ELMHURST, Ill. - For the second straight week, the Elmhurst wrestling team overcame an early double-digit deficit to score a 23-14 CCIW dual meet victory over North Central College.

Elmhurst (3-10, 2-1 CCIW) trailed 14-3 after five matches, but the Bluejays won the final five contests to down North Central (7-7) 23-14.

North Central opened the dual with Nick Santos scoring an 8-4 decision over Elmhurst's Eric English. Santos scored takedowns in each of the opening periods and held off a late surge from English to score a win at 125 pounds. The Cardinals opened up 6-0 lead after 10th-ranked Layten Binion scored a takedown in overtime to defeat Elmhurst's Miguel Vencia 6-4.

Elmhurst jumped on the scoreboard at 133 pounds. Jim Spangler scored a first round takedown and built up a riding time advantage that he used to edge North Central's Andrew Rodewald 3-2. The Cardinals extended their lead in the dual to seven points after Nathan Segal defeated Elmhurst's Maxx Lozano by a 15-6 major decision. North Central's Josh Tardy scored an 18-6 major decision over Sergio Lopez to push the Cardinals' lead up to 11 points at 14-3.

Mike Ryan scored the first pin of the day for either squad at 165 pounds. Ryan struck for a takedown and promptly pinned North Central's Alex Vosburgh in just 1:08. The six points for the Bluejays cut the Cardinals' lead down to just five at 14-9. Daniel Threlkeld followed with a win over North Central's Erik Kirkman at 174 pounds to pull Elmhurst to within three points. Threlkeld scored three takedowns against Erik Kirkman to score a 6-4 victory. Bobby Schillinger gave Elmhurst its first lead of the dual (15-14) with a win over Vincent Pizzo at 184 pounds. Schillinger scored ihs second straight victory with an 8-3 win over Pizzo. Danny Balderas extended Elmhurst's cushion to four points (18-14) by defeating Casey Greenberg 10-3 at 197 pounds. Danny Vargas, ranked sixth in the latest NWCA poll at 285 pounds, closed out the dual by scoring an 18-2 technical fall over Dylan Mahler.

Elmhurst will travel to North Central next Thursday as the Bluejays will look for their fourth consecutive CCIW Championship.

ELMHURST 23, NORTH CENTRAL 14
125 - Nick Santos (NCC) def. Eric English 8-4
133 - Layten Binion (NCC) def. Miguel Venecia 6-4 (SV)
141- Jim Spangler (EC) def. Andrew Rodewald 3-2
149 - Nathan Segal (NCC) def. Maxx Lozano 15-6 major
157 - Josh Tardy (NCC) def. Sergio Lopez 18-6 major
165 - Mike Ryan (EC) pinned Alex Vosburgh in 1:08.
174 - Daniel Threlkeld (EC) def. Erik Kirkman 6-4
184 - Bobby Schillinger (EC) def. VIncent Pizzo 8-3
197 - Danny Balderas (EC) def. Casey Greenberg 10-3
285 - Danny Vargas (EC) def. Dylan Mahler by technical fall in 5:57 (18-2)