ELMHURST, Ill. - Colton Kelly used an escape in the final seconds of his 197-pound bout to clinch the Elmhurst wrestling team's 20-14 victory over North Central. 

With Elmhurst (6-2) leading 17-11, the 197-pound bout brought the crowd to its feet with a thrilling finish. Trailing 5-2 with a minute-plus riding time advantage, Tyler Vittal converted on a takedown with 12 seconds remaining to virtually tie the score. After the wrestlers were ruled off the mat, Kelly rose quickly off the start whistle to earn an escape point and clinch the dual for the Bluejays. 

The teams traded the first two bouts of the night. Brad Martens started the dual off strong for North Central (4-9), converting on a second-period reversal and surviving two third-period takedowns from Anthony Munoz to hold on for an 8-6 victory. Elmhurst's Caleb Ramos tied the score at three, using an a pair of takedowns and over two minutes of riding time to defeat Brandon Melone 5-0. 
 

Elmhurst took lead with three straight victories. Jimmy Nehls, ranked second at 141 pounds in the latest NWCA rankings, built an early lead and then pinned Layton Binion in the second period. Binion was ranked No. 7 in last week's NWCA rankings. Blake Santi, third in the latest NWCA rankings, led big in the first period at 149 pounds and never looked back, putting Elmhurst ahead 14-3 with a technical fall 19-1 win. At 157 pounds, Tim Noverini used takedowns in all three periods and almost three minutes of riding time to defeat Ben Williamson 8-1 and put Elmhurst out in front 17-3. 

The Cardinals put themselves back in contention with three straight wins of their own. At 165 pounds, NCC's Eric Kirkman led 4-0 in the third period, but Keone Derain converted on a four-point near fall to tie the score. A Kirkman reversal gave the Cardinal a two-point lead and, even though Derain tied the score at six with an escape in the final seconds, Kirkman took the bout with a riding time point. 

With the score tied at one in the 174-pound bout, Mitch Morris kept his balance while Matt Marcotte held his leg, avoiding a takedown until the wrestlers left the mat. With the score still tied late, Marcotte converted a takedown and a two-point near fall in the final seconds to win the bout and pull North Central within nine at 17-8. During the bout, the referee deducted a point from the Cardinals' team score due to an unsportsmanlike conduct ruling on North Central's coach. 

At 184 pounds, Elmhurst's Bobby Schillinger and North Central's Josh Bouie traded escapes and headed to overtime tied at one. Bouie converted on a takedown early in the overtime session to pull the Cardinals within six at 17-11. 

Kelly's win at 197 pulled Elmhurst ahead 20-11 and sealed the dual victory. In the final bout of the night, North Central's Emonte Logan used two takedowns and a riding time point to defeat Zach Urbanski 5-0. 

Elmhurst wrestles at the CCIW Championships, hosted by Augustana College, next Thursday, February 18. 

Elmhurst 20, NCC 14
125: Brad Martens (NCC) def. Anthony Munoz (Elmhurst) 8-6 Decision
133: Caleb Ramos (Elmhurst) def. Brandon Malone (NCC) 5-0 Decision
141: Jimmy Nehls (Elmhurst) def. Layten Binion (NCC) by fall (4:07)
149: Blake Santi (Elmhurst) def. Justin McGady (NCC) 19-1 (5:10)
157: Tim Noverini (Elmhurst) def. Ben Williamson (NCC) 8-1 Decision
165: Eric Kirkman (NCC) def. Keone Derain (Elmhurst) 7-6 Decision
174: Matt Marcotte (NCC) def, Mitch Morris (Elmhurst) 5-1 Decision* 
184: Josh Bouie (NCC) def. Bobby Schillinger (Elmhurst) 3-1 (SV-1)
197: Colton Kelly (Elmhurst) def. Tyler Vittal (NCC) 6-5 Decision
285: Emonte Logan def. Zack Urbanski 5-0 Decision

*Note: The referee deducted a point from North Central's team score during the 174-pound bout due to an unsportsmanlike conduct ruling on North Central's coach.