NAPERVILLE — The pre-holiday slate in College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) men’s wrestling offered a clear snapshot of the conference’s competitive balance as teams split focus between national-caliber tournaments and demanding dual-meet schedules. 
 
Championship performances at the NCC Invitational and a statement road showing in dual competition highlighted both individual excellence and team depth, reinforcing the league’s position as one of Division III’s most consistently tested wrestling conferences heading into the heart of the season.
 
Home Mat, National Results in Naperville
The 61st Annual North Central College Invitational once again provided a national measuring stick, and the host Cardinals responded with a third-place team finish in a 17-team field loaded with ranked opponents. 
 
NCC was paced by two individual champions – Chip Guzman (125) and Ethan Spacht (133) each claimed titles while navigating nationally ranked brackets. Guzman, the nation’s top-ranked wrestler at 125 pounds, earned Most Outstanding Wrestler of the Meet honors after a 4-0 performance that included two pins and a semifinal win over the No. 7-ranked opponent. Spacht, ranked second nationally, capped his run with a pin over the No. 7 wrestler in the championship bout.
 
Individual Titles and Podium Runs Shape the Field
Elmhurst added to the league’s championship tally behind a title run from Rhenzo Augusto at 157 pounds. Augusto – named CCIW Student-Athlete of the Week on Tuesday – used a combination of technical falls and pins to secure the bracket title.
 
Carthage’s CJ Gilbert continued a strong stretch of tournament performances, earning a runner-up finish at 174 pounds for the second consecutive event. Gilbert’s path included a semifinal victory over top-seeded Jaylen Young, a nationally ranked top-10 wrestler.
 
Millikin Makes Its Statement on the Road
While much of the league’s teams competed in tournament settings, No. 24 Millikin delivered one of the week’s most complete team performances in dual competition. The Big Blue went 4-0 at the Heidelberg Holiday Duals to improve to 7-0 on the season. 
 
Sabri Sino (149), Mateo Casillas (197), Leno Campbell (285) and Charlie Armstrong (133) all went undefeated on the day, with Sino posting a major decision and two technical falls during the event.
 
Bonus Points and Bracket Depth Drive Team Success
Across the CCIW, several programs emphasized bonus-point production as a key separator. Elmhurst’s Nicholas Asllani (165) and Ryan Hinger (149) each used technical falls and pins to fuel deep bracket runs, while North Central consistently capitalized on scoring opportunities throughout the lineup. Heavyweight depth also surfaced, with Aurora’s Elijah Osit finishing sixth at 285 pounds and Concordia Wisconsin’s Ruben Vasquez battling through the consolation rounds to earn a sixth-place result at 197.
 
Youth Movement Continues to Pay Dividends
Freshman contributions remained a steady storyline across multiple programs. Wheaton’s Caleb Cox delivered an efficient consolation run, recording two falls and a major decision, while Illinois Wesleyan freshman Tyson Zvonar posted a 3-2 showing at 133 pounds to help anchor the Titans’ effort at the NCC Invitational.
 
Depth Beneath the Stars Keeps the Conference Rolling
While nationally ranked standouts continue to draw attention at the top of brackets, the consistent production from the middle of CCIW lineups remains strong. As tournament schedules intensify and dual competition ramps up, that depth continues to elevate conference results and reinforce the league’s position on the national stage.