Nov. 27, 2007

DeKALB, Ill. - The Northern Illinois wrestling coach Dave Grant announced the signing of five grapplers to National Letters of Intent, Tuesday.

Bobby Wunnicke (Dodgeville, Wis./Dodgeville), Lucas Roth (Homer Glen, Ill./Lockport), Steve Zimmerman (Chicago, Ill./St. Rita), Chris Smith (Portland, Maine/Deering) and Zak Saevre (Green Bay, Wis./Ashwaubenon) will join the Huskies for the 2008-09 campaign.

"I'm pleased with this recruiting class and they way they fit with the way we do things at NIU," Grant said. "They each have a strong work ethic and a desire to succeed."

Illinois products Lucas Roth and Steve Zimmerman bring a local flavor to the class.

"(Roth and Zimmerman) are two of the grittiest, hardest-working competitor's in the state, and two fo the state's most elite competitors," Grant said. "It's essential that we build our base around in-state guys, and these two young men exemplify that commitment."

Roth, who will fit into the 157-pound or 165-pound weight class as a collegiate competitor, has two top-three finishes in the state on his resumé. He was also a 2006 Dvorak Champion and placed sixth at 160-pounds at the Super 32 Challenge.

Zimmerman will compliment the Huskies at either 149 or 157 pounds. His high school credentials include a sixth-place finishes at NHSCA Junior Nationals, and state championships. Like Roth, Zimmerman was a Dvorak Champion, and earned Cadet Freestyle All-American honors in 2006.

The class also includes three out-of-state wrestlers. Chris Smith of Portland, Maine holds three state titles entering his senior year, and also captured fifth place as a junior at the NHSCA Virginia Beach Open. Smith will likely fit in at 125 pounds.

Bobby Wunnicke will join his older brother TJ Wunnicke at Northern Illinois next season. Bobby is a three-time state champion looking for his fourth straight title this year. Over the summer, he placed seventh at NHSCA Junior Nationals, and he finished sixth at the Cadet Nationals in 2005.

Green Bay, Wis. native Zak Saevre rounds out the 2008 class. Saevre, like all of this year's recruits, has wrestled extensively in national and state tournaments not affiliated with his high school.

"I like that these young athletes have competed a lot outside the high school season," Grant said. "We want guys that love the sport, and want to wrestle top competition, and wrestling in these extra tournaments shows those things."

Saevre placed in five non-high school competitions in 2007 alone. His experience includes third-place finishes at the Brute adidas and Folkstyle Nationals, as well as a Greco-Roman state championship. In addition to those finishes, Saevre impressed coaches with his performance at a Northern Illinois Wrestling Camp.

"Zak came to camp here to get involved, and we were really impressed with his overall attitude," Grant said. "We feel like he can become a successful heavyweight."

All told, the class features six state championships and seven national placefinishes. With still a season left in their high school careers, the latest NIU signees could get even better before arriving in DeKalb.