Feb. 16, 2007

DeKalb, Ill - Sunday will be a full day of wrestling on senior day as the Huskie wrestlers take on three teams in a span of four hours, including Eastern Michigan, Eastern Illinois and Southern Illinois-Edwardsville in the home finale and final regular season competition. The action is set to begin at 10:00 a.m., after the senior introduction in the Convocation Center, with the final match of the day starting at 2:00 p.m.

Head coach Dave Grant said of his four seniors, "It's the final meet for Mike Grimes, Johnny Galloway, Danny Burk, and Justin Metcalfe. It's a big day for our seniors; it's the last time they will be stepping onto the mat (at the Convocation Center)." In honor of their last home meet, the four seniors will each receive a special introduction prior to the opening matches highlighting their accomplishments while competing at NIU.

The Huskie wrestlers come into the final meet of the season with a 3-4-1 overall record and 2-2 in MAC dual meet competition. The Huskies will be competing in three consecutive meets on Sunday with the first being against conference foe EMU at 10:00 a.m. At noon the Huskies will square off against the SIUE and in the final match of the day at 2:00 p.m. NIU takes on EIU.

The Eastern Michigan Eagles (7-6) come into DeKalb riding a four dual meet winning streak, including a conference win over the University at Buffalo by a score of 28-10. Last year's meet between NIU and EMU in Ypsilanti, Mich. resulted in a 28-6 victory in favor of Northern Illinois. The Eagles will be looking for payback this Sunday against the Huskies.

NIU will also be competing against a pair of intra-state foes in the Eastern Illinois Panthers (1-11) and the Southern Illinois - Edwardsville Cougars (3-7). NIU defeated Eastern Illinois last year in Charlston, Ill. by a score of 41-6. Both teams will be looking to pull out an upset against the Huskies.

Head coach Dave Grant said of the final meet of the season, "You always want your best performance in the last meet of the season." Hopefully, all the NIU wrestlers will have their best performances on Sunday and especially Mike Grimes, Johnny Galloway, Pat Castillo and Duke Burk, who will each need to have a strong performance in order to finish the season unbeaten in MAC competition and maintain their national top-twenty ranked status going into the MAC championships.

"There are some key match-ups and we are wrestling in three meets in a row on Sunday," said coach Grant. Two of the key match-ups will feature a pair of top MAC ranked wrestlers versus a pair of third ranked MAC wrestlers. NIU's Mike Grimes, top ranked wrestler in the MAC and 12th in the nation, will take on Jermain Thompson, ranked third in the MAC, from Eastern Michigan in the 149-pound weight class. At 165-pounds, Johnny Galloway, number one in the MAC and 9th in the nation, will face third ranked MAC wrestler, Nick Conklin from EMU.

The Huskies will next compete in the MAC championships March 3-4 at the University at Buffalo.

For further information contact Matt Stiles at niuwrestlingsid@yahoo.com

-NIU-

Schedule of Events

10:00 AM

Northern Illinois vs. Eastern Michigan

Southern Illinois-Edwardsville vs. Eastern Illinois

12:00 PM

Northern Illinois vs. Southern Illinois-Edwardsville

Eastern Illinois vs. Eastern Michigan

2:00 PM

Northern Illinois vs. Eastern Illinois