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

Day One Individual Results

Day One Team Scoring

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Mar. 14, 2025)- At the conclusion of day one at the NCAA Division III Wrestling National Championship, the North Central College men's wrestling team is in fifth place with 42 points. The Cardinals also have four wrestlers entering day two officially as All-Americans. 

As the No. 2 seed in the 125-pound bracket, second-ranked Christian Guzman advanced to the semifinal match with three technical fall victories to move to 34-0 this season. Guzman dominated his first match against Thomas Turner (Pacific (OR)) with a 16-1 technical fall win in period two. In the Round Two match, Guzman faced off against Keito Shaw (Alvernia) and won with a 19-4 technical fall. He followed that up with a 15-0 victory against Gavin Bradley (Castleton). Guzman is now a three-time All-American. His semifinal match tomorrow will be against third-ranked Zach Beckner. 

Twelfth-ranked Bradley Rosen began the day with a matchup against No. 1 seed and second-ranked nationally Josh Wilson (Greensboro) in the 141-pound weight class. Rosen ultimately came up short, losing in an 8-6 decision. He bounced back in the second consolation round, pinning Noah Hunt (Penn College) in two minutes and 54 seconds to advance in the tournament. Rosen pinned his next opponent, Sean O'Toole (Delaware Valley), in three minutes and 44 seconds. In consolation round four, Rosen officially became a two-time All-American, defeating Hayden Myers (Wesleyan (CT)) by a 14-3 major decision. Rosen continues action tomorrow against Tommy Thongseng (Wartburg). 

Tyler Starr lost both of his matches in the 149-pound bracket to exit the tournament on day one. Starr began the day facing No. 1 seeded and nationally ranked Colby Frost (Southern Maine), where he took Frost to the buzzer, losing in a 5-4 decision. Starr exited the tournament after losing to Xavier Pena (Centenary (NJ)) by a 6-1 decision. Starr finished his sophomore year with a 25-14 record and became a national qualifier by finishing third at regionals.

In the 165-pound bracket, Alex Villar was eliminated on day one of the national tournament. Villar began the day against No. 1 seeded and top ranked Matt Lackman (Alvernia). The match went into sudden victory after a 1-1 score through three periods from two escapes. Lackman took down Villar in sudden victory for the 4-1 score. In the consolation match, Villar yet again went to sudden victory, this time with No. 2 seeded and third nationally ranked Tanner Gerber (UW-La Crosse). In the waning moments of the third period, Villar led 6-2, but Gerber got a takedown and earned an extra point for riding time to make it 6-6. With 32 seconds left, Gerber scored the takedown to eliminate Villar from the tournament. Villar finished the season 23-8 overall, winning the 165-pound CCIW Championship, and was the runner-up at regionals to qualify for the national championship. 

Javen Estrada made it to the quarterfinal match in the 174-pound bracket after he won his first two matches. Match one featured a bout between Estrada and Connor Gregory (Castleton), which ended in an 18-3 technical fall. He dominated the match with five takedowns and a reversal. In match two, Austin Brass (Messiah) kept it closer against Estrada, but Estrada still prevailed in a 15-4 major decision behind four takedowns. Estrada would suffer his first loss of the tournament in the quarterfinals, falling to No. 1 seeded and ranked Jared Stricker (UW-Eau Claire) by being pinned in five minutes and nine seconds. In the fourth consolation round, Estrada bounced back with the fastest pin of the season for him, pinning Nolen Zeigler (Lycoming) in just 26 seconds to become a two-time All-American. Estrada hits the mat tomorrow in the fifth consolation round against LJ Richardson (Coe). 

In the 285-pound bracket, Robby Bates made noise on day one of the tournament, dispatching Christian McChesney (Wash. & Jeff.) with an 18-0 technical fall. He dominated McChesney with multiple four-point near falls and takedowns. This set up a match in the second round between Bates and the No. 1 seeded and nationally ranked Michael Douglas (UW-La Crosse). In the low-scoring bout, Bates earned a point for an escape at the start of period two. In period three, Douglas attempted to escape the grasp of Bates, but Bates overpowered him the whole period to knock off the top-ranked wrestler by a 2-0 decision. The quarterfinal was another close match for Bates as he squared off against Carl DiGiorgio (Coast Guard) as he fell by an 8-5 decision. Bates bounced back in the next match, pinning his opponent Logan Flynn (Delaware Valley) in six minutes and 40 seconds to punch his ticket to day two and become a three-time All-American. Adolfo Betancur and Bates wrestle tomorrow as they look to keep their season alive. 

Day two of the NCAA Division III National Championship continues Saturday, Mar. 15, from the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence, R.I.

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