Contact: Sam Fretto, Sports Information Graduate Assistant, sjfretto@noctrl.edu
Results
STEVENS POINTS, WIS. (Nov. 2, 2024)- The North Central College men's wrestling team kicked off their 2024-25 campaign in the Pointer Open in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, where they would wrestle 31 men and place seven, including two in first place.
In the 125-pound weight class, the No. 2 ranked wrestler, Christian Guzman, placed first in a dominant showing. Guzman started his day off defeating Luis Lopez of Luther College via pinfall in 58 seconds before advancing to the quarterfinal after another pinfall victory, taking down Austin Gray (Wisconsin-Stevens Point) in one minute and 29 seconds. In the quarterfinal, Guzman got the win over Keegan Schlabach (Manchester) by an 18-0 tech fall. In the semifinal, Guzman scored another pinfall victory, pinning Drew Dolphin of Wisconsin-Parkside in two minutes and 47 seconds. In the first-place match, Guzman won by a 15-2 major decision over Wisconsin's Wyatt Skebba.
In the 184-pound weight class, Payton Geigner would place first. After receiving a first-round bye, Geigner won his first match via an 8-2 decision over Dylan Iczkowski. In the quarterfinal round, Geigner beat his teammate, PT Schoolman, by a 5-0 decision. In the semifinal match, Geiger scored a pinfall victory over Luther College's Elijah Mitchell in four minutes and 39 seconds. The first-place match came down to two Cardinals as Geigner beat Casey Aikman in the first-place match by a 14-4 major decision.
Aikman, also a part of the 184-pound weight class, placed second after losing to Geigner. To get there, Aikman received a first round bye before scoring a 19-4 technical fall victory over Jack Callen (Wisconsin-Stevens Point). Aikman won his quarterfinal match via pin in two minutes and 39 seconds over Vincent Bird (Wisconsin-Oshkosh). This set up a semifinal showdown between Aikman and Garrett Kilgas (Luther College), where Aikman would win by a 20-3 technical fall.
Ethan Spacht, in the 133-pound weight class, placed fourth in the Pointer Open. Spacht opened up his season with a 19-4 technical fall win over Andrew Schad of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. In his second round match, Spacht won by a pinfall over Christopher Backus (Manchester) in two minutes and 32 seconds. Spacht would take down another wrestler from Manchester in his quarterfinal matchup as he defeated Michael Kallimani by a 17-2 technical fall. Spacht would fall in his semifinal match to Matthew Chi (Wisconsin-Parkside) by a 16-4 major decision. Spacht bounced back from there, beating Evan Binder by a 13-3 major decision, putting him in the third-place match. Spacht would take it home, winning by a 7-5 decision over Chase Beckett (Minnesota State Mankato).
Schoolman placed fourth in the 184-pound weight class to open his season. Schoolman's day started off with a first round bye before winning his first match of the season with a 16-2 major decision over Wyatt Weter (Luther College). After losing to teammate Geigner via a 5-0 decision, Schoolman bounced back in the consolation rounds, beating teammate AJ Hernandez via a 11-2 major decision and Garrett Kilgas by an 11-6 decision. In the third-place match, Schoolman would fall to Elijah Mitchell by a 9-1 major decision.
Elijah Brockie, wrestling in the 197-pound weight class, placed fourth to kick off his season. Brockie received a first round bye before winning by a pinfall over Desmond Walker (Wisconsin-Oshkosh) in three minutes and 45 seconds. In the quarterfinal, Brockie won by a 13-2 major decision over Joseph Swanson (Wisconsin-Parkside). Brockie suffered defeat in the semifinal match, losing by a 15-8 decision to Connor Chloupek (Concordia Moorhead). Brockie earned a spot in the third-place match by beating Cameron Crisp (Manchester) via a 12-8 decision. Brockie would fall in the third-place match to Kaden Hooker (Wisconsin-Parkside) by a 13-9 decision.
Tyler Starr placed fifth in the 149-pound weight class in the Pointer Open. Starr started his season off on the right note, winning his first match by a 15-6 major decision over Ryan Adams (Luther College) and a 9-4 decision win over Ethan Lebrija (Concordia Moorhead). In the quarterfinal round, Starr would lose by a 14-6 major decision to Walker Bents (Minnesota State Mankato). Starr bounced back in the consolation round, winning by an 8-5 decision to Collin Reif (Maryville). Starr would fall in his next match, losing by a 12-5 decision to Isaiah Misna (Minnesota State Mankato). In the fifth place match, Starr won by a medical forfeit.
The Cardinals have their home opener Wednesday, Nov. 6, against Carthage College, inside of Merner Field House. The dual is set to begin at 7 p.m. Click HERE for the full schedule.
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