No. 25 respectively in the Dec. 13 InterMat rankings for their weight class. (David Dermer)

Olejnik nabs All-American honors at NCAA championships

By Adrien De La Peña, Sports Reporter | March 20, 2023

DeKALB– NIU redshirt senior Izzak Olejnik took down No. 10 Ohio State University redshirt junior Carson Kharchla in the 2023 NCAA Wrestling Championships en route to being named an All-American. Olejnik’s status as All-American ranks him as the...

NIU redshirt senior Izzak Olejnik grapples with Kent State University sophomore Enrique Munguia during Sunday's dual meet. The 165-pound wrestlers clashed in a battle of nationally-ranked opponents. Olejnik and Munguia were ranked No. 10 and No. 25 respectively in the Dec. 13 InterMat rankings for their weight class. (David Dermer)

Olejnik wins second straight MAC title

By Adrien De La Peña, Sports Reporter | March 6, 2023

DeKALB – NIU redshirt senior Izzak Olejnik brought home the Mid-American Conference (MAC) title for the second year in a row at 165 pounds to earn a spot in the 2023 NCAA Championship in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  Olejnik defeated No. 5 seed Central Michigan...

NIU redshirt senior Anthony Gibson begins his match at the Beauty and the Beast meet on Feb. 4 against Buffalo’s redshirt senior Michael Petite. (Alyssa Queen | Northern Star)

Two pins propel Huskies past Cougars

By Adrien De La Peña, Sports Reporter | February 20, 2023

DeKALB – Strong performances from the lightweight and middleweight classes helped NIU wrestling (8-5, 5-1) to a 25-12 win over the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) Cougars (1-14, 1-7) Sunday.  Redshirt freshman Blake West started...

An NIU wrestler is taken down by a Northwestern wrestler in Friday's meet at the Convocation Center. (Mingda Wu)

Wildcats dominate Huskies on the road

By Adrien De La Peña, Sports Reporter | February 13, 2023

DeKALB – An electric home dual environment wasn’t enough to push the NIU Huskies past the No.13 Northwestern University Wildcats.  NIU redshirt freshman Blake West got fans fired up at the Convocation Center after defeating Northwestern redshirt...