Contact: Sam Fretto, Sports Information Graduate Assistant, sjfretto@noctrl.edu

Press Release

(Jan. 14, 2025)- The College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) has announced that North Central's Payton Geigner has won CCIW Student-Wrestler of the Week after a flawless National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) National Duals. 

Geigner, the 13th-ranked 184-pound wrestler, went to battle five times for the Cardinals at the NWCA National Duals and came away 5-0. Geigner racked up the major decisions, getting four along with one pin. He dispatched Hayden McLellan (Alvernia University) with a 10-1 major decision before wrestling twice more on Friday. Geigner took down Zachary Huckabee (Wabash College) with an 8-0 major decision before finishing the day with a 9-0 major decision victory against James Romaine (TCNJ). On Saturday, Geigner continued his dominance with a 10-1 major decision over Blake Chapman (Castleton) and put the finishing touches on a spectacular weekend pinning Matthew Hamad (Baldwin Wallace) in two minutes and 31 seconds. 

Now 20-3 on the season, Geigner is one of two current men's wrestlers on North Central with 20 total wins this season. The last time Geigner won CCIW Student-Wrestler of the Week was Dec. 5, 2023. 

Geigner and North Central return to action Thursday, Jan. 16, for a dual meet against Elmhurst University at R.A. Faganel Hall in Elmhurst, Illinois at 7 p.m. The Cardinals will look to extend their CCIW dual win streak to 55. Click HERE for the full schedule. 

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.