Contact: Emily Zadny, Sports Information Graduate Assistant, 630-637-5302
 
Results
 
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (Jan. 5, 2018) – Battling against some of the toughest competition in the country and claiming its second victory over a top-15 opponent this season, the North Central College wrestling team advanced to the second day of competition at the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Duals for the first time in program history on Friday after defeating No. 7-ranked Wabash College in the second round on Thursday, Jan. 4.
 
Entering the meet as the No. 16-ranked team in the nation, the Cardinals made quick work of Wilkes University in the first match of the day. Moe Mitchell started the scoring after a 16-8 win by major decision over Kyle Trout at the 125-weight class to give North Central the early lead. Michael Bikulcius, Anthony Rink, and Ben Williamson all won by decision at 133, 141, and 149 pounds, respectively to put the Cardinals ahead 13-0 heading into the 157 match.
 
Looking to continue the Cardinals' scoring, Egan Berta defeated Ashton Gyeniz at 157 by a 12-2 major decision to make the score 17-0 in favor of North Central. But Wilkes wrestlers were not going to get shut out as Brett McGill earned his team six points at 165 pounds, pinning Cam Hayes at 3:41.
 
Unfortunately for Wilkes, that was all the points the team could muster as the Cardinals went on to win the final four matches. Matt Marcotte and Josh Bouie both defeated their opponents by decision at 174 and 184 and Tyler Vittal won by fall over Nasser McCummings at the 4:34 mark at 197 pounds.
 
Audel Ochoa rounded out the scoring for the Cardinals with a win by decision at 285 over Richard Thompson III to secure a 32-6 win and increase the team's winning streak to 7-0.
 
The second match of the day proved to be a battle until the end for North Central, facing No. 7-ranked Wabash College. The Little Giants put points on the board first after Sunny Nier defeated Mitchell by technical fall at 125 pounds, but North Central answered with wins by decision from Marc Fleenor and Rink at 133 and 141, respectively, to tie the match 6-6.
 
The match continued to be a back and forth affair as Wabash's wrestler Austin Bethel defeated Williamson by a major decision at 149 and Kyle Hatch defeated Berta by a close 3-2 decision at 157 pounds. Wabash would also claim victories at 165 and 174 and take a 19-6 lead.
 
Taking the mat at 184 for North Central, Bouie secured an 8-3 decision over Hunter Bates and Vittal added a win by major decision over Grant Gough to close the gap 19-16. It was time for Ochoa to wrestle Wade Ripple at 285 and the Cardinals would need a pin to tie the match. Ochoa answered the team's call, pinning Ripple at the 2:28 mark. With the score tied 19-19, North Central was awarded the extra point as the team with the most pins and moved to 8-0 on the season with a thrilling 20-19 victory.
 
But it was in the final match of day one when head coach Joe Norton and his team faced their greatest challenge, slated to wrestle No. 3-ranked Augsburg University.
 
The Auggies, with six nationally ranked wrestlers in their lineup, were unrelenting, defeating the Cardinal grapplers in the first nine matches and leaving North Central with a daunting 34-0 deficit going into the 285 match. Not wanting his team to fall scoreless, Ochoa earned the Cardinals six points with a pin against Ethan Hofacker at the 3:51 mark, making the final score 34-6. Despite suffering the first loss of the season, North Central advanced to the second day of competition for the first time in program history.
 
The historic day two began with a 9 a.m (ET) match against Olivet College in the consolation round. The Comets began with a strong start, winning the 125 and 133 matches by decisions to give Olivet a 6-0 lead. Rink would bring the Cardinals within two with a win by technical fall over Andrew Bourlier at 141 pounds, although Olivet would respond with a win by decision at 149 to extend their lead to 9-5.
 
At 157, Berta defeated Comets wrestler Adam Hall by decision to close the gap, 9-8, but Olivet would go on a scoring run, sparked by a win by major decision at 165 by No. 5-ranked Tyler Grimsley over Cam Hayes and followed by two more wins at 174 and 184.
 
Entering the 197 match and his team trailing 19-8, Vittal was ready to close the gap and did just that after pinning Jack tromp at the 6:49 mark to make the score 19-14 and give North Central hope going into the 285 match.
 
With much on the line for the final match, Ochoa battled against Trevor Piggott, but his opponent would claim the close 8-7 decision to make the final score 22-14 and end the Cardinals' run at the duals.
 
Ochoa, Rink, and Vittal all finished the meet 3-1 and Berta finished with a record of 2-2. Ochoa led the team with two wins by fall, leading the team with eleven pins this season.
 
North Central (8-2) resumes College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) play on Thursday, Jan. 11 against Elmhurst College on the Bluejays' home mats. Matches begin at 7 p.m.