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Results

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. (Jan. 14, 2011) -  The North Central College wrestling team survived a tough test from College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin rival Augustana College on Thursday, building a large early lead and holding on for a 19-18 victory over the Vikings in dual competition.

Augustana (6-4) scored two pins to keep the competition close until the end, but the Cardinals were victorious in six of the 10 weight classes, winning four straight early in the competition.

The Vikings' Jacob Scholten won the first match of the evening at 125 pounds, defeating Nick Santos by decision, 4-1. North Central evened the score with Nathan Fitzenreider's 2-0 victory over Greg Gogonas at 133.

The Cardinals (4-1) grabbed the lead when Andrew Zobac beat Alberto Quiros, 2-0, at 141, then extended their advantage to 12-3 after Eric Oyster beat Steven Poffenberger, 1-0, at 149 and Joby Bodi won a 4-1 decision over Justin Hoffman at 157.

Augustana broke up the string of Cardinal victories with Jordan Graham's 4-2 overtime victory against Jason Bonham at 165, and tied the score at 12-12 when Alex Vavra pinned Greg Schroeder in the first period at 174.

North Central's next two wrestlers secured the team's win, as Billy Malone won a 17-5 major decision over Matt Burns at 184 and Andrew Bradley defeated Matt Nykaza by decision, 6-1, at 197 to put the match out of reach despite Augustana 285-pounder Tim Day's pin of Adam Kendall at 285.

The Cardinals send wrestlers to both the Cornell College Matmen Invitational and the Manchester College Spartan Mat Classic on Saturday.