March 14, 2008

MENHEIM, Pa. - The National Wrestling Coaches Association placed three wrestlers in its individual top-20 rankings in the final poll prior to the NCAA Championships.

Senior Pat Castillo (Western Springs, Ill./Lyons Township), and sophomore Duke Burk (Peoria, Ill./Notre Dame) maintained spots in the rankings. Freshman Patrick McLemore (Hinckley, Ohio/Padua Franciscan) made his way into the poll for the first time.

McLemore, now ranked 15th in the nation at 141 pounds, surprised the MAC wrestling community by upsetting both the first and second seed on his way to winning the conference championship.

The poll, which is voted on by members of the National Wrestling Media Association, tabbed Castillo 10th, crediting the 133-pounder one spot after he earned his second-straight Mid-American Conference title and Most Outstanding Wrestler award.

Burk held steady in the 13th slot at 174 pounds for the eighth straight week after taking second at the MAC Championships last week.

All three of Northern Illinois' ranked matmen will be competing at the NCAA Championships in St. Louis, Mar. 20-22.