History
NIU Hall of Famer Roy Conrad captured the NCAA title at 177 pounds in 1960.
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Ben Heizer was a two-time All-American while wrestling at 184 pounds for the Huskies, finishing sixth in 2003 and second in 2004.
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The Northern Illinois University wrestling program is not only one of the school's oldest, but also one of the most decorated.
One of the Huskies' biggest claims to fame is their unprecedented streak of NCAA qualifiers. Since 1972, NIU has been represented by at least on wrestler at the national tournament, including sending four or more representatives on seven occasions. In 1960, Roy Conrad won the NCAA overall national title at 177 pounds despite the Huskies competing in the smaller NCAA College Division (today's Division II). Conrad captured the NAIA national championship at 177 in 1961, while Ray Guzak took home the 167 title that same year. Four years later, Neal McDonald won the College Division national title at heavyweight. NIU's first national title winner came in 1958, when Dale Tessler won the NAIA national crown at 177.
In addition to the Huskies' national champions, eight other individuals have combined to earn 11 All-American honors. Jeremy Goeden (1997-98), Scott Owen (2002-03) and Ben Heizer (2003-04) were each named All-Americans twice.
Within the Mid-American Conference, NIU has won 41 individual titles, including three each from Owen and Heizer. Pat Castillo twice won the MAC Tournament's Outstanding Wrestler Award, doing so in 2007 and 2008.
NCAA Champions
| 1960 |
Roy Conrad |
177 |
| 1965 |
Neal McDonald |
HWT |
NAIA Champions
| 1958 |
Dale Tessler |
177 |
| 1961 |
Roy Conrad |
177 |
| 1961 |
Ray Guzak |
167 |
All-Americans
| 1961 |
Bill Kontos |
Fourth - 130 (NAIA) |
| 1969 |
Wes Caine |
Sixth - 123 |
| 1972 |
Larry Johnson |
Fifth - 158 |
| 1973 |
Johnny Johnson |
Second - 190 |
| 1975 |
Mark Tiffany |
Sixth - 190 |
| 1997 |
Jeremy Goeden |
Eighth - 190 |
| 1998 |
Jeremy Goeden |
Seventh - 190 |
| 2002 |
Scott Owen |
Fifth - 157 |
| 2003 |
Scott Owen |
Fifth - 157 |
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Ben Heizer |
Sixth - 184 |
| 2004 |
Ben Heizer |
Second - 184 |
MAC Champions
| 1975 |
Mark Tiffany |
190 |
| 1976 |
Tony Filippo |
142 |
| 1977 |
Scott Soderholm |
134 |
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Phil Gulsvig |
177 |
|
Mark Tiffany |
190 |
|
Dean Schultz |
HWT |
| 1979 |
Dave Larimer |
126 |
|
Mike Pheanis |
158 |
| 1981 |
Mike Pheanis |
158 |
| 1982 |
Gene Vatch |
158 |
| 1983 |
Ernie Vatch |
167 |
| 1984 |
Bruce Swierczewski |
142 |
|
Ernie Vatch |
158 |
| 1985 |
Nate Allison |
126 |
|
Bruce Swierczewski |
142 |
|
Gene Vatch |
158 |
|
John Major |
177 |
| 1986 |
Mike Green |
158 |
|
John Major |
177 |
| 1997 |
Jeremy Goeden |
190 |
| 1998 |
Jeremy Goeden |
190 |
| 2000 |
Dave Potter |
184 |
| 2001 |
Scott Owen |
157 |
| 2002 |
Scott Owen |
157 |
|
Bill Lowney |
174 |
|
Ben Heizer |
184 |
| 2003 |
Sam Hiatt |
133 |
|
Scott Owen |
157 |
|
Ben Heizer |
184 |
| 2004 |
Sam Hiatt |
133 |
|
Ben Heizer |
184 |
| 2005 |
Josh Wooton |
141 |
| 2006 |
Josh Wooton |
141 |
|
Johnny Galloway |
165 |
| 2007 |
Pat Castillo |
125 |
| 2008 |
Pat Castillo |
133 |
|
Pat McLemore |
141 |
| 2009 |
Bryan Deutsch |
157 |
| 2011 |
Brad Dieckhaus |
184 |
*NIU competed as an independent from 1969-1974 and 1987-1996
