NAPERVILLE — Momentum across the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) men’s wrestling slate carried from late December into the opening week of January, with conference programs stacking dual wins, producing nationally ranked performances and reaching key program milestones. 
 
As unbeaten runs continue and individual standouts emerge, the focus now shifts to Cedar Falls, Iowa, where league teams will be tested at the NWCA/USMC Multi-Division National Dual Meet Championships.
 
Big Blue Remain Perfect After Fred Johnson Duals
Millikin continued its unbeaten run following the Fred Johnson Duals last Saturday, improving to 12-0 overall and 6-0 in CCIW dual competition. 
 
Senior heavyweight Leno Campbell was named CCIW Student-Athlete of the Week after going 3-0 at the event with two falls and a major decision. Campbell sealed a dramatic 24-22 comeback win over Carthage with a 48-second pin in the final bout after Millikin trailed 22-12.
 
Freshman Mateo Casillas remained undefeated at 197 pounds, moving to 16-0 on the season. Casillas, ranked No. 13 nationally, earned a 7-4 sudden-victory win over Augustana’s Braiden Young. Earlier, the Big Blue swept MSOE and Wheaton in late December, including a 42-3 victory over the Thunder on Dec. 20.
 
Cardinals Feature Nationally Ranked Core
North Central opened 2026 ranked No. 5 in the NWCA tournament poll and No. 7 in the dual rankings. The Cardinals are led by a pair of top-ranked individuals in Chip Guzman (125) and Ethan Spacht (133). 
 
Guzman enters the new year at 21-0 with 15 technical falls, while Spacht stands at 21-1 with 10 pins and multiple wins over top-six opponents. Senior Joshua Robison is ranked sixth nationally at 141 pounds with a 10-3 record. In the Region V rankings released Dec. 31, Guzman, Spacht, and Robison each held the No. 1 spot at their respective weights.
 
Titans Earn Landmark Home Win
Illinois Wesleyan earned a milestone victory on Jan. 2, defeating Buena Vista 24-22 for the program’s first home dual win since its reinstatement in 2023. Freshmen Brady Mouser and Tyson Zvonar provided early points with a decision and a pin, respectively, while Trey Dunning clinched the dual with a late takedown at 197 pounds.
 
Augustana Posts Strong Week; Carthage Shows Depth
Augustana went 2-1 at the Fred Johnson Duals before earning a 33-14 win over St. Ambrose on Wednesday. Teke Nieto closed the St. Ambrose dual with a pin, while Tyson Bruce recorded pins in two separate events during the week. 
 
Carthage suffered narrow losses at the Fred Johnson Duals but received standout performances from senior Zaren Anderson (157), who recorded two falls, and CJ Gilbert (174), who posted a technical fall.
 
CCIW Prepares for National Duals
Attention now turns to the NWCA/USMC Multi-Division National Dual Meet Championships, scheduled for Jan. 9-10 at the UNI-Dome. 
 
North Central enters the 24-team field as the No. 7 seed after placing seventh a year ago, while Millikin will also represent the conference. The event includes all eight of last season’s top finishers, led by top seeds Wartburg and Augsburg, providing a key midseason benchmark for CCIW programs.