title: Northern Illinois Huskies wrestling
text: # Northern Illinois Huskies wrestling
  
  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.
  
  ## Championships
  
  ### Conference Championships
  
  * 1985 – Mid-American Conference (MAC) Championship.
  
  ### 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.
  
  | 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.
  
  | 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.
  
  * Ryan Ludwig – Head Coach
  * Dominick Moyer – Assistant Coach
  * Ty Prazma – Assistant Coach
  