NAPERVILLE — A demanding mid-January stretch tested the depth, balance, and national readiness of the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin’s (CCIW wrestling programs, with conference contenders facing elite competition on both the dual and tournament fronts. 
 
From the NWCA National Duals to pivotal league matchups and high-profile invitationals, the results further clarified the conference race while showcasing individual excellence across multiple weight classes.
 
Cardinal Rule: North Central Asserts Dominance on the National and Conference Stage
North Central continued to affirm its standing as both a national and conference force during a rigorous stretch over the previous two weeks. The Cardinals entered the NWCA National Duals as the tournament’s seventh seed and advanced to the second day with a 2-1 record on Jan. 9, posting signature wins over No. 10 Coe (25-15) and No. 9 Central (23-17). Top-ranked Chip Guzman (125) and Ethan Spacht (133) anchored the lineup, with Guzman earning a 17-8 major decision against Coe and Spacht contributing an 8-0 major decision.
 
North Central ultimately placed eighth following narrow setbacks to No. 3 Wisconsin-La Crosse and a rematch with Coe, but Guzman and Spacht each finished the weekend undefeated. Freshmen Jake Luce and AJ Frescura also impressed, collecting three wins apiece during the national-caliber event.
 
The Cardinals carried that momentum into CCIW action with a 44-3 victory over Elmhurst on Jan. 15, then capped the stretch with a 28-12 Senior Night win over No. 17 Millikin on Tuesday. North Central won the opening four bouts in that dual, highlighted by Guzman’s 1:11 technical fall and a pin from Aboo Assaf at 141. The win pushed the Cardinals to 6-0 in league action, while Joey Sikorsky was named CCIW Student-Athlete of the Week for his performance during the period.
 
Raider Redemption: MSOE’s Scorching January Surge
MSOE assembled one of the strongest stretches in program history, beginning at the Budd Whitehill Duals. Competing in the nation’s largest Division III dual tournament, the Raiders finished 11th out of 16 teams with a 2-3 record, highlighted by wins over York (Pa.) (27-18) and The College of New Jersey (25-16). Toren Vandenbush was a steady presence at 174 pounds, recording a 15-0 technical fall against York and another tech fall versus TCNJ.
 
MSOE followed with a runner-up team finish at the Al Hanke Invitational last Saturday, scoring 129 points. Vandenbush captured the 174-pound title for the second straight year, going 5-0 with four pinfalls, all under two minutes. Jackson Hughes added a finals appearance at 184 pounds, finishing second after a 7-4 decision in the championship bout.
 
The Raiders picked up a 27-18 road win at Aurora on Tuesday to secure their fifth CCIW victory of the season. Sean Wilwert clinched the dual with a pin at 197, while Liam Anderson and Lane Andersen also contributed falls.
 
Big Blue Battles: Millikin Navigates a National Gauntlet
Millikin faced one of the nation’s toughest schedules at the NWCA National Duals, competing in five duals across two days on Jan. 9-10. The Big Blue opened with a 20-19 victory over Baldwin Wallace, aided by a fall from Kody Marschner (184) and a 20-0 technical fall by Sabri Sino. Chase Mirelez led the way on day one, finishing 3-0 at 157 pounds.
 
Millikin split its day-two matches, falling to Wabash (23-14) before rebounding with a 24-15 win over Wisconsin-Whitewater. Leno Campbell sealed the Whitewater dual with a 3-2 decision at heavyweight.
 
Back in conference action, Millikin dropped a 28-12 decision at North Central on Tuesday. Marschner provided a highlight with a pin of AJ Frescura at 5:30, while Mateo Casillas earned a 10-6 win at 197 to improve to 18-3 on the season. Ranked 17th nationally, the Big Blue remain a factor entering the CCIW Duals.
 
Climbing the Charts: Cardinals and Big Blue Pace the National Polls
The NWCA released its latest national rankings on Friday, further reinforcing the CCIW’s standing among the nation’s top Division III wrestling conferences. North Central sits among the national leaders, ranking No. 6 in the Tournament Top 25 and No. 8 in the Dual Team poll. The Cardinals’ tournament position is highlighted by top-ranked wrestlers at the two lightest weight classes, as Christian Guzman remains No. 1 at 125 pounds and Ethan Spacht holds the nation’s top spot at 133. Millikin is also represented in the dual rankings, checking in at No. 17 with a 14-4 overall record.
 
Individual recognition across the conference continues to grow, with multiple CCIW wrestlers appearing in the national rankings. Elmhurst’s Rhenzo Augusto is ranked No. 4 at 157 pounds, followed by Aurora’s Cameron Johnson at No. 12 in the same weight class. North Central’s Joshua Robison is listed at No. 6 at 141, while MSOE’s Toren Vandenbush is ranked No. 13 at 174. Collectively, the rankings reflect a strong mid-January showing for the conference as teams move deeper into the regular season.
 
Invitational Insights: Standouts at the Mike Duroe and Al Hanke
Several CCIW programs posted notable results at major invitationals last Saturday. At the Cliff Keen-Mike Duroe Invitational, Illinois Wesleyan freshman Tyson Zvonar led the Titans with four wins at 133 pounds, including a 22-5 technical fall. Augustana also found success at the event, with senior Braiden Young placing fifth at 197 after a 6-5 decision in his final bout.
 
Elmhurst’s Al Hanke Invitational provided another strong showcase for conference talent. In addition to MSOE’s runner-up finish, Wheaton placed 10th behind a second-place showing from Zeke Harris at 197. Harris advanced to the finals with a 9-6 decision over top seed Gavin Graham of MSOE. Carthage also enjoyed a productive day, as Zaren Anderson won his weight class and Chris Kish finished as the runner-up, following up the Firebirds’ 36-7 dual win over Wheaton on Jan. 10, highlighted by CJ Gilbert’s 20-0 technical fall.
 
Spartan Surge: Dual Results Round-Up
Aurora displayed depth and balance during a busy dual schedule. The Spartans opened with a 40-12 win over Lakeland on Jan. 13, claiming eight bouts with pinfalls from Zane Ely and Tyler Evitts. Aurora followed with a 49-6 victory over Concordia Wisconsin on Jan. 16, racing to a 43-0 lead and receiving a 1:01 fall from Jack Seacrist at 174.
 
The CCIW turns its attention to the conference duals, where regular-season positioning and momentum will be on the line.