Northern Illinois Huskies wrestling

Northern Illinois Huskies wrestling
Founded	1931
University	Northern Illinois University
Head Coach	Ryan Ludwig (12th season)
Conference	MAC
Location	DeKalb, IL
Arena	NIU Convocation Center (Capacity: 10,000)
Nickname	Huskies
Colors	Cardinal and black [1]
Fight song	Huskie Fight Song [2]
Conference Tournament championships
1985 (MAC)

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. ^[3]

Individual NCAA National Champions

Year	Name	Weight Class
1960	Roy Conrad	177
1965	Neal McDonald	HWT

Individual NAIA National Champions

Year	Name	Weight Class
1958	Dale Tessler	177
1961	Ray Guzak	167
1961	Roy Conrad	177

Individual Conference Champions

Year Name Weight Class Conference 1975 Mark Tiffany 190 MAC 1976 Tony Flippo 142 MAC 1977 Scott Soderholm 134 MAC 1977 Phil Gulsvig 177 MAC 1977 Mark Tiffany 190 MAC 1977 Dean Schultz HWT MAC 1979 Dave Larimer 126 MAC 1979 Mike Pheanis 158 MAC 1981 Mike Pheanis 158 MAC 1982 Gene Vatch 158 MAC 1983 Ernie Vatch 167 MAC 1984 Bruce Swierczewski 142 MAC 1984 Gene Vatch 158 MAC 1985 Nate Allison 126 MAC 1985 Bruce Swierczewski 142 MAC 1985 Gene Vatch 158 MAC 1985 John Major 177 MAC 1997 Jeremy Goeden 190 MAC 1998 Jeremy Goeden 190 MAC

Year Name Weight Class Conference 2000 Dave Potter 184 MAC 2001 Scott Owen 157 MAC 2002 Scott Owen 157 MAC 2002 Bill Lowney 174 MAC 2002 Ben Heizer 184 MAC 2003 Sam Hiatt 133 MAC 2003 Scott Owen 157 MAC 2003 Ben Heizer 184 MAC 2004 Sam Hiatt 133 MAC 2004 Ben Heizer 184 MAC 2005 Josh Wooton 141 MAC 2006 Josh Wooton 141 MAC 2006 Johnny Galloway 165 MAC 2007 Pat Castillo 125 MAC 2008 Pat Castillo 133 MAC 2008 Pat McLeMore 141 MAC 2009 Bryan Deutsch 157 MAC 2011 Brad Dieckhaus 184 MAC 2012 Austin Eicher 133 MAC 2020 Brit Wilson 184 MAC 2021 Brit Wilson 184 MAC

NCAA Wrestling Championships qualifiers

NIU has sent 123 wrestlers to the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, including a current 51-year streak of sending at least one qualifier. ^[3]

Year Name Weight Class 1960 Roy Conrad 177 1969 Wes Caine 123 1972 Larry Johnson 158 1973 Johnny Johnson 190 1974 Larry Johnson 150 1975 Lonnie Parker 126 1975 Mark Tiffany 190 1976 Scott Soderholm 134 1976 Tony Flippo 142 1976 Dan Fiorini 167 1976 Mark Tiffany 190 1977 Scott Soderholm 134 1977 Phil Gulsvig 177 1977 Mark Tiffany 190 1977 Dean Schultz HWT 1978 Lonnie Parker 126 1978 Ken Kraft 142 1979 Dave Larimer 126 1979 Mike Pheanis 158 1980 Dan Fiorini 167 1981 Mark Verr 118 1981 Mike Pheanis 158 1982 Gene Vatch 158 1983 Gene Vatch 158 1983 Ernie Vatch 167 1983 Joe Morrow 177 1984 Bruce Swierczewski 142 1984 Gene Vatch 158 1985 Nate Allison 126 1985 Phil Rembert 134 1985 Bruce Swierczewski 142 1985 Gene Vatch 158 1985 Ernie Vatch 167 1985 John Major 177 1986 Nate Allison 134 1986 Mike Green 158 1986 John Major 177 1987 Tino Gonzalez 126 1987 Nate Allison 142 1988 Anton Kossakowski 177 1989 Anton Kossakowski 177 1990 T.C. Dantzler 158 1990 Joe Madonia 177 1991 T.C. Dantzler 158 1992 T.C. Dantzler 158 1993 T.C. Dantzler 158 1993 Jim Kossakowski 167 1994 Shannon Gregory 118 1994 Jason Solomon 126 1994 James Spillman 150 1995 Jason Solomon 126 1995 Ben Lehrfeld 177 1995 Demond Rodez 190 1996 Jason Solomon 134 1996 Demond Rodez 190

