FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302
Results
Highlight Video
WHEATON, Ill. (Feb. 6, 2009) - The North Central College wrestling team closed out its dual-meet schedule Friday night with its 14th consecutive victory, as the Cardinals dispatched the Wheaton College Thunder, 35-6, at King Arena.
With the victory, the Cardinals (15-2) have broken the North Central single-season record for dual-meet wins, breaking the previous record of 14 set just last season. North Central is also a perfect 3-0 in dual competitions against College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin opponents.
The Cardinals won the first seven matches of the evening, beginning with a technical-fall victory at 125 pounds by Joe Norton (Jr., Carol Stream, Ill./Montini Catholic), who defeated Caleb Cardenas, 26-11. Sean Tomac (Fr., Kalamazoo, Mich./Mattawan) followed with a 14-4 major-decision win over Jonathan Sbraccia at 133 and Andrew Zobac (Fr., Canton, Ill./Canton) won an 11-5 decision over Jeff Coners at 141 before Jason Fitzenreider (Jr., West Chicago, Ill./Wheaton North) posted the team's second technical fall, a 22-5 rout of Matthew Cordell, at 149.
Ben Youel (Sr., Crystal Lake, Ill./Crystal Lake Central) improved to 33-2 on the season with a 12-3 major-decision victory over Justin Marble at 165, and Greg Schroeder (Jr., Batavia, Ill./Batavia) outfought Justin Tomal, 5-4, at 174.
At 184, the Cardinals' Gabe Youel (Jr., Crystal Lake, Ill./Crystal Lake Central) was leading in the final seconds of his match against Toby Boltz before Boltz scored a takedown in the final 30 seconds and posted a 3-2 win. Youel is now 33-1 for the season and is ranked third nationally in Division III while Boltz is currently ranked 10th. Rod Knowlton (Jr., Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West) lost a narrow 4-3 overtime decision to Chase Campbell at 285.
Jake Sandborn (Jr., Portland, Mich./Portland) and Vinny Sapienza (Jr., Libertyville, Ill./Libertyville) accepted forfeits for North Central at 157 and 197 pounds, respectively.
The Cardinals return to Wheaton on Saturday, Feb. 14, for the CCIW Championships. The tournament was originally scheduled to begin at 9 a.m., but is now slated to start at 10 a.m.
