@GantryZ, this one is for you. I’m sorry I couldn’t bring you better news. NIU will still be somewhat behind UNI in wrestling this season.
125 – Hudkins (Jr) <Danville, IL>
Two-time qualifier (1-2 in 2018, R12 in 2017) Brock Hudkins is looking to take the next step this season and become NIU’s first AA since Ben Heizer in 2004 (yes, I looked it up). Hudkins had an 17-12 record last season and got all of NIU’s points in the NCAA tournament.
133 – Jeffery (Sr) <Linn-Mar, IA>
Three-year starter Alijah Jeffery is back for his final year at NIU. He had a 16-16 record last season and didn’t qualify for the tournament (no wins against qualifiers).
141 – Kent (Jr) <Enochs, CA> or Gibson (Fr) <John Glenn, MI> or Rubino (Jr) <St. Charles North, IL>
McCoy Kent went 6-6 as a redshirt last season. Incoming freshman Anthony Gibson finished 2nd @140 in the D1 Michigan state championships last season. Anthony Rubino went 1-22 as the starter last season. (Breyden Bailey was 8-1 as a redshirt for NIU but left for Indiana.)
149 – Baker (So) <Byron, IL>
Nolan Baker went 2-10 as a true freshman starter last season. He did catch 3-time qualifier Justin Oliver in a pin at the MAC championships. (Which is probably why Wrestlestat has him at an absurdly high #16.)
157 – Kauffman (Fr) <Stratford, WI> or McWhirter (Jr) <Prattville, AL>
Mason Kauffman went 12-9 as a redshirt last season for EMU. Caden McWhirter was 9-11 as the starter last season and didn’t qualify for the tournament. He had 1 win against a qualifier (Sparkman – Kent St).
165 – McWhirter (Jr) or Moore (So) <Hoover, CA> or Krein (Fr) <Sparta, WI>
McWhirter is listed @157 on the NIU website but maybe someone has some inside info because he’s @165 on Wrestlestat. Hayden Krein is an incoming freshman that finished 3rd @170 in the D1 Wisconsin state championships last season (1st @152 as a sophomore). Kenny Moore could also be an option. He went 9-4 in opens last season. Andrew Scott went 6-18 as the starter last season.
174 – Wilson (Fr) <Mexico, MO> or Rosser (Sr) <Moeller, OH>
Brit Wilson went 23-4 as a redshirt last season (no wins against qualifiers). Quinton Rosser went 12-18 as the starter last season.
184 – Gorman (Sr) <Lincoln-Way Central, IL>
Bryce Gorman went 11-10 as the starter last season and 0-2 in the NCAA championships. He qualified by upsetting Canten Marriott (Mizz) and finishing 2nd at the MAC championships.
197 – Feldkamp (Fr) <Dexter, MI> or Ihry (So) <Waubonsee Valley, IL> or Braun (Fr) <Graham, OH>
Will Feldkamp went 9-3 as a redshirt last season (no notable wins) @184. Max Ihry went 6-21 as the starter last season. Incoming freshman Gage Braun finished 2nd @195 in the DII Ohio state wrestling championships.
Heavy – Gossett (Jr) <Francis Howell Central, MO> or Aaron (Fr) <Mexico, MO>
Caleb Gossett went 15-16 as the starter last season and didn’t qualify for the tournament. Incoming freshman Terrese Aaron is two-time Missouri state champion @285 (class 2).
The Huskies return both of their qualifiers from last season. NIU had 2.5 points in last year’s NCAA tournament. They do have a pretty good recruiting class coming in this season so there's reason to be optimistic about improvement in the coming years.
125 – Hudkins (Jr) <Danville, IL>
Two-time qualifier (1-2 in 2018, R12 in 2017) Brock Hudkins is looking to take the next step this season and become NIU’s first AA since Ben Heizer in 2004 (yes, I looked it up). Hudkins had an 17-12 record last season and got all of NIU’s points in the NCAA tournament.
133 – Jeffery (Sr) <Linn-Mar, IA>
Three-year starter Alijah Jeffery is back for his final year at NIU. He had a 16-16 record last season and didn’t qualify for the tournament (no wins against qualifiers).
141 – Kent (Jr) <Enochs, CA> or Gibson (Fr) <John Glenn, MI> or Rubino (Jr) <St. Charles North, IL>
McCoy Kent went 6-6 as a redshirt last season. Incoming freshman Anthony Gibson finished 2nd @140 in the D1 Michigan state championships last season. Anthony Rubino went 1-22 as the starter last season. (Breyden Bailey was 8-1 as a redshirt for NIU but left for Indiana.)
149 – Baker (So) <Byron, IL>
Nolan Baker went 2-10 as a true freshman starter last season. He did catch 3-time qualifier Justin Oliver in a pin at the MAC championships. (Which is probably why Wrestlestat has him at an absurdly high #16.)
157 – Kauffman (Fr) <Stratford, WI> or McWhirter (Jr) <Prattville, AL>
Mason Kauffman went 12-9 as a redshirt last season for EMU. Caden McWhirter was 9-11 as the starter last season and didn’t qualify for the tournament. He had 1 win against a qualifier (Sparkman – Kent St).
165 – McWhirter (Jr) or Moore (So) <Hoover, CA> or Krein (Fr) <Sparta, WI>
McWhirter is listed @157 on the NIU website but maybe someone has some inside info because he’s @165 on Wrestlestat. Hayden Krein is an incoming freshman that finished 3rd @170 in the D1 Wisconsin state championships last season (1st @152 as a sophomore). Kenny Moore could also be an option. He went 9-4 in opens last season. Andrew Scott went 6-18 as the starter last season.
174 – Wilson (Fr) <Mexico, MO> or Rosser (Sr) <Moeller, OH>
Brit Wilson went 23-4 as a redshirt last season (no wins against qualifiers). Quinton Rosser went 12-18 as the starter last season.
184 – Gorman (Sr) <Lincoln-Way Central, IL>
Bryce Gorman went 11-10 as the starter last season and 0-2 in the NCAA championships. He qualified by upsetting Canten Marriott (Mizz) and finishing 2nd at the MAC championships.
197 – Feldkamp (Fr) <Dexter, MI> or Ihry (So) <Waubonsee Valley, IL> or Braun (Fr) <Graham, OH>
Will Feldkamp went 9-3 as a redshirt last season (no notable wins) @184. Max Ihry went 6-21 as the starter last season. Incoming freshman Gage Braun finished 2nd @195 in the DII Ohio state wrestling championships.
Heavy – Gossett (Jr) <Francis Howell Central, MO> or Aaron (Fr) <Mexico, MO>
Caleb Gossett went 15-16 as the starter last season and didn’t qualify for the tournament. Incoming freshman Terrese Aaron is two-time Missouri state champion @285 (class 2).
The Huskies return both of their qualifiers from last season. NIU had 2.5 points in last year’s NCAA tournament. They do have a pretty good recruiting class coming in this season so there's reason to be optimistic about improvement in the coming years.