Year Name Weight Class 1997 Jeremy Goeden 190 1998 Ryan Egan 126 1998 Jeremy Goeden 190 1999 Ryan Egan 133 1999 Scott Owen 141 2000 Alexis Rivera 125 2000 Tom LeCuyer 141 2000 David Potter 184 2001 Ryan Egan 141 2001 Scott Owen 157 2002 Marlon Felton 125 2002 Scott Owen 157 2002 Bill Lowney 174 2002 Ben Heizer 184 2003 Sam Hiatt 133 2003 Josh Wooton 141 2003 Scott Owen 157 2003 Ben Heizer 184 2004 Sam Hiatt 133 2004 Josh Wooton 149 2004 Ben Heizer 184 2005 Sam Hiatt 133 2005 Josh Wooton 141 2005 Mike Grimes 149 2005 Johnny Galloway 165 2006 Pat Castillo 125 2006 Josh Wooton 141 2006 Johnny Galloway 165 2007 Pat Castillo 125 2007 Johnny Galloway 165 2007 Danny Burk 174 2007 Duke Burk 184 2008 Pat Castillo 133 2008 Pat McLemore 141 2008 Duke Burk 174 2009 Tristen DaShazer 133 2009 Bryan Deutsch 157 2010 Bryan Deutsch 157 2011 Bryan Deutsch 157 2011 Brad Dieckhaus 184 2012 Kevin Fanta 141 2012 Brad Dieckhaus 184 2013 Matt Mougin 174 2014 Nick Smith 133 2014 Rob Jillard 149 2015 Shawn Scott 197 2016 Austin Eicher 133 2016 Steve Bleise 141 2016 Andrew Morse 157 2016 Shawn Scott 197 2017 Brock Hudkins 125 2017 Steve Bleise 149 2017 Shaun'Qae McMurtry 165 2017 Trace Engelkes 174 2017 Shawn Scott 197 2018 Brock Hudkins 125 2018 Bryce Gorman 184 2019 Bryce West 125 2019 Brit Wilson 174 2020 Gage Braun 197 2020 Max Ihry 285 2020 Izzak Olejnik 165 2020 Brit Wilson 184 2021 Anthony Cheloni 149 2021 Mason Kauffman 174 2021 Izzak Olejnik 165 2021 Bryce West 133 2021 Brit Wilson 184 2022 Izzak Olejnik 165 2022 Brit Wilson 184 2022 Mason Kauffman 174

All-Americans

NIU wrestling has had 16 All-Americans in program history. ^[3]

Year	Name	Weight Class
1961	Bill Kontos	130
1964	Mel Schmidt	177
1965	Bob Furlan	147
1965	Mel Schmidt	177
1966	Bob Furlan	147
1969	Wes Caine	123
1972	Larry Johnson	158
1973	Johnny Johnson	190
1975	Mark Tiffany	190
1997	Jeremy Goeden	190
1998	Jeremy Goeden	190
2002	Scott Owen	157
2003	Scott Owen	157
2003	Ben Heizer	184
2004	Ben Heizer	184
2021	Brit Wilson	184

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. ^{[4] [5]}

• Ryan Ludwig – Head Coach
• Dominick Moyer – Assistant Coach
• Ty Prazma – Assistant Coach

See also

• National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum

References

1. "NIU Athletic Marks Standards Guide" (PDF). July 12, 2016. Retrieved November 7, 2016.
2. "NIU Athletics Traditions - NIU Huskie Music". NIU Athletics.
3. "NIU Wrestling Record Book" (PDF).
4. NIU Wrestling Coaching Staff
5. Ryan Ludwig Coaching Profile

External links

• Official website