Feb. 8, 2008
San Luis Obispo, Calif. - The Stanford wrestling team picked up another conference win tonight, downing the Cal Poly Mustangs, 27-16, at Mott Gymnasium in San Luis Obispo, Calif. The Cardinal won six of ten bouts to improve to 12-3 on the year and 5-2 in the Pac-10.
With 12 wins, the Cardinal continues to build on its impressive win total. The dozen wins are the most in over three decades, and mark the second best single-season total in program history.
Stanford jumped out to a quick lead in the dual and never looked back. Freshman Austin Quarles (1-10) claimed a forfeit in the 125-pound bout to start off the night. Wrestling up a weight class at 133 pounds, senior Tanner Gardner (33-1) then earned a 14-2 major decision over Boris Novachkov for his 33rd win on the year. Gardner is now just three wins shy of matching Matt Gentry's career win record (138).
Cal Poly answered with a win by fall at 141 pounds, as the Mustangs' top-ranked and undefeated Chad Mendes pinned freshman Max Rosefigura (12-11) in 33 seconds. The Mustangs crawled within one when Eric Maldonado edged redshirt freshman Lucas Espericueta (22-9) at 149 pounds, 5-2.
Senior Josh Zupancic (31-5) prevented the Mustangs from catching up with a win at 157 pounds, extending his season-best win streak to 12 matches. The Akron, Ohio native earned his sixth pin of the year with a second period win by fall over Stephen Thalin. The win, secured in 4:48, was the 31st of the season for No. 10 Zupancic and boosted the Cardinal lead to 16-9.
Wrestling in his first collegiate dual, redshirt sophomore Kyle Pubols (0-1) dropped a 9-0 major decision to Cal Poly's Ryan Williams at 165 pounds.
From there, Stanford rallied to the finish. Junior Luke Feist (11-9) started a powerful three-bout rally that was capped by a decisive win by sophomore Jake Johnson (23-9). Feist earned a 9-3 decision over Mike Williams at 174 pounds, and sophomore Zack Giesen (22-6) followed with a 5-0 decision over Ernie Varela. Johnson emphatically sealed the Stanford victory, crushing Cal Poly's Arturo Basulto with an 18-2 technical fall.
In the final bout of the night, Jim Powers topped Stanford senior Phillip Doerner (16-17), 6-1.
Stanford returns to the mat on Sunday, when the team will face No. 24 Cal State Fullerton in Burnham Pavilion. The dual will be the last at home for the Cardinal this season. Seniors Tanner Gardner, Josh Zupancic, Phillip Doerner, Bobby Pease and Mark Shughart will all be recognized prior to the match.
Stanford 27, Cal Poly 16
125 - Austin Quarles (S) win by default
133 - No. 6 Tanner Gardner (S) maj. dec. Boris Novachkov (CP), 14-2
141 - No. 1 Chad Mendes (CP) pinned Max Rosefigura (S), 0:33
149 - Eric Maldonado (CP) dec. Lucas Espericueta (S), 5-2
157 - No. 10 Josh Zupancic (S) pinned Stephen Thalin (CP), 4:48
165 - Ryan Williams (CP) maj. dec. Kyle Pubols (S), 9-0
174 - Luke Feist (S) dec. Mike Williams (CP), 9-3
184 - Zack Giesen (S) dec. Ernie Varela (CP), 5-0
197 - Jake Johnson (S) tech. fall Arturo Basulto (CP), 18-2
Hwt - Jim Powers (CP) dec. Phil Doerner (S), 6-1