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

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio (Feb. 28, 2026)- Taking second place in the NCAA Region V Championships hosted by John Carroll University, the North Central College men's wrestling team saw six wrestlers qualify for nationals this weekend in the Athletic Wellness & Event Center. Chip Guzman won his fourth consecutive 125-pound regional championship. 

No. 1-ranked 125-pound Guzman received an autobid to the quarterfinals, where he wrestled his first match of the tournament. Facing Kaden Golder from Trine University, Guzman advanced to the semifinals with a pinfall in 2:01. Top-ranked Ethan Spacht faced a similar path in the 133-pound bracket with a pair of byes to send him to the quarterfinal round. In the match, Spacht picked up his 16th pin of the season, finishing off Trenden Bashore (Olivet) in 1:42 to move on to the semifinals.

In the tournament as the three seed, ninth-ranked 141-pound Joshua Robison advanced to day two behind a pair of pinfalls, sending him to the semifinals. After a first-round bye, Robison defeated Kenny Thomas from Adrian College with a pin in 2:33. Robison picked up his second pinfall in the quarterfinal match, pinning Adom Sharpley (John Carroll) in 5:43. 

Tyler Starr, ranked as the fourth seed in the 149-pound bracket, advanced to the second day of competition with a dominant 20-0 technical fall against Gabe Bulugaris from Ohio Wesleyan University. The quarterfinal match was a come-from-behind effort for Starr as he scored six points in the third period to defeat John Carroll's Kyle Bizjak. 

Kayle Bearson was the 21st seeded wrestler in the 157-pound division and had an undefeated day one. Bearson kicked things off with an 8-4 tiebreaking victory in the third overtime period as he sealed the deal with a takedown on Daniel Gunlogson from the University of Chicago. He then picked up a 4-3 decision win in the quarterfinals, defeating Wabash's Andrew Ross. 

18th-seeded Mekhi Cave lost his opening match to seventh-ranked 165-pound Brayden Peet (UW-Whitewater) in a 4-0 decision, bouncing him to the consolation brackets. Cave advanced to the fourth round on consolations after a medical forfeit but fell to Juwan Vines (Olivet) in a 5-4 decision to end his run in the tournament. 

Second-seeded in the 174-pound bracket, Jake Luce advanced to the semifinals after day one. Luce won his opening match over Nayl Sbay (Trine) in a 17-1 technical fall and scored a 14-1 major decision against Hutch Lynott (U-Chicago).

Casey Aikman made it to day two of the regional tournament with a trip to the semifinals after day one as the three seed. Aikman picked up a 17-1 technical fall in the opening match against McCaden Skeens from Mount St. Joseph. He then defeated Matthew Gummere (Case Western Reserve) in a 13-6 decision in the quarterfinals. 

AJ Frescura advanced to the 197-pound semifinals as the third seed after a 2-0 showing on day one in the tournament. Frescura began his day with a 17-2 technical fall over Garret Jobe (Albion). The quarterfinal between Frescura and Zeke Harris (Wheaton College) came down to a third-period takedown to secure a 5-3 decision for Frescura. 

Seventh-seed Will Erbeck ended day one in the 285-pound consolation bracket after a win in the opening round over Elmhurst's Mike Milovich in a 4-2 decision. In the quarterfinals, Erbeck fell to Mason Knight (Olivet) in a 4-2 decision. Erbeck stayed alive to day two with a third match scored as a 4-2 decision over Davin George (Trine) in the fourth round of consolations. 

At the end of day one, the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater sat atop of the rankings with 103 points. North Central followed in second place with 95.5 points and Millikin University in third with 76 points. North Central had eight wrestlers in the championship bracket with one in the consolation bracket at the end of the day. 

On day two, Guzman faced off against Matt Barlay (U-Chicago) in the semifinals and earned an 18-2 technical fall to return to the championship match. In the finals, Guzman faced seventh-ranked Mason Jones from Manchester University and clinched the 125-pound championship with a 20-3 technical fall. Guzman was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler and became a four-time national qualifier. 

Spacht continued on day two of the tournament with a 1-0 decision win in the semifinals over seventh-ranked Art Martinez (Case Western). The 133-pound championship match featured top-ranked Spacht and third-ranked James Day (Wabash). Spacht opened a 5-0 advantage in the first period with a takedown and a two-point nearfall. Ultimately, Spacht took second place after he could not complete the match due to injury. Spacht's finish allowed him to qualify for nationals for the first time in his career. 

Robison qualified for nationals on day two for the first time in his career by placing in third place in the 141-pound division. Facing sixth-ranked Justin Fortugo (UW-Whitewater) in the semifinal and the match going to overtime, Robison fell 2-1. In the second overtime period, Fortugo escaped from control of Robison, clinching the win. Robison bounced back to the third-place match with a 12-5 sudden-victory decision over Sabri Sino (Millikin). The third-place match featured a rematch as Robison faced Sharpley (JCU) a second time. This time, Robison defeated Sharpley in an 8-6 decision to secure a spot at nationals. 

Starr finished day two taking fifth place in the 149-pound bracket after falling in a high-scoring 14-10 decision to No. 1-ranked Dominik Mallinder (UW-Whitewater). In the consolation round, with a chance to make the third-place match, Starr fell to 14th-ranked Ryan Hinger (Elmhurst) in a 10-2 major decision. Starr ultimately took the fifth place match with a 5-2 sudden decision victory over Chase Mirelez (Millikin). 

Bearson picked up on day two in the semifinals against Elmhurst's third-ranked Rhenzo Augusto. Despite keeping it close, Bearson fell in a 4-2 decision against Augusto. In the consolation semifinals, Bearson advanced to the third-place match with a 9-5 decision over Millikin's Michael Hutchinson. With a trip to nationals on the line, Bearson fell to Case Western Reserve's Thomas Wagner in a 14-5 major decision. 

As a freshman, Luce clinched a national tournament berth with a third-place finish at the conclusion of day two. Luce fell in the semifinals to Wabash's Jalen Young in a 10-4 decision. In the consolation semifinals, Luce defeated Aiden Ashburn (JCU) in an 11-6 decision, advancing to the third-place match. To clinch as a national qualifier, Luce beat Chase Crutchley (Case Western) in an 8-4 decision. 

Becoming a national qualifier for the first time in his career, Aikman placed second in the 184-pound weight class. He advanced to the championship round after a 15-1 major decision over Zachary Huckabee (Wabash) but was pinned by 13th-ranked Jackson Davis (U-Chicago). 

Frescura was the 197-pound regional runner-up as a freshman after advancing to the finals with a 1-0 victory over Tyler Haydon (UW-Whitewater). Ultimately in the finals, Frescura fell to 11th-ranked Gunnar Garriques from U-Chicago, losing in a 15-0 technical fall. Erbeck took eighth place in the 285-pound bracket after wrapping up day two after suffering a 4-1 sudden victory loss to Jordan Lewis (UW-Whitewater) and a 5-4 decision loss to Alexander Goldman (Case Western) in the seventh-place match. 

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater was named the regional champion with 163 points. North Central was the runner-up with 145 points, and the University of Chicago rounded out the top three with 136.5 points. 

The Cardinals won one weight class, finished as the runner-up in three, and took third place in two. Nine of the 10 wrestlers for North Central placed in the regional tournament. 

North Central's six qualifying wrestlers will gear up for the NCAA Division III National Championship held in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, at the Alliant Energy Powerhouse from Friday, Mar. 13, to Saturday, Mar. 14.