On Campus: Crystal Lake Central grad Austin Marsden dominant at Oklahoma State

With 10 ranked teams on its schedule, there are few breaks for Oklahoma State’s wrestling team.

The Cowboys, ranked fourth nationally, are used to a facing high-level competition.

For athletes such as senior Austin Marsden, those high-profile matches are a welcome challenge.

“I like them because of the great competition and because the atmosphere is always good,” he said.

Marsden, a Crystal Lake Central graduate, has thrived all season, earning a No. 5 national ranking in the 285-pound class.

At 21-1 this season, Marsden is three wins shy of reaching 100 for his career and he is currently on a 14-match winning streak.

“My training is going very well right now,” said Marsden, who is 5-1 against ranked opponents. “I’m just getting back into the groove with my offense, using it in matches and attacking more. I feel like my offense has been a lot better.”

After placing eighth nationally and earning his first All-America honor in 2014, Marsden did not make the podium last season despite a 27-4 record.

“It was very disappointing,” he said. “It motivates me and makes me want to earn every win to reach my goal.”

The only goal for Marsden? A national championship.

“That alone,” he said.

Marsden hasn’t been alone when it comes to training this season. For the first time since wrestling as youths with the Crystal Lake Wizards, Marsden and his younger brother, freshman 197-pounder Andrew, are teammates.

“We were never on a middle school or a high school team together,” Austin said. “It’s really nice to have him around.”

Andrew is 15-7 this season and had his redshirt pulled on Jan. 1 by Cowboys coach John Smith.

“It’s usually just me and him pushing each other, making sure we both get our jobs done in the room and getting ready to compete,” Austin said.

Winning at Benedictine: Huntley grad Zach Gorney has played in 17 games – one short of his career high – off the bench this season for the undefeated D-III Benedictine University men's basketball team.

A sophomore guard for the Eagles, Gorney is averaging 1.8 points for the Eagles, who are ranked No. 2 in the nation. On Tuesday night on campus in Lisle, Benedictine (23-0) beat Concordia Chicago, 111-59, to tie a school record for wins in a season.

While extending their conference record to 18-0, the Eagles clinched the outright title in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference.

Economos shines for Panthers: Junior forward Michael Economos (Crystal Lake Central) has a team-leading 10 goals this season for Plymouth (N.H.) State University's men's hockey team.

The Panthers (16-3-1) are in first place in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference standings with an 11-1-1 record.

Economos also ranks third on the team with 18 points, thanks to his eight assists this season.

He had a goal and an assist Feb. 6 in a 4-2 victory against Massachusetts-Dartmouth for the Panthers’ fourth consecutive win.

• Barry Bottino writes a weekly column about local college athletes for the Northwest Herald. Write to him at BarryOnCampus@hotmail.com and follow @BarryOnCampus on Twitter.