Nov. 1, 2007

DeKALB, Ill. - The Northern Illinois wrestling team opens its season Friday at 7 p.m. with the annual intrasquad wrestle-offs.

Huskie grapplers will compete head-to-head to earn a spot in the starting line-up for Northern Illinois' regular season opener against No. 3 Iowa State.

NIU head coach Dave Grant said he's anxiously awaiting the start of the year.

"The intensity and physical nature exhibited on the mat is unmatched," he said. "In my mind, there's no better sport."

At wrestle-offs, Huskies will be trying to secure spots in seven of the 10 weight classes, including at 174 pounds, where 14th-ranked redshirt-sophomore Duke Burk (Peoria, Ill./Notre Dame H.S.) will face true freshman Justin Carlson (Gurnee, Ill./Warren Township). Burk is one of two returning NCAA qualifiers for the Huskies.

Senior Pat Castillo (Western Springs, Ill./Lyons Township) also returns after making it to the NCAA Championships in each of the last two seasons. Castillo, ranked 11th at his new 133-pound weight class, has secured his place in the starting line-up, but will compete in exhibition action against true freshman Zach Taylor (Machesney Park, Ill./Harlem)

According to Grant, much of the team's in-house competition has been between freshman and more seasoned wrestlers.

"We're a combination of a young guys and old guys." he said. "It always seems like it's a freshman and a senior going at it."

Grant is excited for the public's opportunity to see some of his underclassmen compete.

"We have some really talented freshman, which is a good thing," Grant said. "TJ Wunnicke, Tristen DeShazer and Pat McLemore all have good credentials and could fill major spots for us."

Whoever earns a starting role for Northern Illinois will be immediately tested. The Huskies face the third-ranked Cyclones in a dual meet Nov. 8, and again two days later at the Cyclone Open. Two weeks after that, the Huskies battle unanimous No. 1 Minnesota at the Rochester Duals. To wrap-up the month, Northern Illinois hosts sixth-ranked Northwestern in the annual Showcase Meet in DeKalb, Nov. 30.

With a host of top-10 teams on the schedule, Grant and his team look forward to getting the season under way.

"We've had some real hard training in October, and made some great gains," Grant said. "With four two-a-days a week, these guys have seen enough of each other, and are ready to compete outside the team."

Wrestle-Offs Card

125 - TJ Wunnicke vs. Zach Taylor (exh.)
133 - Pat Castillo vs. Zach Taylor (exh.)
141 - Tristen DeShazer vs. Pat McLemore
141 - Vince Castillo vs. Dan Ruettiger (exh.)
149 - Will McDermott vs. Kalen Knull
149 - Mike Smith vs. Joe Clothier (exh.)
157 - TBD
165 - Scott Wallace vs. Bryan Deutsch
174 - Duke Burk vs. Justin Carlson
184 - TBD
197 - Jake Smith vs. Jesse Linczmaier