Wrestling | October 22

The Northern Illinois University wrestling program welcomed 11 freshmen to their roster for the 2024-25 season. This is the second class of 11 in the last five years and fourth double-digit class in the last ten years under head coach Ryan Ludwig.
 
After almost two months into the school year and just days away from their first NCAA Division I seasons', these newcomers have adjusted to life in DeKalb and at NIU. Read below to find out about the Huskie newcomers, both on and off the mat.
 
Charles "Deuce" Curtis | 141 pounds | Canton, Ohio
 
Q- Why did you choose to wrestle at NIU?
A- I liked NIU as a school and felt like I could look up to the coaches
Q- What is your favorite wrestling memory?
A- Winning my first ever tournament in fifth grade    
Q- What are you most excited about for the 2024-25 season?
A- Wrestling and competing alongside my teammates
Q- How did you get into wrestling?
A-  My baseball coach in fourth grade got me started
Q- Describe your wrestling style
A- Tough, quick, stubborn
Q- Best advice given by a coach?
A- Don't worry about the outcome of the match, just wrestle
 
Rapid Fire Questions:

• Favorite Athlete(s) of all time: LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Jamal Charles
• What did you want to be growing up: A barber
• Top three songs on repeat in your Spotify: Light Up, End Up Gone, Fever
• Favorite Food after dual: Chicken Alfredo
• Favorite type of dessert: Milkshakes
• Best Vacation Taken: Going to Hawaii for my senior trip

Camren French | 125 pounds | Mattoon, Illinois
 
Q- Why did you choose to wrestle at NIU?
A- An opportunity to compete at the highest level
Q- What is your favorite wrestling memory?
A- Winning state my senior year       
Q- What are you most excited about for the 2024-25 season?
A- Competing at Midlands
Q- How did you get into wrestling?
A-  My dad took me to watch a high school practice when I was five
Q- Describe your wrestling style
A- Fundamental
Q- Best advice given by a coach?
A- Perfect the basics
 
Rapid Fire Questions:

• Favorite Athlete(s) of all time: Buvaisar Saitiev
• What did you want to be growing up: Paleontologist
• Top three songs on repeat in your Spotify: Hippies and Cowboys, Lose Yourself, Circles
• Favorite Food after dual: Lasagna
• Favorite type of dessert: Ice Cream
• Best Vacation Taken: Miami, Florida

Dominic Heim | 184 pounds | Shakopee, Minnesota  
 
Q- Why did you choose to wrestle at NIU?
A- Because I immediately clicked with the coaches on my official visit 
Q- What is your favorite wrestling memory?
A- Winning my true second match as an eighth grader to go to state at 160 pounds
Q- What are you most excited about for the 2024-25 season?
A- Getting to compete at the Division I level
Q- How did you get into wrestling?
A- In third grade. My dad got me and my four brothers into wrestling
Q- Describe your wrestling style
A- Explosive 
Q- Best advice given by a coach?
A- Until you want to win as ad as you want to breathe, you won't beat good wrestlers
 
Rapid Fire Questions:

• Favorite Athlete(s) of all time: Mike Tyson, Michael Jordan, Ray Lewis
• What did you want to be growing up: An NFL Linebacker
• Top three songs on repeat in your Spotify: Kid Rock, Nickelback, Jon Pardi
• Favorite Food after dual: Sour Patch Kids
• Favorite type of dessert: Chocolate Ice Cream
• Best Vacation Taken: Getting stranded in Wyoming with my dad and brothers

Jacob Luce | 174 pounds | DeKalb, Illinois
 
Q- Why did you choose to wrestle at NIU?
A- I liked the coaches and the environment
Q- What is your favorite wrestling memory?
A- Being with my dad 
Q- What are you most excited about for the 2024-25 season?
A- Competing and wrestling
Q- How did you get into wrestling?
A- My dad
Q- Describe your wrestling style
A- High pace and likes to score points
Q- Best advice given by a coach?
A- Attack and go wreslte
 
Rapid Fire Questions:

• Favorite Athlete(s) of all time: Tom Brady
• What did you want to be growing up: Wrestler
• Top three songs on repeat in your Spotify: Enter Sandman, TNT, It's My Life
• Favorite Food after dual: Pasta
• Favorite type of dessert: Brownie
• Best Vacation Taken: Maine

Lucan O'Brien | 149 pounds | Lakewood, Ohio
 
Q- Why did you choose to wrestle at NIU?
A- I chose NIU because it felt like the coaching staff really believed in me and my talents. I felt I could develop as a person and wrestler here.
Q- What is your favorite wrestling memory?
A- Winning team state for the last time my senior year        
Q- What are you most excited about for the 2024-25 season?
A- Excited to compete and test myself against the best in college wrestling
Q- How did you get into wrestling?
A-  I wrestled with my cousins in the basement and asked my dad if wrestling was a sport.
Q- Describe your wrestling style
A- Tactical, quick, strategic
Q- Best advice given by a coach?
A- Don't be a jack in the box
 
Rapid Fire Questions:

• Favorite Athlete(s) of all time: LeBron James
• What did you want to be growing up: A Chef
• Top three songs on repeat in your Spotify: Beast of Burden, Bonehead's Bank Holiday, Listen to the Music
• Favorite Food after dual: Chicken Wings
• Favorite type of dessert: Caramel Fudge Brownie Ice Cream
• Best Vacation Taken: Alberta, Canada

