Contact: Sam Fretto, Athletics Communication Graduate Assistant, sjfretto@noctrl.edu
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (Nov. 17, 2025)- Fresh off a top-10 dual win, the 10th-ranked North Central College men's wrestling team returned to College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) action as they faced the Illinois Wesleyan Titans in the Shirk Center Monday night. The Cardinals (3-0, 2-0 CCIW) extended their CCIW dual win streak to 59, toppling the Titans (0-2, 0-2 CCIW), 43-9.
The night started with the first two weight classes being decided by forfeit, as the 125-pound match went in favor of Illinois Wesleyan and the 133-pound match went to Xavier Villalobos and North Central.
The first match of the meet came at 141 pounds between Carson Prunty and Austin Johnston in a 5-3 decision in favor of Johnston. This would be the only non-forfeited match of the night the Cardinals fell in.
North Central dominated the rest of the way, coming out on top in the final seven matches. At 149 pounds, Carter De La Cerna battled Ameer Alamawi and earned an 18-3 technical fall after seven minutes of action. Tagg Miller picked up a pinfall victory in the 157-pound bout, pinning Evan Carel in four minutes and 25 seconds. Mekhi Cave defeated Jackson Casteneda in the 165-pound match with a quick 21-6 technical fall in two minutes and 50 seconds.
Jake Luce topped the time of the previous match in the 174-pound weight class, shutting out Eli Moore with a 15-0 technical fall in two minutes and 32 seconds. Henry Rydwelski followed up with a 46-second pinfall over Jeremy Olson in the 184-pound match. The final match of the night featured AJ Frescura and Trey Dunning at 197 pounds, where Frescura defeated Dunning by an 11-2 major decision. The 285-pound match was decided by forfeit in favor of Luke Chrisse and the Cardinals.
Of the eight matches North Central won, two were by pinfall, two were by forfeit, three were by technical fall, and one was by major decision.
The Cardinals will look to win their 60th straight CCIW dual meet when they travel to Kenosha, Wis., to take on Carthage College on Thursday, Nov. 20 inside Tarble Arena.
