Contact: Alex Mielcarz, Athletics Communication Graduate Assistant, ajmielcarz@noctrl.edu

NAPERVILLE, Ill. (Nov. 12, 2026) – The College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) announced North Central College men's wrestler Matthew Maldonado as its first Wrestler of the Week of the 2026-27 campaign following his 4-0 weekend at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point's Pointer Open.

The honor marks the first weekly award of Maldonado's career, and the 59th weekly award in Cardinal history since the award was created in 2009.

Maldonado took the gold in the 141-pound bracket.  He defeated Grant Braskamp (University of Wisconsin-Whitewater) by technical fall (18-2) in the first round before bringing home a tight 4-2 win over the University of Wisconsin-Parkside's Landen Fick in the quarterfinal.

In the semifinal, Maldonado defeated teammate Jad Alwawi by decision (7-1) to advance to the championship match, where he was matched up with Aurora University's Jake Penzato.

After a scoreless first period, Maldonado performed a takedown with just two seconds remaining in the second period to take a 3-1 lead. He then earned an escape early in the third period before performing another takedown to go up 7-1, going on to win the championship bout 7-2.

Maldonado is now 4-1 on the year with three victories by decision and one by technical fall. He is the fourth-ranked wrestler in the 141-pound weight class in Region 5.

The men's wrestling program is back in action tonight at 7 p.m., taking on Carthage College in a CCIW dual inside Gregory Arena at Merner Fieldhouse.