Contact: Alex Mielcarz, Athletics Communication Graduate Assistant, ajmielcarz@noctrl.edu
NWCA Release
NAPERVILLE, Ill. (Oct. 30, 2026) – The North Central College men's wrestling program cracked the top 25 in the inaugural National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) tournament rankings – released earlier today – tying for 25th with Eastern University. Five individuals also earned preseason national rankings in their respective weight classes: Ethan Spacht, Tyler Starr, Kayle Bearson, Jake Luce and AJ Frescura.
The Cardinals finished the 2026 NCAA Division III National Championships tied for 13th place. Based on this year's returners and Division III-to-Division III transfers, the Cardinals are projected to score 10.5 points in the national championship by the NWCA.
Wartburg College, the reigning national champs, tops the poll with 62 projected points. It's followed by the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse – whom the Cardinals duel in December – Roanoke College, Augsburg University and Coe College. The College of New Jersey, which travels to Naperville to take on North Central on November 19, enters the season ranked sixth.
College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) foe Elmhurst University is ranked tied for eighth to begin the season. The University of Chicago, which North Central will travel to in late January, is ranked 14th to begin the 2026-27 campaign.
Spacht starts the season as the No. 6 wrestler at 133 pounds and the No. 1 wrestler in Region 5 at that weight. Spacht turned in a 34-2 record, winning 16 matches by fall and six by major decision.
Starr, coming off a 30-17 record last season, starts the season as the No. 8 wrestler in the 149-pound weight class and the No. 3 wrestler in the region in that same class.
Bearson broke into the top-15 after a 13-12 season last year. He starts the year as the No. 15 wrestler in the nation and the No. 3 wrestler in the region at 157 pounds.
Luce, who wrestled into the first championship round at the Division III National Championships last year, begins the season as the No. 12 wrestler in the 184-pound weight class and the third-ranked wrestler in Region 5. Luce will look to build upon his 29-11 campaign from a year ago.
Frescura, who also wrestled at last year's national championships, comes in at No. 13 in the 197-pound weight class after a 29-12 record last season. The mark leaves him as the No. 2 197-pound wrestler in the region.
Joey Sikorsky (125 pounds), Matthew Maldonado (141 pounds), Harrison Konder (165 pounds) and Will Erbeck (285 pounds) all earned regional recognition in the first rankings of the season, coming in at No. 6, No. 4, No. 4 and No. 6 in their respective weight classes.
The Cardinals begin their season on November 7 in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, where they will take part in the Pointer Open. The first dual of the campaign is set for November 10 against CCIW opponent Illinois Wesleyan University at 7 p.m. inside Merner Fieldhouse.
