Contact: Matthew Eaker, Sports Information Graduate Assistant,
mreaker@noctrl.edu
Team Scores
Brackets
Results
NAPERVILLE, Ill. (Feb. 9, 2023) - The North Central College men's wrestling team's historic performance propelled them past nine College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) opponents en route to their first CCIW Tournament Title since 2019 and the ninth in program history on Thursday afternoon inside Gregory Arena.
The Cardinals scored a staggering 169 team points in this year's championships to break the one year old record of 157.5 points set by Millikin University at the Championships last season. Millikin finished in second with 111 points while Wheaton College locked up a third place finish with 100 points. Concordia University (Wis.) followed Wheaton in fourth with 96.5 points and Aurora University rounded out the top-five with 80.5 points.
All ten of the Cardinals placed in their respective weight classes, earning All-CCIW honors while six wrestlers claimed their weight classes title. 15th-ranked Julian Valtierrez kicked off the tournament with a 17-1 technical fall win over Dominic Iannantone of Elmhurst University in the quarterfinals of the 125-pound weight class. Valtierrez picked up his second technical fall of the day, defeating Brendan Johnston of Wheaton 18-2 to advance to the championship bout. Valtierrez squared off with Tommy Russell of Millikin and it was all Valtierrez as he claimed the crown with a 10-0 major decision win.
Top-ranked Robert Precin received a bye in the first round of the 133-pound weight class but would only need one minute and 25 seconds to punch his ticket to the finals, pinning Justin Hames of Elmhurst University in the first period. In the championship bout, Precin squared off against Augustana's Trevor Boryla and would claim his fourth consecutive CCIW Title with a 4-1 decision win. 11th-ranked Bradley Rosen received a bye in the first round of the 141-pound weight class before pinning Connor Nagela of MSOE to advance to the semifinals bout. Rosen would square off with Millikin's Jordan Carson and in a tightly contested match, Rosen would find himself on the wrong side of the score, falling by 7-4 decision. Rosen would bounce back with another pin over Frank Budedri of CUW and would outlast Ethan Harstead of Wheaton to take home third place and All-CCIW honors.
Fourth-ranked Javen Estrada received a bye in the first round of the 149-pound weight class before defeating Max Sanderfoot of MSOE by a 20-5 technical fall to advance to the semifinals bout. Estrada would pick up his second-straight technical fall, defeating Cale Coppess of Wheaton, 18-0. In the championship bout, Estrada only needed 46 seconds to put Veliko Kochiu of CUW on his back and earn the fall and the 149-pound crown. In the 157-pound weight class, seventh-ranked Alex Villar kicked off the tournament with a 12-2 major decision win over Zaren Anderson of Carthage. In the semifinals, Villar battled with Cade Zeamer of Wheaton and would punch his ticket to the finals with an 8-2 decision win. The championship bout was deadlocked at one and would head to sudden victory. Villar would take down Millikin's Nathan Callaway to secure a 3-1 win and his second-straight CCIW Title.
Cole Cervantes received a bye in the first round of the 165-pound weight class but would pick up back-to-back pins over Carson Cook of CUW and Jeff Nugent of Elmhurst to punch his ticket into the championship match against Millikin's Dejon Glaster. Cervantes trailed Glaster 7-6 with just seconds remaining but as time expired Glaster was called for stalling, tying the match at seven and sending it to overtime. Both wrestlers couldn't find an edge but Glaster took down Cervantes to win by sudden victory. Cervantes turned in a second place finish, earning All-CCIW honors. Casey Aikman received a bye in the first round of the 174-pound weight class but would kick off the tournament with a 17-2 technical fall win over Joe Caringella of Elmhurst in the quarterfinals. Aikman would fall to Jonathan Pullen of CUW in the semifinals but would bounce back with a 19-7 major decision win over Christian Gilbert of Carthage. Aikman would claim All-CCIW honors and a third place finish after defeating Jacob Kraker of Wheaton by a 22-8 major decision.
Payton Geigner received a bye in the first round of the 184-pound weight class but would pin Devin Rogers of Carthage in the quarterfinals to move into the semifinals. Geigner battled with Clay DeBaillie of Augustana in the semifinals and would defeat DeBaillie by a 5-0 decision before claiming the 184-pound crown with a win by medical forfeit. Brock Montford received a bye in the first round of the 197-pound weight class before picking up a 16-0 technical fall win over Jake Schmitt of MSOE in the quarterfinals. Montford punched his ticket to the championship bout with a narrow 6-5 decision win over Peyton Smith of CUW. Montford would get hit with a stalling call late in the championship bout against Jackson Punzel of Wheaton and Punzel would hold off his scoring attempts for a 2-1 win. Montford claimed All-CCIW honors, finishing in second place. 14th-ranked Robby Bates received a first round bye in the first round of the 285-pound weight class before picking up two straight wins by fall against Mason Kochersperger of Carthage and Roberton Pena of Elmhurst. Bates claimed his second-straight CCIW crown with a 2-1 decision win over Josh Woodrey of Augustana.
Head coach Zach Cook was named CCIW Coach of the Year following the conclusion of the event. Cook is the third coach in program history to earn the award as Joe Norton was named Coach of the Year in 2018 and 2019 while Kevin Brantland won the award from 2008-2010.
The seventh-ranked Cardinals travel to Springfield, Ill. for the NCAA Division III Lower Midwest Regional Championships on Feb. 24 & 25. The action is set to begin at 1 pm on Friday, Feb. 24 inside the Bank of Springfield Center.
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