FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302

Results vs. St. John's
Results vs. UW-Stevens Point
Results vs. UW-Eau Claire

LA CROSSE, Wis. (Dec. 5, 2009) - The North Central College wrestling team improved to 8-2 in dual meets on Saturday at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Duals, as the ninth-ranked Cardinals won twice in three matches.

North Central opened the day with a 19-16 victory over fifth-ranked St. John's University (Minn.), but was defeated by the 17th-ranked University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, 21-12 in the next round. The Cardinals closed out the event by beating the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, 37-6.

Joe Norton got the Cardinals' first win of the day started with a victory by decision at 125 pounds, and Nathan Fitzenreider followed with a narrow 3-2 win over third-ranked Mogi Bataar at 133. Andrew Zobac added a major-decision win at 141 to give North Central an early 10-0 advantage.

The Johnnies countered with a run of four straight victories to pull ahead, 13-10, before Gabe Youel evened the count by getting the decision at 184. St. John's owned a 16-13 lead heading into the 285-pound match, but the Cardinals prevailed as Rodney Knowlton won by injury default.

Fitzenreider and Zobac each won by decision against UW-Stevens Point, negating the Pointers' win at 125. UWSP, however, won five of the next six matches to build an insurmountable advantage. Cowan Brown won by decision at 174, as did Knowlton at 285.

The Cardinals dominated their final match of the day, as UW-Eau Claire's only points came from a forfeit at 149. Sean Tomac opened the action with a win by decision at 125, #J.T. Rowe# accepted a forfeit at 133, and Fitzenreider moved up to 141 and claimed a major decision.

Jacob Sandborn and Joby Bodi won by decision at 157 and 165, respectively, and Taylor Trim prevailed by major decision at 174 before Youel recorded his third pin of the season at 184. Vinnie Sapienza won by technical fall at 197 and Knowlton completed an undefeated day at 285 with a decision.

Youel now has 34 career pins, ranking third all-time at North Central.

The Cardinals (8-2) host the 46th annual North Central College Invitational on Saturday at Gregory Arena. First-round action is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m.