NIU Wrestling Notes - UNI, Illinois  | ESPN3 vs. Illinois

DeKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University wrestling team will welcome two nationally ranked teams to DeKalb this weekend, with the Huskies set to face No. 25 Northern Iowa in a MAC dual match on Friday night and No. 10 Illinois in an in-state nonconference showdown on Sunday afternoon.

The Huskies (3-3, 0-1) will look for their first Mid-American Conference victory against the Panthers (1-4, 0-2 MAC) on Friday night at 7 p.m. before challenging the Fighting Illini (8-1, 1-1 Big Ten) on Sunday at 1 p.m. Both matches will be held at Victor E. Court inside the Convocation Center in DeKalb.

Admission is FREE to ALL fans for BOTH duals.

NIU wrestling head coach Ryan Ludwig and the Huskies have been working hard to prepare for two of their toughest dual tests this season – with the added boost of knowing they’ll have the home crowd.

“We are looking forward to being at home and hosting two great competitions,” Ludwig said. “The guys have been training hard and refining details.”

Leading the Huskies will be their two nationally ranked wrestlers: Steve Bleise (Chelsea, Mich./Chelsea) at 141 pounds and Shawn Scott (Holly, Mich./Holly) at 197 pounds.

Owning a 17-4 record this season with four wins over ranked wrestlers, Bleise vaulted himself into the top-15 of every national college wrestling poll after reaching the finals of the Midlands Championships in his weight class, and the redshirt freshman was ranked as high as No. 12 in three polls. Meanwhile, Scott remains touted as high as No. 16 in his weight division as he brings his 13-5 record in this weekend.

But for NIU to knock off ranked teams at home in these duals, the Huskies will also need their other eight wrestlers to step up against the three ranked wrestlers of Northern Iowa and the six ranked grapplers of Illinois. The Huskies have six other wrestlers with season records of .500 or better, including 174-pounder Trace Engelkes (Winnebago, Ill./Winnebago), who won his 50th career match last time out in placing on the podium in his challenging weight class at Midlands.

Here are the full NIU probables for this weekend:
125: Alijah Jeffery (8-9)
133: Austin Eicher (11-8)
141: #12 Steve Bleise (17-4)
149: Gabe Morse (4-1)
157: Austin Culton (2-10) OR Andrew Scott (6-9)
165: Shaun'Qae McMurtry (10-5)
174: Trace Engelkes (12-8)
184: Quinton Rosser (7-7)
197: #16 Shawn Scott (13-5)
285: Arthur Bunce (10-7) OR Jake Cochrane (1-7)

SCOUTING NORTHERN IOWA:
The Panthers also will look for their first MAC win after coming off a disappointing loss at Eastern Michigan on Wednesday, which dropped their record this year to 1-4, 0-2 MAC – with three of their losses coming against ranked teams. Head coach Doug Schwab brings three ranked wrestlers to DeKalb this weekend for a key conference dual: No. 18 Josh Alber at 133 pounds, No. 12 Cooper Moore at 165 pounds and heavyweight No. 7 Blaize Cabell.

SCOUTING ILLINOIS:
The Illini will make the journey to DeKalb after wrestling at No. 2 Iowa in Big Ten action on Friday night. Led by head coach Jim Heffernan, Illinois currently have six ranked grapplers, led by the undefeated returning national champion at 157 pounds, Isaiah Martinez. But the Illini own strength in depth, with Zane Richards at 133, Steven Rodrigues at 165 and Zac Brunson at 174 also ranked in the top-six of their respective weight classes for one of the nation’s top teams.

--NIU--