Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324

LA CROSSE, Wis. (Mar. 15, 2024) - On day one of the 2024 NCAA Division III Men's Wrestling National Championships, three of the five North Central College men's wrestlers earned All-American status by advancing to day two of the event. As a team, the Cardinals are in eighth place following the opening day of the tournament.

Christian Guzman (125) faced off with a familiar opponent in the first round, taking on Jake Craig (University of Southern Maine) whom he beat in the third-place match of the 2023 NCAA DIII National Championships. Guzman repeated with a victory, this time a 7-1 decision. In the quarterfinal, Guzman cruised to an 18-3 tech fall over his Castleton opponent to move into the semifinals for the second straight season. He will take on Mason Barrett of Averett, the No. 6 seed tomorrow.

Robert Precin, the top-seeded wrestler in the 133-pound weight class, won via a 9-2 decision to advance to the quarterfinals. There he earned a hard-fought 4-2 win to make a trip to his fifth straight semifinal appearance. Precin will face the No. 5 seed Chase Randall (Coast Guard) in the semifinals.

Alex Villar, the seventh-ranked wrestler at 165 pounds, used a decisive 17-5 major decision in his first match of the day. In a quarterfinal battle, Villar lost a tight 2-0 decision to the No. 2 seed Nicholas Sacco of The College of New Jersey. In his final match of the day, Villar lost another close match, this time a 4-3 decision to Dustin Bohren of Loras College.

Taking on the No. 7 seed in the 184-pound division, Cole Cervantes upset Marcus Orlandoni (University-Wisconsin La Crosse) with a 5-2 decision. Following a quarterfinal loss, Cervantes' day would end with a loss in the consolation bracket.

In the first round, Robby Bates posted a 7-1 decision victory to begin his tournament over Reid Garrison (United States Merchant Marine Academy). Taking on the No. 2 seeded and unbeaten Rayshawn Dixon of Ferrum, Bates lost via an 8-6 decision to move into the consolation bracket. Staying alive in the consolation bracket, Bates took Mitch Williamson (Wartburg College) to overtime before earning a takedown to win 4-1. He will face Walter West of Luther College in the consolation quarterfinals.

The Cardinals sit in a tie for eighth place with 25 points. Augsburg College leads the way after day one with 59 points. UW-La Crosse (49.5), Wartburg (49), Johnson and Wales University (44), and UW-Eau Claire (41) round out the top five.

Guzman and Precin ready for their semifinal match while Bates looks to stay alive in the consolation bracket. The action begins at 10 a.m. inside the La Crosse Center.

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