Northern Illinois University Athletics

Ben Heizer claimed three Mid-American Conference titles and earned All-America honors twice during his outstanding wrestling career at NIU. A three-time NCAA qualifier at 184 pounds (2002, '03 and '04), Heizer earned sixth-place at the 2003 NCAA Championships and took second in 2004, 

As a sophomore in 2001-02, Heizer posted a 27-7 overall record, including a percent 5-0 mark in MAC duals with 86 dual meet points, and claimed the MAC Championship at 184 pounds, becoming just NIU’s fourth all-time conference champion in the weight class. He helped NIU to a second-place finish at the MAC Championship and earned the No. 10 seed at the NCAA Championships. 

During his junior campaign, Heizer went 29-7 with another perfect 5-0 mark in conference duals while picking up 60 dual match points. Heizer helped NIU to another second-place finish at the MAC Championship while joining John Major as the only Huskies to win the conference crown at the 184 pound weight class twice. At the NCAA Championship, the ninth-seeded Heizer took sixth-place to claim All-America honors. 

Heizer capped his outstanding Huskie career with a 30-2 mark as a senior in 2003-04, once again winning the MAC Championship and All-America honors at 184 pounds. Heizer became just the fifth three-time MAC Champion in his weight class as the Huskies recorded their third consecutive second-place finish at the conference championship. In the NCAA Championship, Heizer became just the third NIU wrestler to earn back-to-back All-America honors as he finished second, falling 10-5 to West Virginia’s Greg Jones in the championship match.