CCIW men’s wrestling teams display depth ahead of holiday break
The College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) men's wrestling teams concluded their pre-holiday competitions with strong performances in both tournament and dual-meet formats, highlighting the depth and competitive nature of the conference.
At the 61st Annual North Central College Invitational, North Central College achieved a third-place finish out of 17 teams. Chip Guzman at 125 pounds and Ethan Spacht at 133 pounds each won individual titles for North Central. Guzman, who is currently ranked first nationally at his weight class, was named Most Outstanding Wrestler of the Meet after winning all four matches, including two by pin and a semifinal victory over the seventh-ranked opponent. Spacht, ranked second nationally, secured his championship with a pin against another top-10 competitor.
Elmhurst’s Rhenzo Augusto claimed the title at 157 pounds. Augusto was recognized as CCIW Student-Athlete of the Week for his performance that included technical falls and pins to secure his bracket win.
Carthage’s CJ Gilbert finished as runner-up at 174 pounds for the second straight event. His tournament run featured a semifinal win over Jaylen Young, who holds a national top-10 ranking.
Millikin University stood out in dual competition, going undefeated (4-0) at the Heidelberg Holiday Duals to bring its season record to 7-0. Sabri Sino (149), Mateo Casillas (197), Leno Campbell (285), and Charlie Armstrong (133) each posted perfect records on the day. Sino recorded one major decision and two technical falls during the event.
Several athletes across CCIW schools focused on earning bonus points through technical falls and pins. Elmhurst’s Nicholas Asllani (165) and Ryan Hinger (149) advanced deep into their brackets with these methods, while North Central wrestlers consistently took advantage of scoring opportunities throughout their lineup. In heavyweight competition, Aurora’s Elijah Osit placed sixth at 285 pounds, while Concordia Wisconsin’s Ruben Vasquez finished sixth in the consolation rounds at 197 pounds.
First-year athletes continued to play significant roles for several programs. Wheaton's Caleb Cox made an impact with two falls and a major decision during his consolation matches. Illinois Wesleyan freshman Tyson Zvonar contributed with a 3-2 record at 133 pounds during the NCC Invitational.
The consistent output from wrestlers beyond those nationally ranked has been important for CCIW teams as they prepare for more intensive tournament schedules and dual meets later in the season.