Talan Parsons | 125 pounds | Ovid-Elsie, Michigan
 
Q- Why did you choose to wrestle at NIU?
A- I chose NIU because they had a good atmosphere around the team and the coaches made me feel wanted
Q- What is your favorite wrestling memory?
A-Winning my state title my senior year and jumping up the Ford Field wall to hug my little brother
Q- What are you most excited about for the 2024-25 season?
A- Excited about growing my skill and putting on muscle
Q- How did you get into wrestling?
A- My dad wrestled in high school and he asked me when I was 5 if I wanted to try it and ever since then I've been a wrestler
Q- Describe your wrestling style
A- Technical Wrestling
Q- Best advice given by a coach?
A- An athlete's biggest critic is themselves
 
Rapid Fire Questions:

• Favorite Athlete(s) of all time: Tom Brady 
• What did you want to be growing up: Football player or a ninja
• Top three songs on repeat in your Spotify: Redneck Addictions, Hang it Up, Play Something Country
• Favorite Food after dual: Cheeseburger 
• Favorite type of dessert: Cookies
• Best Vacation Taken: Any hunting or fishing trip

Damarion Ross | 174 pounds | Fort Dodge, Iowa  
 
Q - Why did you choose to wrestle at NIU?
A- When I took a visit, it felt like home, and I could see myself here for 4 years.
Q- What is your favorite wrestling memory?
A - Winning a state championship with my little brother Dreshaun
Q- What are you most excited about for the 2024-25 season?
A - Seeing how good I can do in every open
Q- How did you get into wrestling?
A- My whole family wrestles so I joined in because that's all my family did and fell in love
Q- Describe your wrestling style:
A- Hard and tough
Q - Best advice given by a coach?
A - Everyone is beatable
 
Rapid Fire Questions

• Favorite Athlete(s) of all time: Jordan Burroughs and Rulon Gardener
• What did you want to be growing up: A wrestling coach
• Top three songs on repeat in your Spotify: Party in the USA, Take My Breath, Bad Habits
• Favorite food after dual: Gushers
• Favorite type of dessert: Ice cream
• Best vacation taken: South Carolina

Tyler Schofield | 165 pounds | Olivet, Michigan
 
Q- Why did you choose to wrestle at NIU?
A- I chose to wrestle at NIU because I believe the coaching staff can get me to where I want to be.
Q- What is your favorite wrestling memory?
A- Winning a state title          
Q- What are you most excited about for the 2024-25 season?
A- The team winning MACs
Q- How did you get into wrestling?
A- My dad introduced me to it.
Q- Describe your wrestling style
A- Strong nose, tough, resilient
Q- Best advice given by a coach?
A- Focus on one match at a time.
 
Rapid Fire Questions:

• Favorite Athlete(s) of all time: Jordan Burroughs
• What did you want to be growing up: Real Estate Agent
• Top three songs on repeat in your Spotify: Superstar, Live your Life, The Thrill
• Favorite Food after dual: Subway
• Favorite type of dessert: Cheesecake
• Best Vacation Taken: Florida Spring Break in 2024

Ian Smith | 197 pounds | Lake Nebagamon, Wisconsin  
 
Q- Why did you choose to wrestle at NIU?
A- Coaching staff and facilities
Q- What is your favorite wrestling memory?
A- Winning my first state title 
Q- What are you most excited about for the 2024-25 season?
A- Improving my wrestling skills and knowledge
Q- How did you get into wrestling?
A- Joined because my brother did when I was three
Q- Describe your wrestling style
A- Opportunistic
Q- Best advice given by a coach?
A- Be comfortable being uncomfortable
 
Rapid Fire Questions:

• Favorite Athlete(s) of all time: Any Packers player
• What did you want to be growing up: Good athlete
• Top three songs on repeat in your Spotify: Say it ain't so, Mother, Heading South
• Favorite Food after dual: Anything that looks good on DoorDash
• Favorite type of dessert: Cookie Dough Ice Cream
• Best Vacation Taken: Anna Maria Island, Florida

Tee Ward | 141 pounds | Freemont, Michigan
 
Q- Why did you choose to wrestle at NIU?
A- I chose NIU wrestling because of the coaches and the environment
Q- What is your favorite wrestling memory?
A- Winning a high school state my title my senior year        
Q- What are you most excited about for the 2024-25 season?
A- To see how much I improve in one year of collegiate wrestling
Q- How did you get into wrestling?
A-  It was a sport I wanted to try in elementary school and I stuck with it
Q- Describe your wrestling style
A- High pace
Q- Best advice given by a coach?
A- Failing is part of the journey to success
 
Rapid Fire Questions:

• Favorite Athlete(s) of all time: Lionel Messi
• What did you want to be growing up: I've always wanted to work for NASA
• Top three songs on repeat in your Spotify: Party in the USA, California Girls, and Mr. Rager
• Favorite Food after dual: A Hamburger
• Favorite type of dessert: Strawberry Shortcake
• Best Vacation Taken: Flying out to California this last summer

Calvin Werden | 133 pounds | Willoughby, Ohio
 
Q- Why did you choose to wrestle at NIU?
A- I liked what the campus and school had to offer
Q- What is your favorite wrestling memory?
A- Placing at the national prep tournament senior year       
Q- What are you most excited about for the 2024-25 season?
A- To get better and develop into a college wrestler
Q- How did you get into wrestling?
A-  My dad put me into wrestling at my local YMCA when I was five
Q- Describe your wrestling style
A- I have a creative style and like to score points
Q- Best advice given by a coach?
A- Have self-belief
 
Rapid Fire Questions:

• Favorite Athlete(s) of all time: Kamari Islam
• What did you want to be growing up: A Navy Seal
• Top three songs on repeat in your Spotify: Night Shift, Money for Nothing, Just Fishin'
• Favorite Food after dual: Chipotle
• Favorite type of dessert: Candy
• Best Vacation Taken: Bahamas