The Northern Illinois Huskies wrestling team represents Northern Illinois University (NIU) in DeKalb, Illinois. NIU wrestling started competing in 1931 and currently competes in the Mid-American Conference (MAC). NIU wrestling has produced two NCAA Champions, three NAIA Champions, and currently holds a 51-year streak (1972–present) of sending at least one NCAA qualifier to the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships. The Huskies are coached by Ryan Ludwig.
Conference membership history (Division I only)
1975–1987, 1997–2026: Mid-American Conference 1988–1996: Independent 2027–future: Pac-12 Conference
Championships
Conference Championships 1985 – Mid-American Conference (MAC) Championship.
Individual NCAA National Champions 1960Roy Conrad1771965Neal McDonaldHWT
Individual NAIA National Champions 1958Dale Tessler1771961Ray Guzak1671961Roy Conrad177
Individual Conference Champions
1975Mark Tiffany190MAC1976Tony Flippo142MAC1977Scott Soderholm134MAC1977Phil Gulsvig177MAC1977Mark Tiffany190MAC1977Dean SchultzHWTMAC1979Dave Larimer126MAC1979Mike Pheanis158MAC1981Mike Pheanis158MAC1982Gene Vatch158MAC1983Ernie Vatch167MAC1984Bruce Swierczewski142MAC1984Gene Vatch158MAC1985Nate Allison126MAC1985Bruce Swierczewski142MAC1985Gene Vatch158MAC1985John Major177MAC1997Jeremy Goeden190MAC1998Jeremy Goeden190MAC
2000Dave Potter184MAC2001Scott Owen157MAC2002Scott Owen157MAC2002Bill Lowney174MAC2002Ben Heizer184MAC2003Sam Hiatt133MAC2003Scott Owen157MAC2003Ben Heizer184MAC2004Sam Hiatt133MAC2004Ben Heizer184MAC2005Josh Wooton141MAC2006Josh Wooton141MAC2006Johnny Galloway165MAC2007Pat Castillo125MAC2008Pat Castillo133MAC2008Pat McLeMore141MAC2009Bryan Deutsch157MAC2011Brad Dieckhaus184MAC2012Austin Eicher133MAC2020Brit Wilson184MAC2021Brit Wilson184MAC
NCAA Wrestling Championships qualifiers NIU has sent 123 wrestlers to the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, including a current 54-year streak of sending at least one qualifier.
1960Roy Conrad1771969Wes Caine1231972Larry Johnson1581973Johnny Johnson1901974Larry Johnson1501975Lonnie Parker1261975Mark Tiffany1901976Scott Soderholm1341976Tony Flippo1421976Dan Fiorini1671976Mark Tiffany1901977Scott Soderholm1341977Phil Gulsvig1771977Mark Tiffany1901977Dean SchultzHWT1978Lonnie Parker1261978Ken Kraft1421979Dave Larimer1261979Mike Pheanis1581980Dan Fiorini1671981Mark Verr1181981Mike Pheanis1581982Gene Vatch1581983Gene Vatch1581983Ernie Vatch1671983Joe Morrow1771984Bruce Swierczewski1421984Gene Vatch1581985Nate Allison1261985Phil Rembert1341985Bruce Swierczewski1421985Gene Vatch1581985Ernie Vatch1671985John Major1771986Nate Allison1341986Mike Green1581986John Major1771987Tino Gonzalez1261987Nate Allison1421988Anton Kossakowski1771989Anton Kossakowski1771990T.C. Dantzler1581990Joe Madonia1771991T.C. Dantzler1581992T.C. Dantzler1581993T.C. Dantzler1581993Jim Kossakowski1671994Shannon Gregory1181994Jason Solomon1261994James Spillman1501995Jason Solomon1261995Ben Lehrfeld1771995Demond Rodez1901996Jason Solomon1341996Demond Rodez190
1997Jeremy Goeden1901998Ryan Egan1261998Jeremy Goeden1901999Ryan Egan1331999Scott Owen1412000Alexis Rivera1252000Tom LeCuyer1412000David Potter1842001Ryan Egan1412001Scott Owen1572002Marlon Felton1252002Scott Owen1572002Bill Lowney1742002Ben Heizer1842003Sam Hiatt1332003Josh Wooton1412003Scott Owen1572003Ben Heizer1842004Sam Hiatt1332004Josh Wooton1492004Ben Heizer1842005Sam Hiatt1332005Josh Wooton1412005Mike Grimes1492005Johnny Galloway1652006Pat Castillo1252006Josh Wooton1412006Johnny Galloway1652007Pat Castillo1252007Johnny Galloway1652007Danny Burk1742007Duke Burk1842008Pat Castillo1332008Pat McLemore1412008Duke Burk1742009Tristen DaShazer1332009Bryan Deutsch1572010Bryan Deutsch1572011Bryan Deutsch1572011Brad Dieckhaus1842012Kevin Fanta1412012Brad Dieckhaus1842013Matt Mougin1742014Nick Smith1332014Rob Jillard1492015Shawn Scott1972016Austin Eicher1332016Steve Bleise1412016Andrew Morse1572016Shawn Scott1972017Brock Hudkins1252017Steve Bleise1492017Shaun'Qae McMurtry1652017Trace Engelkes1742017Shawn Scott1972018Brock Hudkins125 2018Bryce Gorman184 2019Bryce West1252019Brit Wilson1742020Gage Braun1972020Max Ihry2852020Izzak Olejnik1652020Brit Wilson1842021Anthony Cheloni1492021Mason Kauffman174 2021Izzak Olejnik1652021Bryce West1332021Brit Wilson184 2022Izzak Olejnik1652022 Brit Wilson1842022 Mason Kauffman1742023 Izzak Olejnik1652024 Blake West1252025 Blake West1252025 Markel Baker1332025 Landen Johnson157
All-Americans NIU wrestling has had 16 All-Americans in program history. 1961Bill Kontos1301964Mel Schmidt1771965Bob Furlan1471965Mel Schmidt1771966Bob Furlan1471969Wes Caine1231972Larry Johnson1581973Johnny Johnson1901975Mark Tiffany1901997Jeremy Goeden1901998Jeremy Goeden1902002Scott Owen1572003Scott Owen1572003Ben Heizer1842004Ben Heizer1842021Brit Wilson184
Coaching staff NIU wrestling head coach Ryan Ludwig, who took over the position starting in the 2011–12 season, is a three-time NAIA All-American and a national finalist at 157 pounds.NIU Wrestling Coaching StaffRyan Ludwig Coaching Profile
Ryan Ludwig – Head Coach Dominick Moyer – Assistant Coach Ty Prazma – Assistant Coach
See also National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum
References
External links