DeKALB, Ill. – Northern Illinois University will send its trio of Mid-American Conference Champions – Izzak Olejnik, Mason Kauffman and Brit Wilson - to Little Caesar's Arena in Detroit, Michigan next week as the 2022 NCAA Wrestling Championships brackets were released Wednesday.
 
All three Huskies bring NCAA Championships experience to the 2022 tournament with Wilson earning his fourth consecutive bid, the first Huskie since Josh Wooton (2003-06) to qualify for four national championships. Olejnik is a three-time NCAA qualifier while Kauffman will make his second appearance. The Huskies extended their streak of seasons with at least one wrestler in the NCAA Championships to 51, dating back to 1972.
 
"It's great to have three guys who have been our steadfast leaders throughout the year heading to NCAAs," Ludwig said. "They're feeling good and wrestling at their best heading to the national tournament. We're excited for that first round and hopefully we get off to a great start on Thursday."
 
Wilson, an All-American in 2021 with a sixth-place finish, comes into the 2022 tournament as the No. 12 seed at 184 pounds with a 25-4 record on the season. The Mexico, Mo. native won his third consecutive MAC title at 184 pounds last week in Athens, Ohio, picking up three major decisions in his four matches. He will face No. 21 seed Tate Samuelson of Wyoming in the first round.
 
"Brit is firing on all cylinders," Ludwig said. "His offense is in check, his finishes are clean. I think [his performance at the MAC Championships] just gives him a full head of confidence. The MAC is tough, so it helps to reinforce confidence heading into a national level event like the NCAAs."
 
Olejnik, a junior from Bakersfield, Calif., earned a No. 11 seed, highest among NIU's three wrestlers, and will face RJ Mosley of Gardner-Webb in the first round. Olejnik brings a 25-4 record into his third NCAA Championships and enters the tournament as MAC Champion for the first time after winning the title in overtime last week.
 
After winning the MAC title at 174 pounds, Mason Kauffman competes in the NCAAs for the second consecutive season, this year as the No. 22 seed. The Stratford, Wis. product is 21-9 on the year and will face No. 11 seed Peyton Mocco of Missouri in the first round.
 
While the seeds and brackets were announced Wednesday, Ludwig said the Huskies' focus is on their training and what they have to do to succeed.
 
"Our focus is always on us," Ludwig said. "Our guys are focused on being their best. Things like having practice routines down, making sure our lifestyles are right, making sure we're recovering well, training hard and training correctly so that we're at our peak heading into the national tournament. We believe that if our individuals are wrestling at their best, they'll be extremely competitive."
 
The NCAA Championships will be held March 17-19 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit and will be broadcast on ESPN platforms. For tickets and additional championships information, click here.  
 
-- NIU --