PICTURED ABOVE: Stephen Aiello earned a victory by pin at 165 pounds.

Naperville, Ill. - The Wheaton wrestling team dropped a tightly contested 24-23 dual match at North Central College on Thursday evening.

Thunder freshman Carlos Fuentez opened the match with a 19-5 major decision against North Central's Dominic Boggia at 125-pounds. The Cardinals won the next three matches at 133, 141 and 149 pounds to take a 12-4 lead in the team scoring. Senior Mark Savenok started a string of three Thunder victories with a 7-2 decision against Nathan Segal at 157-pounds. Stephen Aiello won by fall (4:56) at 165-pounds against Blake Olson. His brother Frank Aiello won a 13-5 major decision to give Wheaton a 17-12 lead in the team scoring.

The Cardinals picked up a win by fall in the match at 184-pounds to give the hosts an 18-17 lead. Thunder senior Dan Olsen earned a fall (4:16) against North Central's Vincent Pizzo at 197-pounds to allow the Thunder to take a 23-18 lead in the team scoring. North Central won by medical forfeit at 285-pounds to gain the 24-23 win against the Thunder.

Wheaton will be off until Jan. 30-31 when the Thunder hosts the 2015 Pete Willson-Wheaton Invitational. The Pete Willson-Wheaton Invitational is the oldest and largest small college wrestling tournament in the nation as 32 teams from around the nation will visit King Arena for the annual event.

North Central 24, Wheaton College 23
125 – Carlos Fuentez (Wheaton) maj. dec. Dominic Boggia (NCC), 19-5
133 – Brandon Malone (NCC)  dec. Tom Foy (Wheaton), 6-0
141 – Howard Beatty (NCC) pinned Jeremiah Brown (Wheaton), 1:59
149 – Layten Binion (NCC) dec. Campbell Morton (Wheaton), 6-2
157 – Mark Savenok (Wheaton) dec. Nathan Segal (NCC), 7-2
165 – Stephen Aiello (Wheaton) pinned Blake Olson (NCC), 4:55
174 – Frank Aiello (Wheaton) maj. dec. Eric Kirkman (NCC), 13-5
184 – Matt Marcotte (NCC) pinned Tim Blickle (Wheaton), 6:46
197 – Dan Olsen (Wheaton) pinned Vincent Pizzo (NCC), 4:16
285 - Dylan Mahler (NCC) won by medical forfeit