Contact: Adam Poklop, Sports Information Graduate Assistant, 630-637-5302

Full Results

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Jan. 11, 2020) – Participating in the premiere NCAA wrestling meet of the weekend, the tenth-ranked North Central College men's wrestling team went head-to-head with some of the best Division III teams from across the country at the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) National Duals, where the Cardinals collected three wins including their first over a top-25 opponent. 

North Central (10-4) got off to a good start on Friday against Luther College, downing the Norse 25-13. The Cardinals swept the first five weight classes to take a commanding 21-0 lead as Robert Precin recorded a pin (two minutes and 37 seconds), Ian Mullen won by decision (8-4), while Marc Fleenor, Anthony Rink and Rafael Roman all recorded major decisions (12-2, 15-4 and 15-3, respectively). Although the Norse put themselves on the board with a 6-4 decision at 165, Brock Montford picked up four key points with a major decision at 174-pounds (14-1), locking up the victory despite Luther taking the final three bouts. 

The Cardinals saw a tougher obstacle in the next round with a matchup against seventh-ranked Baldwin Wallace University, who boasts a trio of nationally-ranked wrestlers. North Central once again built an early lead with a 3-2 decision in favor of Precin at 125-lbs, followed by a pin from Mullen—who entered the weekend ranked seventh among all Division III wrestlers in pins— at 133-lbs (5:50) and a 10-3 decision by Fleenor at 141-lbs. But North Central's 12-point lead wouldn't prove enough as the Yellow Jackets took the next four matches to go up 20-12.

The Cardinals didn't go down without a fight, as Cody Baldridge came through at 184-lbs with a 5-3 decision and Ben Bergen earned a victory over two-time NCAA Division III National Qualifier and seventh-ranked Zachary Lehman, bringing the score to 20-18 in favor of Baldwin Wallace. But Parker Meaney clinched the Yellow Jackets victory with a 6-4 decision over Jason Nako.

Moving to the consolation bracket, North Central bounced back nicely with a strong showing against Westminster College (Mo.). The match started as a back-and-forth contest with Precin delivering a tech fall (16-0), while Fleenor was awarded a victory at 141-lbs by forfeit, giving North Central an 11-9 lead after four bouts. But those points would prove all the Bluejays could muster up, as Rafael Roman won by decision (3-2), Cole Cervantes, Eric Hominac and Cody Baldridge all recorded falls (1:58, 1:23 and 1:59), while Nako won by tech fall (20-2) and Cameron Martin closed the match with a 7-3 decision.

An even more impressive victory followed for the Cardinals, who posted a 45-0 rout over No. 22-ranked Millikin University for the season's fifth-straight College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) victory of the season and third conference shutout.

Robbie Precin stayed hot at 125-lbs with a tech fall (17-2), while Ian Mullen won by forfeit at 133-lbs, Fleenor wasted no time pinning his Big Blue opponent at 141-lbs (1:32), while Anthony Rink earned a 5-0 decision at 149-lbs and Rafael Roman dominated at 157-lbs with a 19-0 tech fall. Cole Cervantes kept the momentum going for the Cardinals with a pin (4:43), followed by major decisions from Montford and Baldridge (16-2, 10-2, respectively) and Bergen and Cameron Martin earned victories by decision (3-2, 13-9).

The victory pitted North Central against 14th-ranked New York University for a spot in the seventh-place match that, ultimately coming down to just a two-point margin. Robbie Precin completed his tournament-long sweep by earning a major decision to start off the match (8-0). At 133-lbs, Ian Mullen battled to a 4-2 overtime victory, before Fleenor recorded a 7-2 decision at 141-lbs, also picking up his fifth victory of the weekend. 

North Central's early 10-0 lead quickly evaporated as New York took the next four matches to go up 15-10. Baldridge was able to collect three points for the Cardinals with a 10-4 decision, but Bergen fell by way of decision (9-5) in the 197-pound match to tenth-ranked Jack La Corte, providing just enough breathing room for New York heading into the heavyweight match, now ahead 18-13. Although Nako recorded a victory by decision (2-1), it wasn't enough to overcome the deficits and North Central's run ended with an 18-16 loss. 

The Cardinals continue dual meet action on Jan. 15 when they host the University of Chicago Maroons (3-2) inside Gregory Arena at 7 p.m.

Download the free North Central Cardinals app, available for iOS and Android devices, to receive up-to-the-minute news, scores and updates on your favorite North Central teams. Click HERE for more information.