July 17, 2008

MANHEIM, Pa. - Northern Illinois Head Wrestling Coach Dave Grant has brought in a top-level recruiting class, according to IntermatWrestle.com, which named the 2008-09 newcomers the 28th-best in the nation, Thursday.

The group includes Illinois products Lucas Roth (Homer Glen, Ill./Lockport), Steve Zimmerman (Chicago, Ill./St. Rita), Isreal Montemayor (Barrington, Ill./Grant Community), and Jordan Walsh (McHenry, Ill./McHenry), exemplifying Grant's commitment to building his program with in-state student-athletes.

Incoming freshman Bobby Wunnicke (Dodgeville, Wis./Dodgeville) will join his older brother TJ Wunnicke on the Huskie roster next season. Fellow Wisconsinite Zak Saevre (Green Bay, Wis./Ashwaubenon) will give Northern Illinois four total grapplers from the Badger State.

Chris Smith (Portland, Maine/Deering), Derrick Yant (Delta, Ohio/Pike-Delta-York) also join the Huskies for the 2008-09 campaign.

The incoming student-athletes will bolster an NIU team that placed third at the Mid-American Conference Championships, sent three wrestlers to the NCAA National Championships and upset No. 9 Northwestern last season.

The incoming Huskie class was tabbed 20th-best in the nation according to Wrestling International Newsmagazine (W.I.N. Magazine) in December.