NAPERVILLE, Ill. – North Central, ranked 10th in the nation by InterMat, handed Augustana a 47-0 setback Wednesday at Gregory Arena. The host Cardinals improved to 2-0 on the season, while the dual was the first of the year for the Vikings.
 
North Central's lineup featured three wrestlers ranked in the nation's top ten in their respective weight classes.
 
Sophomore Ellex Williams (Moline HS, Moline, Ill.) dropped a 14-3 major decision to fifth-ranked Robby Precin at 125. Sophomore Benjamin Gruenstein (Eden Prairie HS, Eden Prairie, Minn.) lost to seventh-ranked Ian Mullen by fall at 2:00 of their 133-pound match and freshman Salvador Mancia (Cajon HS, San Bernardino, Calif.) was pinned by eighth-ranked Cody Baldridge at 1:40 of their 184-pound bout.
 
Senior TJ Lunney (Conant HS, Schaumburg, Ill.) and freshman Alex Cruz (Batavia HS, Batavia, Ill.) came the closest to earning Augustana victories. Lunney fell 12-9 to Cole Cervantes at 157 and Cruz dropped a 14-9 decision to Jaime Suarez at 141.
 
Coach Tony Willaert's squad will be back in action on Thursday, December 5, taking on Central and Simpson in dual meets in Indianola, Iowa.