North Central Wins First CCIW Wrestling Title in 11 Years

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – North Central ended Elmhurst’s three-year run as College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Wrestling Champions Saturday as the ninth-ranked Cardinals picked up their first title since 1997 and fourth in school history during the CCIW Wrestling Championships at Augustana College.

North Central won the CCIW championship with a team score of 100.5 while Elmhurst, the 15th-ranked team in the nation, finished second with a team score of 97.0. Wheaton (54.0), Augustana (34.5) and Millikin (8.5) rounded out the team scoring.

Elmhurst’s Jake Oster was champion at 125 pounds with an 8-1 win over North Central’s Joe Norton. 2008 CCIW Most Outstanding Wrestler Adam Johnson from North Central won at 133 pounds over Ben Salabura.

Wheaton’s Brent Skorup was champion at 141 pounds with an 11-4 win over North Central’s Jamie Devine. Jeff Kastel of Elmhurst won at 149 pounds over Jake Sandborn of North Central.

Elmhurst won a pair of titles at 157 and 165 as Kyle Katz (7-3 winner over North Central’s Jordan Spohn) and Tony Doan (6-4 winner over North Central’s Ben Youel) won their respective weight classes. Wheaton’s Toby Boltz was the 174-pound champion over North Central’s Greg Schroeder.

North Central earned two more individual titles in the higher weight classes as Gabe Youel was the 184-pound winner over Augustana’s Brian Kerr, and Vinnie Sapienza was the 197-pound winner over Elmhurst’s Bernie Vazquez. Elmhurst’s Mark Corsello defeated Wheaton’s Chase Campbell 9-3 to take home the 285-pound title.