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

Results

ELMHURST, Ill. (Jan. 16, 2025)- The North Central College men's wrestling team traveled to R.A. Faganel Hall to take on the Elmhurst Blue Jays on Thursday. In the Battle of the Birds, the Cardinals soared past the Blue Jays 32-17 to extend their College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) dual win streak to 55. This was the slimmest margin of victory for North Central in a CCIW dual since they defeated Millikin University 28-15 on Jan. 12, 2022. 

Cameron Phillips kicked off the dual tonight for the Cardinals in the 125-pound weight class. Donovin Fields for Elmhurst defeated Phillips via decision (17-13) to give the Blue Jays an early 3-0 lead. Phillips moves to 4-7 on the season. 

North Central earned back-to-back forfeit wins in the 133-pound weight class and the 141-pound weight class. Ethan Spacht and Raymond Cavey were the representatives for the Cardinals in those matches as they each got their first forfeit victory of the season. The Cardinals would gain the lead 12-3. Spacht is now 12-7 this season, with Cavey moving to 6-4. 

The 149-pound bout saw Tyler Starr and Erwin Martinez lock up. It took six minutes and 48 seconds, but Starr was able to secure a fall over Martinez to give the Cardinals an 18-3 lead. Starr advances to 16-7 this season with three pinfalls. 

Elmhurst managed to make their way back into the dual with a pair of major decision victories. Rhenzo Augusto defeated Nolan Flores in the 157-pound match with a 16-3 major decision. Shortly after, Mataeo Blessing defeated Daniel Ward in the 165-pound weight class by a 10-1 major decision. This moved the score to 18-11 Cardinals. Flores sits at 10-8, and Ward is still looking for his first win of the season at 0-5. 

North Central broke off three wins in a row to put the dual away, starting with PT Schoolman in the 174-pound weight class. Schoolman put away Max Comas with an 8-0 major decision to move the score to 22-11. Schoolman is now 9-7 on the season. 

Reigning CCIW Student-Wrestler of the Week Payton Geigner kept his momentum going as he got a fourth fall this season. Geigner pinned Connor Kelly in the 184-pound bout in four minutes and 25 seconds. The Cardinals now led 28-11 as Geigner improved to 21-3. 

Elijah Brockie got the final victory of the night for North Central as he squared off against Colin O'Neill in the 197-pound weight class. Brockie dominated O'Neill, earning a 10-0 major decision. The Cardinals extended their lead to 32-11, and Brockie is 13-8 this year. 

The final match of the night was the 285-pound bout where Aidan Trujillo fell to David Ortiz via pinfall. Ortiz pinned Trujillo in one minute and 39 seconds. This moved the final score to 32-17, as Trujillo's record this season is now 8-9. 

North Central will be back in Elmhurst Saturday, Jan. 18, for the Al Hanke Invitational. The meet is set to begin at 9 a.m. inside of R.A. Faganel Hall. Click HERE for the full schedule. 

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