Eastern’s wrestling team competes in five matches in two days as it travels to Northern Illinois and Northern Iowa this weekend.

The triangular at Northern Iowa Saturday, will be of importance to the Panthers because each individual wrestler will be battling for seeds for the NCAA West Regional Tournament in early March.

“Everything (in the Northern Iowa Triangular) will be based on how you do individually,” Eastern wrestling coach Ralph McCausland said. “For example Matt Veach, will be wrestling against ranked wrestlers this weekend, so for Saturday’s matches it will be of importance to do very well.”

The line ups and rosters have been shuffled all season for the injury striking Panthers. This week Eastern will do without its only senior Frank DeFilippis (157). In addition to DeFilippis, the Panthers are missing junior Jerod Bruner (141) and sophomore Jim Kassner (197).

“(DeFilippis) is our senior guy and at this point and time it isn’t worth risking it,” McCausland said.

McCausland thinks the Panthers’ match against Northern Illinois will be important to establish momentum for the triangular match the following day.

“Each match will be important, but what we do against Northern will really dictate where we are,” McCausland said.

Momentum won’t come easy against the Huskies.

They are riding a hot streak and won their last meet against Central Michigan, a team ranked No. 1 in the Mid American Conference. Northern Illinois wrestlers Sam Hiatt, George Kirgan and Scott Owen will present match up problems for the Panthers.

“They just keep on coming and they are in very good condition,” McCausland said. “They are riding a nice couple-game winning streak and will be pumped.”

In the Panthers Triangular meet against Northern Iowa and Wyoming, the emphasis will be based on individual performance rather than team effort.

“The importance with these matches is that these teams are regional teams,” McCausland said. “How we do in the regional is going to be dictated by their performances on Saturday.”

Eastern’s first match is against Northern Illinois at 7 p.m. Friday, and the Northern Iowa/Wyoming Triangular meet will begin at 2 p.m. Saturday.

“Everyone at this time of year has to keep it together,” McCausland said. “The injury situation has been difficult, but the people that we have asked to step up have stepped up.”