Wrestling | March 8

DeKALB, Ill. – Two-time Mid-American Conference champion Izzak Olejnik will represent the Northern Illinois University wrestling team at the 2023 NCAA Wrestling Championships in Tulsa, Okla. March 16-18 at the BOK Center.

The 2023 MAC Championship's Most Outstanding Wrestler will face Gerrit Nijenhuis (OU) in the 165 lbs. opening round Thursday (March 16) morning.

Olejnik is no stranger to the national stage as he qualifies for the tournament for the fourth time in his Huskie career. Although the tournament was cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Olejnik qualified after placing second at the MAC Championships that year.

In 2021, Olejnik beat Dan Braunagel (Illinois) in the opening round, but fell to Anthony Valencia (Arizona State) to send him to the consolation bracket. Olejnik defeated Austin Yant (Northern Iowa), but was one win shy of All-America status after losing to Travis Wittlake (Oklahoma State) in the consolation bracket's third round.

Olejnik fell down a similar path in 2022 with wins over Rodrick Mosley (Gardner-Webb) and Thomas Bullard (N.C. State), but was ultimately bested by Cameron Amine (Michigan) and Justin McCoy (Virginia) to fall short of All-America honors.

With Olejnik's qualification, NIU extended its streak of at least one NCAA qualifier to 52-straight years dating back to 1972 when Larry Johnson earned All-America honors by taking fifth. NIU has two national champions in its history, with Roy Conrad winning the Division I title in 1960 at 177 and Neal McDonald earning the Division II championship in 1965.

Stay tuned to NIUHuskies.com for a full preview next week.