Oct. 29, 2008
DeKALB - The Northern Illinois wrestling team will haunt Victor E. Court this Friday at 7 p.m. with Huskie Wrestle-Offs, the intrasquad scrimmage that kicks-off each wrestling season.
The event, which helps head coach Dave Grant decide his starting line-up, will conclude a tournament that has been going on within the squad all week.
"We expect every guy to fight his heart out, and that's part of what makes this event so exciting every year," Grant said.
Huskie fans will get to see the 2008-09 team, which features eight returning starters and 15 letterwinners back, in action for the first time.
"It's a good chance for our fans to come out and see how hard we've been working in practice, and how that work is paying off," Grant said.
The Huskies bring back three Mid-American Conference Championships placewinners, including 141-pound champion Pat McLemore (Hinckley, Ohio/Padua Franciscan). The redshirt sophomore is ranked 14th in the USA Today/InterMat/NWCA Preseason Individual Rankings at 141 pounds.
"McLemore gave us all he had, and surprised a lot of people during his redshirt freshman year," Grant said. "This time, he's not sneaking up on anyone."
Fans can catch sophomores Bryan O'Connor (Carol Stream, Ill./Glenbard North) and Bryan Deutsch (Columbia City, Ind./Columbia City), who also placed at the MAC Championships. O'Connor took third-place at 157 pounds, while Deutsch took the bronze at 165. For this season, the pair have traded weight classes, with Deutsch shifting down to 157, and O'Connor bulked up to 165.
"Our young core is very talented," Grant said. "To have three guys coming back who placed in the conference as freshmen is something that gets your juices flowing."
Friday's wrestle-offs begin a campaign in which the Huskies are trying to win 10 dual meets for the seventh time in eight years. But earning double-digit wins won't be an easy tasks for the Huskies, who face five teams ranked or receiving votes in the NWCA Preseason Top-25.
"Wrestle-Offs are where it all starts," Grant said. "We need to come out with fire, so we can be the best we can be for the season."
NIU officially opens the season Nov. 8, at the Stevens Point Open, and faces its first dual meet competition Nov. 15 at Purdue Duals against Campbellsville, Tennessee-Chattanooga, and Purdue.
Wrestle-Offs Match-Ups
125 - Izzy Montemayor vs. Bobby Wunnicke
133 - Chris Smith vs. Tristen DeShazer
|
|
 |
141 - TBA
Pat McLemore
Vince CastilloDan Ruettiger149 - TBA
Tim KirincicMichael RyanMichael SmithSteve ZimmermanJoe Clothier157 - TBA
Garrett JamesLuke RothBryan DeutschMason TrueJohn Odeen165 -
Anthony Victor vs.
Bryan O'Connor174 -
Derrick Yant vs.
Justin Carlson184 -
Brad Dieckhaus vs.Will Stall
197 -
Jake Smith vs.
Scott Penny285 -
Zak Saevre vs.
Dakota Greenhaw
