GALESBURG, Ill. (Jan. 5, 2007) - The 12th-ranked North Central College wrestling team improved to 10-1 in dual matches after posting a perfect 4-0 record at the Chuck Porter Duals hosted by Knox College (Ill.) last Saturday.
The Cardinals opened by rolling over Wabash College (Ind.) 38-7 followed by a quick 44-3 victory over the host Prairie Fire. After a competitive 21-15 win against the University of Dubuque (Iowa), North Central closed out the meet with a 43-3 drubbing of Milwaukee School of Engineering (Wis.).
Against Wabash, Joey Norton (Carol Stream, Ill./Montini) opened with a 20-5 technical fall against Keith Closson at 125 pounds. Adam Johnson (Portland, Mich./Portland) and Jamie Devine (Quincy, Ill./Quincy) followed with forfeit wins at 133 and 141, respectively before Nathan DeVaux (Fort Wayne, Ind./Snider) suffered a 9-1 loss to Jared Tribbett at 149. Cowan Brown (Richton Park, Ill./Rich Central), Ben Youel (Crystal Lake, Ill./Crystal Lake Central), Greg Schroeder (Batavia, Ill./Batavia), Gabe Youel (Crystal Lake, Ill./Crystal Lake Central) and Vinny Sapienza (Libertyville, Ill./Libertyville) followed with wins at weights 157, 165, 174, 184 and 197, respectively. Brown pinned Dan Brown at 157; Ben Youel blanked Stephen Mosier 7-0 at 165; Schroeder majored Robert Beeler 10-2 at 174; Gabe Youel shut out Michael Burke 4-0 at 184; and Sapienza scored a 17-2 technical fall against Cody Johnson at 197. At 285, Rod Knowlton (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West) lost 8-3 to Rob Arnett.
Against Knox, Norton, Johnson, Devine, DeVaux, Jordan Spohn (New Lexington, Ohio/New Lexington), Aaron Brew (Sturgis, Mich./Sturgis), Schroeder, Jeremy Ceja (Des Plaines, Ill./Maine East) and Sapienza all claimed victories. Norton pinned Ryan Olson at 125; Johnson won by technical fall (16-0) over Edel Vaca at 133; Devine pinned Tim Yee at 141, DeVaux pinned Dugan O'Connor at 149; Spohn defeated Daniel Stafford 6-2 at 157; Brew pinned Luke Karner at 165, Schroeder won by forfeit at 174; Ceja outscored Marty Dertz 12-6 at 184; and Sapienza was too much for Greg Leibach with a 4-1 victory at 197. The only loss came at heavyweight where Knowlton lost 4-1 to sixth-ranked Jaran Rutledge.
Against Dubuque, Norton, Steve Motsinger (Chicago Heights, Ill./Bloom Trail), Johnson, Ben Youel, Gabe Youel and Sapienza carried the team to victory. Norton defeated Andrew Taylor 6-1 at 125; Motsinger won by forfeit at 133; Johnson downed Adam Canty 9-4 at 141; Ben Youel topped Darrin Kaisand 5-1 at 165; Gabe Youel edged Matthew Wonderlin 3-2 at 184; and Sapienza outpointed Cesar Dominguez 3-1 at 197.
In the finale against Milwaukee School of Engineering, Norton, Johnson, Devine, Brown, Ben Youel, Schroeder, Gabe Youel, Sapienza and Knowlton all claimed wins. Norton beat Sam Deligio 5-3 at 125; Johnson blanked Matt Brady 15-0 at 133; Devine also won by 15-0 margin over David Swanson at 141; Brown shut out Samuel Bramstedt 4-0 at 157; Ben Youel pinned Scott Ison at 165; Schroeder won by technical fall (19-3) over Miles Farnsworth; Gabe Youel pinned Ryan Baird at 184; Sapienza majored John Lemmer 13-2 at 197; and Knowlton won by forfeit at heavyweight.
The Cardinals host the 44th Annual North Central Invitational Friday and Saturday, Jan. 11-12.
