Falcons Split CCIW Doubleheader

MEQUON, Wis. – The Concordia University Wisconsin wrestling team kicked off their College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) season on Friday night, competing in a pair of duals against Wheaton and Carthage.

In the opening matchup against Wheaton, the Falcons battled back to tie the score at 6-6 in the 133-pound weight class, when freshman Anastacio Martinez (Albuquerque, N.M.) secured a victory by fall in just 1:56. However, Wheaton quickly regained the advantage, with Cale Coppess and Aidan Laird both earning pins to put the Thunder up 18-6.

The Falcons responded in the 157-pound bout as sophomore Cole Ramos (Kenosha, Wis.) dominated his opponent, securing a fall in just 20 seconds to narrow Wheaton's lead to 18-12. But the Thunder regained momentum in the 165-pound match, where Cael Palmer earned a decision victory to extend their lead to 21-12.

Concordia kept chipping away at the lead, as sophomore Brandon Monteiro (Fernley, Nev.) fought through adversity in the 174-pound match, eventually winning by injury default at 3:36, bringing the score to 21-18 in favor of Wheaton.

In the next bout, junior Dawson Galvan (Chula Vista, Calif.) took control, pinning Wheaton's Daniel Thaler to give CUW a 24-21 lead. Junior Ruben Vasquez (Westminster, Calif.) followed suit in the 197-pound match, pinning Hunter Kazmierczak in just 16 seconds to seal the victory for Concordia at 30-21.

Finally, senior Peyton Smith (Milwaukee, Wis.) capped off a 24-point run by the Falcons with a fall victory in the second period, securing the 36-21 win and CUW's first dual victory of the season.

In the second dual against Carthage, Martinez once again evened the score at 6-6 with a fall victory over Zach Miller at 1:20 in the 133-pound match.

However, the Firebirds responded with a fall of their own in the 141-pound bout, taking a 12-6 lead. Despite a strong effort from junior Frank Budederi (Cedar Rapids, Iowa), who led 13-3, Carthage's Elijah Zepeda turned the tide with a quick pin to extend their lead to 18-6.

Carthage continued to apply pressure on CUW, picking up several fall victories, and the Falcons lost a team point due to unsportsmanlike conduct, pushing the score to 24-5 in favor of the Firebirds. The Firebirds would extend their lead further with a fall at 165 pounds, a major decision at 174 pounds, and another fall at 184 pounds, bringing the score to 40-5.

Meanwhile, Ruben Vasquez recorded his second fall of the night, pinning Diego Fuentes at 2:26 in the 197-pound match, and Peyton Smith added a 5-2 victory over Mason Kochersperger at 285 pounds, narrowing the gap to 40-14. Ultimately, Carthage claimed the win with a 40-14 scoreline.

The Falcons will return to action at home for the CUW Open on November 23rd.