The evening of November 6th was filled with anticipation as North Central College (NCC) prepared to take on Carthage College in a wrestling match at Gregory Arena on the NCC Naperville Campus. Fans from both schools packed the stands, eager to witness the athletic prowess and determination of their wrestlers. The Cardinals entered the contest as the 6th-ranked Division III program according to the latest NWCA Dual Team Rankings, bringing with them a remarkable 50-meet win streak against CCIW opponents dating back to January 10th, 2017.

The competition kicked off with a forfeit at 125 pounds, giving Cameron Phillips of North Central a swift and uncontested victory. The score was quickly 6-0 in favor of NCC. This initial momentum set the tone for the rest of the evening.

Next up at 133 pounds, Ethan Spacht from NCC faced off against Carter Leiber from Carthage College. Spacht wasted no time, securing a fall just 1 minute and 10 seconds into the match, adding another 6 points to NCC’s growing lead.

The 141-pound match featured Joshua Robison from NCC against Cole Nelson from Carthage. In a closely contested bout, Robison managed to edge out Nelson with a 10-8 decision, earning 3 more points for NCC.

At 149 pounds, Dylan Burnoski of NCC took on Elijah Zepeda from Carthage. Burnoski demonstrated his skills and control, securing a 6-3 decision victory, pushing NCC further ahead.

Carthage College scored their first and only points of the evening at 157 pounds when Zaren Anderson overcame NCC’s Luke Christie in a tight 4-2 decision, making the team score 18-3.

The match at 165 pounds saw Alex Villar, the fifth-ranked wrestler in his weight class, from NCC dominate Christian Gilbert from Carthage. Villar achieved a technical fall with a score of 16-1 at 6 minutes and 10 seconds, contributing 5 more points to NCC’s tally.

Javen Estrada of NCC faced Max Becker from Carthage at 174 pounds. Estrada secured a quick fall at 1 minute and 28 seconds, adding 6 more points for NCC and increasing their lead to 29-3.

Casey Aikman continued NCC’s winning streak at 184 pounds by overpowering Devin Rogers from Carthage. Aikman’s technical fall at 2 minutes and 57 seconds with a score of 21-6 added another 5 points.

In the 197-pound category, Elijah Brockie of NCC took on Diego Fuentes from Carthage. Brockie secured a technical fall at 6 minutes and 50 seconds with a score of 17-2, further solidifying NCC’s dominance.

The final official match at 285 pounds featured Robby Bates from NCC against Mason Kochersperger from Carthage. Bates showcased his strength and technique, achieving a technical fall at 7 minutes with a score of 17-2, capping off NCC’s remarkable performance with another 5 points.

The final team score was an impressive 44-3 in favor of North Central College, showcasing their wrestling prowess and leaving their fans ecstatic. The evening concluded with NCC celebrating a decisive victory, highlighting their strength and preparation for the season ahead. With standout performances from highly-ranked wrestlers like Alex Villar, the Cardinals proved why they are a formidable force in Division III wrestling.

North Central College Wrestling’s next match is on November 13th at Augustana College in Rock Island.