By Ed Muniz- Photos by Renee Kaspar
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EVANSTON, IL — The Northwestern Wildcats took to the mats for their 2025-2026 wrestling home opener, hosting Lock Haven from Pennsylvania on Decenmber 19. After the scheduled 10-matches, the Wildcats went home celebrating their home opener victory, defeating the Lock Haven Bald Eagles (2-3) 19-13 to improve to 2-1 on the season.
First to take to the mat at 125-lbs was highly ranked Dedrick Navarro who kicked started the Wildcats after his 12-5 decision over Lock Haven’s Curtis Nelson. An early takedown put Nelson up but it didnt last long as Navarro escaped and quickly added his own takedown to grab the lead. He later added to his lead with near fall and reversal points along with a penalty point to take an advantage he woud not reliquish. With the decision, Northwestern led 3-0 in the team score.
Grad Transfer, Sean Spidle upped the Wildcats lead after gaining a 4-2 decision at 133 lbs. His close match with Gable Strickland was never really secure as both combatants looked for an edge throughout. Spidle finally took a lead in the third period with a reversal. Add a penalty point and a riding time point, the match concluded with a 4-2 decision for Spidle adding to the Northwestren team lead after two bouts.
After droping the bout at 141 lbs, the Wildcats secured their third win out of four when Sam Cartella won by an 8-3 decision over Hunter Gould at 149. Cartella secured a takedown early on and kept the lead throughout the match. He upped his dominance after gaining nearfall points in the second. His lead held up boosting the Wildcats team lead to 9-4.
Lock Haven’s Nick Stampoulos out-dualed Northwesterns’ Gunnar Myers with a 5-2 decision at 157 lbs heading to the break with Northwestern up 9-7 in the team score.
The ‘Cats came out of the break piling up three consecutive wins to take a19-7 lead. Jacob Bostelman opened the win streak with a nail-biter, winning with a takedown with seconds left on the clock to hang on and win 4-1 at 165 lbs.
At 174 lbs, 27th ranked’ and redshhirt freshman’ Eddie Enright got past 32nd-ranked Avery Bassett with an 8-3 decision. Enright’s opening takedown saw him hold the lead throughout the match but it wasnt easy.
“Its a huge jump definitely wrestling at this level versus high school, said Enright. ” I think one of the things that got me prepared for this level was being at Mt Carmel and being with Coach Tsirtsis and having guys in the room pushing me like college guys. I came here and noticed it right away last year, getting my butt whooped a few times by the older guys but they helped me adapt everyday trying to be the best that I can be. The guys on the team are awesome. I thought in this match today my first period set the tone, pushing the pace, getting into my attacks and riding on top. I do think I need improve and push the pace throughout the match, working my offense more and being more aggressive.”
Graduate transfer J.D. Perez provided the sixth and final win of the dual for the Cats’ when he dismantled Lock Havens’ Sam Gautreau, with a 17-3 major decision. at 184 and providing bonus points as well.
In an instant, just a second or two into the bout, a shot by Lock Haven was countered quickly by Perez and in a flash, he was up 7-0 before folks knew what happened. Perez upped his lead to 10-0 before the period expired. Perez continued to push the pace throughout the match piling up points, eventually putting the match in hand and finally gaining the Major decision for the Cats’.
“The guys call me Unc-as in Uncle as an older guy on the team,” said Perez. “It’s a new team for me but I feel I fit in nicely here. I wanted tp be on a progressive team and like-minded team and I feel it’s been a good fit. The hospitality on the team has been great, they welcomed me to the team . I got caaught up early but recovered really well in this match and pushed the pace a bit. I then just rolled with it. I kinda try and make guys wrestle me and wrestle my match. Sometimes I’m super offensive but it just depends on what they present to me. Today it went all my way and my style.”
“Its always good to have one put in the Win Column. Home opener. Theres something to be said about winning tough, ugly matches,” said Coach Matt Storniolo. “I feel there were a couple of matches I was happy with the win but not satisfied with the way that we won them. The goal is always wrestle your top end whether its winning or losing and I feel the second half we did a better job of that, the second half guys attacked the position a little bit better, at least the last three guys did. This is a young group and I think they’ll get better as the season goes on. Still something to build on.”
After two losses to end the dual, the Wildcats still managed to come away with the 19-13 win in their first home dual of the season.
