As the new season approached, the NCC men’s wrestling team was picked to finish second in the annual CCIW preseason coaches’ poll. The defending conference champions, Millikin University, won the poll with 59 total points and five first-place votes. The Cardinals weren’t far behind, getting 57 points and three first-place votes. Augustana rounded out the top three, followed by Elmhurst, Wheaton, CUW, MSOE, Carthage, and Lakeland.
Last season, the Cardinals finished with an 8-1 team record, going undefeated in conference matchups. The team’s only loss on the season was a non-conference matchup against then-ranked #1 Wartburg College. The team finished the CCIW championship tournament last year in second place. They had four individual conference championships and three runner-up finishes.
Baldridge’s run
One returning wrestler, Cody Baldridge ‘22, highlighted the team’s success last year. Baldridge finished with an 11-2 record in the 197-pound weight group. He also earned All-American honors at Nationals, while claiming the title of National Champion for his weight group. He became the first Cardinal to earn that title since Ed Jackson ‘69.
“Cody’s growth can be measured in many ways, but just seeing all his accomplishments pile up year after year has been something special,” said manager Lucas Burris.
Age and experience
The team this year has a lot of new faces, thanks to head coach Joe Norton’s recruiting. Eight upperclassmen are tasked with helping ten sophomores and 29 freshmen get used to NCC wrestling. Norton praised the efforts of Baldridge and the rest of the upperclassmen.
“The older guys pull the younger guys along and make sure that they meet the standards and the way things should be done,” said Norton. “Our young guys are very talented and very determined, which makes coaching them very fun.”
Even though the team is lacking overall experience, they still have some of their top performers. In their respective weight groups, the Cardinals have Robert Precin ‘23 who is ranked second in the nation in the 133-pound class, Brock Montford is fourth in the 184 Pound Class, and Baldridge who enters this season looking to defend his title.
High hopes
“When you look at the seniors this year, specifically Cody, you see someone who walked in that door as a high school state champion and is going to walk out of that door as a national champion,” said Burris. “Potentially a two-time national champ.”
The wrestling team opened up their season with the Pointer Open hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point on Nov 6. The Cardinals had multiple wrestlers win their respective weight classes. Precin, along with Javen Estrada (141) ‘25, Alex Villar (149) ‘24, Cole Cervantes (157) ‘23, and Robby Bates (285) ‘24 all won first place in their respective weight groups. NCC’s first CCIW matchup this season is on Nov. 17 at Wheaton College.
The Cardinals’ schedule sees them on the road until Dec. 11 for the 57th Annual North Central College Invitational.
