Wrestling | October 13

DeKALB, Ill. — Northern Illinois University wrestling head coach Ryan Ludwig has announced the Huskies' upcoming schedule for the 2026-27 season.
 
NIU will open the season with its annual Red-Black Dual on Oct. 30 at the NIU Convocation Center.
 
This season marks NIU's first as a member of the Pac-12 Conference, with the Huskies set to face Cal State Bakersfield and Air Force for the first time in program history.
 
"We are looking forward to the next chapter of NIU Wrestling as we begin our inaugural season in the Pac-12," said Ludwig, who enters his 16th season at the helm. "We aim to embrace each challenge of the competition schedule with purpose as we build and pursue our ultimate goals."
 
The Huskies open the season at the Michigan State Open on Nov. 7. NIU's home opener will be Nov. 15, as they host Bellarmine at DeKalb High School before opening Pac-12 action at Oregon State on Nov. 20.
 
Turning to December, NIU opens the month at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Tournament on Dec. 4-5. The Huskie Duals return on Dec. 19, as NIU hosts Cal State Bakersfield, Harper and St. Ambrose in the final pre-holiday meet. An appearance at the annual Ken Kraft Midlands Championships is the final calendar date for the 2026 portion, with the tournament taking place Dec. 29-30.
 
The Huskies take on the NWCA National Duals to start 2027, competing Jan. 8-9. NIU welcomes Northern Colorado on Jan. 16 before traveling to Little Rock on Jan. 22. The Huskies' final non-conference matchup comes on Jan. 28, when Northwestern is slated to visit DeKalb.
 
Heading to the Dakotas, NIU will compete at North Dakota State on Feb. 5 and South Dakota State on Feb. 7 in their final conference road duals of the season. The Huskies end the regular season at home on Feb. 12 against Air Force and Feb. 21 against Cal Poly.
 
The 2027 Pac-12 Championships are slated to take place March 4-5 in Little Rock, Arkansas. The 2027 NCAA Championships will take place March 18-20 in St. Louis, Missouri.
 
The NIU wrestling program posted a 9-7 record, going 4-2 in its final season in the MAC during the 2025-26 season. The Huskies had a pair of NCAA Championships qualifiers in Markel Baker (Freeport, Ill./Freeport) and Devon Dawson (Brooklyn Park, Minn./Goddard).
 
Baker and Dawson were MAC champions at 133 and 285 pounds, respectively, extending NIU's streak to 55 consecutive years with an NCAA Championships qualifier. Baker is set to return for the Huskies wrestling program this season.
 
Blake West (Shakopee, Minn./Shakopee) ended his career as a Huskie as the all-time wins leader in NIU wrestling history. Seven Huskies received Academic All-Conference honors with three earning CSC Academic All-District recognition.
 
Stay up-to-date on all NIU Wrestling news by following the team on Facebook (NIU Wrestling), X/Twitter (@NIUWrestling), and on Instagram (@NIU_Wrestling).