NAPERVILLE, Ill. - The Elmhurst wrestling team upped its dual meet record to 5-2 on the season by holding off North Central College with a 20-19 victory.
Elmhurst raced out to a 20-9 lead by winning four of the first six matches and then hung on as North Central won the final four matches to cut the Bluejays' margin of victory down to just one point.
Anthony Munoz started the dual with a 13-1 major decision over North Central's Moe Mitchell at 125 pounds. Jared Braun took apart Mike Bikulcius 20-3 at 133 pounds, earning a technical fall and giving the Bluejays a quick 9-0 lead. North Central's Layten Binion narrowly edged Ronnie Hauser 9-8 at 141 pounds to put the Cardinals on the scoreboard. Ben Williamson downed the Bluejays' Grant Smiley 7-4 at 149 pounds to cut Elmhurst's lead down to three points at 9-6.
The Bluejays won the next two matches as Gunnar Hjorth blanked Marcello Macellaio 19-0 for a technical fall at 149 pounds. Tim Noverini needed just 49 seconds to pin the Cardinals' Brandon Mattinen at 165 pounds and give Elmhurst a 20-9 lead.Â
The Cardinals rallied back over the final four matches. Matt Marcotte downed Shawn Swiderek 10-5 at 174 pounds. Vincent Pizzo stopped the Blujeays' Leo Ortiz 5-1 at 184 pounds and Tyler Vittal edged Mark Miller 3-2 at 197 pounds to make the dual score 20-15. The Cardinals' Emonte Logan defeated Scott Helton with a 19-5 major decision to make the final score 20-19.Â
Elmhurst hosts the Al Hanke Invitational on Saturday, January 14.Â
ELMHURST 20, NORTH CENTRAL 19Â
125: Anthony Munox (E) maj. dec. Moe Mitchell, 13-1 Â
133: Jared Braun (E) tech. fall Mike Bikulcius, 20-3 Â
141: Layten Binion (N) dec. Ronnie Hauser, 9-8 Â
149: Ben Williamson (N) dec. Grant Smiley, 7-4 Â
157: Gunnar Hjorth (E) tech. fall Marcello Macellaio, 19-0Â
165: Tim Noverini (E) fall Brandon Mattinen, 0:49Â
174: Matt Marcotte (N) dec. Shawn Swiderek, 10-5
184: Vincent Pizzo (N) dec. Leo Ortiz, 5-1 Â
197: Tyler Vittal (N) dec. Mark Miller, 3-2 Â
285: Emonte Logan (NCC) maj. dec. Scott Helton, 19-5 Â
