Wheaton, Ill. – The Thunder wrestling team had its first home event of the 2021-22 schedule on Wednesday night in King Arena. Wheaton hosted CCIW rival North Central in a dual meet won by the Cardinals, 26-9.
 
Wheaton won three matches among the 10 weight classes in the dual meet tonight. The first victory for the Thunder came in the opening match at 125-pounds as senior Anthony Zamora (PICTURED LEFT) defeated North Central's Julian Valtierrez in a 6-4 decision. Zamora scored four of his six points in the third period to secure the win.
 
Sophomore Ethan Renager picked up Wheaton's second win as he earned a dramatic 5-4 decision against North Central's Josh Dorr at 141-pounds. Dorr led Renager 3-1 at the end of the second period. Renager cut Dorr's lead to 3-2 with an escape early in the third period. Renager accomplished a takedown as both wrestlers went out of bounds with 1:21 left in the period to gain a 4-3 lead. Once wrestling resumed, Renager maintained control long enough to assure that he would gain a much needed one minute edge in riding time and the point that comes from that advantage. Dorr continued to fight and in the final 15-seconds he managed an escape to tie the match at 4-4, but Renager's point from riding time assured him the 5-4 decision.
 
Thunder senior Caele Manley defeated North Central's Payton Geigner in a 5-3 decision. Manley registered a first-period takedown to gain a 2-0 advantage. Geigner took control in the second period with an escape at the start and later had a takedown as he led 3-2 as they headed to the third period. Manley escaped early in the third period to tie their match at 3-3. The Thunder senior scored a takedown in the final 30 seconds to gain the 5-3 lead that he held on to win with.
 
Wheaton travels to the Concordia (Wis.) Open on Saturday for its next competition. Action starts at 9:00 a.m. in Mequon, Wisconsin at the tournament.
 

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North Central College 26, Wheaton College 9  

125-pounds: Anthony Zamora (Wheaton) def Julian Valtierrez,(NCC) by 6-4 decision
133-pounds: Robbie Precin (NCC) def. Ethan Harsted (Wheaton), by 1-0 decision
141-pounds: Ethan Renager (Wheaton) def. Josh Dorr (NCC), by 5-4 decision
149-pounds: Alex Villar (NCC) def. Josiah Krason (Wheaton), by 20-4 technical fall (7:00)
157-pounds: Cole Cervantes (NCC) def. Cade Zeamer (Wheaton), by 6-3 decision
165-pounds: Caele Manley (Wheaton) def. Payton Geigner (NCC), by 5-3 decision
174-pounds: Joey Jens (NCC) def. Jacob Kraker (Wheaton), by 16-7 major decision
184-pounds: Brock Montfdord (NCC) def. Natan Jara (Wheaton), by 4-1 decision
197-pounds: Cody Baldridge (NCC) def. Jackson Punzel (Wheaton), by 5-2 decision
285-pounds: Robbie Bates (NCC) def. Jacob Murrie (Wheaton) by 18-3 technical fall (7:00)

Exhibition Matches

125-pounds: Brendan Johnston (Wheaton) def. Davion Johnson (NCC), 8-2 decision
149-pounds: Josh Cherba (NCC) def. Justin Dicono (Wheaton), 25-5 technical fall (7:00)
174-pounds: Matteen Taylor (NCC) def. Nathan Larson (Wheaton), by 8-4 decision
184-pounds: Jack Hominac (NCC) def. Luke Feddeler (Wheaton), by 18-0 technical fall (2:50)
285-pounds: Andrew Bejarano (NCC) def. Chris Hasse (Wheaton), by fall (4:45)
285-pounds: Andrew Bejarano (NCC) def. John Karesh (Wheaton), by fall (0:53)