Nov. 6, 2007

DeKALB, Ill. - The Northern Illinois wrestling team opens the season Thursday against No. 3 Iowa State at Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa.

"We've been training hard, and our guys are anxious to get out and wrestle other opponents," NIU head coach Dave Grant said.

The Huskies, who determined this week's starters at the annual intrasquad wrestle-offs Friday, have two ranked grapplers in the line-up.

Redshirt sophomore Duke Burk, ranked 14th in the country at 174, qualified for the NCAA Championships as a freshman last season. He will likely face Cyclone redshirt freshman Mitch Artist.

Northern Illinois' other ranked wrestler is No. 11 Pat Castillo, a two-time NCAA qualifier at 125 and defending Mid-American Conference Champion who bumped up a weight class to 133 pounds for this season. Castillo's will face seventh-ranked sophomore Nick Fanthorpe, who recorded a 27-11 record last season.

Grant complimented the work-ethic of his squad, which finished third in the MAC last season and send four wrestlers on to the NCAA Championships.

"This is one of the most focused and committed teams we've head," said Grant, now in his 12th season at Northern Illinois.

Grant is looking forward to seeing how the hard work pays off for all his wrestlers, includingTJ Wunnicke, a "hard-nosed, in-your-face true freshman." Wunnicke will see Iowa State's Ben Hanisch across the mat, a senior who's only wrestled in five career matches.

After facing Iowa State in dual competition Thursday, the Huskies will stay in Ames to compete at the Cyclone Open, Saturday.

Grant looks forward to the opportunities to face a top-tier wrestling program.

"Wrestling is a big sport in Ames with years of tradition," he said. "This is what we train to do, to face the top teams in the country."