NAPERVILLE, Ill. - The Elmhurst wrestling team dropped to 8-3 overall and 2-1 in the CCIW following a 22-18 dual meet loss to conference rival North Central College.

North Central won six of the four matches to earn the four-point victory. 

Elmhurst jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead after Tom Laskowske defeated North Central's Tom Ambrose 6-4 at 125 pounds. 

The Cardinals won the next five matches to take a 19-3 lead. Nationally-ranked Nathan Fitzenreider pinned Elmhurst's Ben Salabura in 1:39 at 133 pounds. The Cardinals' Andrew Zobac downed Larry Baca 5-1 at 141 pounds. Due to an injury, the Bluejays were forced to wrestle two grapplers at higher weight classes. North Central's Eric Oyster downed Mike Grice 3-0 at 149 pounds and the Cardinals' Joby Body downed Ryan Earley 2-0 at 157 pounds. North Central's Jason Bonham added a 15-3 major decision over Elmhurst's Yousef Al-Ghoul at 165 pounds.

Elmhurst's Frank Savegnago pinned Mike Glenn in 4:37 at 174 pounds to pull the Bluejays to within 10 points. Joe Rau followed with a 12-5 victory over North Central's Billy Malone at 184 pounds to bring Elmhurst to within seven points at 19-12. 

North Central wrapped up the dual at 197 pounds when Andrew Bradley downed Elmhurst's Mike McNeil 4-2. 

Elmhurst's Mark Corsello received a forfeit at 285 pounds to make the final score 22-18.

The Bluejays compete at the Border Brawl at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater on Saturday, January 22.