Contact: Sam Fretto, Athletics Communication Graduate Assistant, sjfretto@noctrl.edu

Press Release

MANHEIM, Pa. (Nov. 21, 2025)- The North Central College men's wrestling team has jumped up to the No. 8-ranked team in the nation according to the latest National Wrestling Coaches' Association (NWCA) poll released on Friday. In addition to the jump in the poll, the Cardinals find six wrestlers ranked in their respective weight classes. 

Chip Guzman remains atop the 125-pound rankings as he sits at 6-0 on the season with four technical falls and two pinfalls. He won his weight class in the Pointer Open to begin the season and defeated his opponent at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater dual with a pin in one minute. 

At 133 pounds, Ethan Spacht is ranked eighth, up from his preseason ranking of 12th. Spatch is 6-0 this season with three pinfalls, two decisions, and one technical fall. He won the Pointer Open in his weight class, going 5-0, and won his dual at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. 

Jumping up in the rankings from 15th to seventh is Joshua Robison in the 141-pound division. Robison is 4-3 on the season, with two wins by decision, one by technical fall, and one in a sudden victory. His three losses came against division one and two competition, with his third coming against fifth-ranked Justin Fortugo of UW-Whitewater. 

Tyler Starr remains ranked at 149 pounds, sitting 15th after starting the season with a 5-3 record. Starr took fifth place at the Pointer Open in his weight class and has compiled two technical falls and one pinfall this season. 

After being left off the preseason rankings, Harrison Konder has become ranked in the 165-pound weight class, slotting in the 12th spot. Konder is 3-4 this season, with a loss to division one competition. He also came up short in an 11-9 decision to third-ranked Brayden Peet (UW-Whitewater) in duals. 

The final Cardinal ranked in the latest NWCA poll is Casey Aikman at 197 pounds. Aikman has gone 5-1 this year with two decisions, two major decisions, and one technical fall. Aikman came in fourth place at the Pointer Open, leaving with three victories. 

North Central has competed in four duals this season, as they sit undefeated, with one of their wins coming against the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, who find themselves ranked sixth in the poll. In the dual, the teams split the matches, winning five each. Their most recent duals victory came against Carthage College in College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) action, where the program won its 60th straight CCIW dual. 

Augsburg University retains possession of the top spot in the latest poll, with Wartburg College jumping to second place, up from fourth. The College of New Jersey moved from two to three, with Roanoke College dropping one spot to fourth. The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse maintains their fifth spot in the nation. 

The Cardinals are in action on Saturday, Nov. 22, in Mequon, Wis., for the Concordia Wisconsin Open starting at 9 a.m. inside R. John Buuck Field House.