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Huskies Host No. 25 Northern Iowa for Senior Night

Northern Illinois look to reconcile consecutive ties with the Panthers, Friday.



Aaron Owen is one of five departing seniors who will see their last dual in DeKalb, Friday.

Jan. 31, 2008

DeKALB, Ill. - The Northern Illinois wrestling team will challenge No. 25 Northern Iowa, Friday at 7 p.m. in the Convocation Center.

The Huskies (8-5, 2-1 Mid-American Conference) are in the midst of a difficult stretch. The Panthers (3-5-1, 1-0 Western Wrestling Conference) are the second of three consecutive top-25 teams on the Northern Illinois schedule. The Huskies fell 20-16 to No. 24 Kent State last week, and face No. 5 Central Michigan, Feb. 7.

"Our season goes in cycles, and from now through the MAC Championships, we're on a tough cycle," NIU head coach Dave Grant said.

Grant, who wrestled his way to All-American status for the Panthers in 1984, has been impressed with the way his alma mater has performed this season.

"They're a tough team, there's no doubt about that," he said. "But we've got to focus internally on the things we do to win."

For seniors David Benner (Fowler, Ind./Benton Central), Pat Castillo (Western Springs, Ill./Lyons Township), Kalen Knull (Urbana, Ohio/Graham), Nick McClone (East Peoria, Ill./Metamora) and Aaron Owen (Carlsbad, N.M./Carlsbad), Friday's dual will be the final home meet of their careers. During the five seniors' run at NIU, the Huskies have totaled 50 dual meet wins and produced 213 individual victories for the Cardinal and Black.

"Those guys have put a lot of hard work into this program, and they'll put it all out there knowing this is their last chance to perform here at home," Grant said.

The NIU seniors will look to lead their team in breaking a two year long stalemate against the Panthers. In 2006, the Huskies tied UNI 16-16, and the next year the teams wrestled to a 17-17 finish. In 2007's clash, Castillo, Benner and current sophomore Duke Burk all picked-up victories.

 

 

The Huskies are coming into Friday's dual after a narrow 20-16 loss to MAC rival Kent State, Northern Illinois' first conference setback of the year. Northern Iowa will be looking to bounce back from a 33-0 defeat at the hands of Oklahoma State, the third-ranked team in the nation.

The UNI loss was one of several heavy-handed defeats the Panthers have suffered this season. In addition to being shutout by the Cowboys, Northern Iowa has lost by 37, 28, 24 and 19 this season. The Panthers have also won big in a pair of duals, sweeping Wyoming with a 40-0 win and besting Northern Colorado 36-6.

The Bears are one of two common opponents between Friday's teams. Northern Illinois defeated UNC 29-5 at the Rochester Duals in November. The triumph kicked-off a seven dual win streak for the Huskies. Both Northern Iowa and Northern Illinois have also faced Iowa State, with each team losing by wide margins to the Cyclones. Both the Panthers and the Huskies also competed at the 2007 Midlands Wrestling Championships, where Northern Illinois finished 10th, four places ahead of Northern Iowa.

Doors to the Convocation Center open at 6 p.m. for the Huskie wrestling team's only contest in the bowl of the arena this season. Tickets will be on sale at the door for $5 for adults and $3 for children (17 and under). Admission is free for NIU students.