Nov. 8, 2008
Stanford, Calif. - Led by sophomore Porfirio Madrigal, Stanford wrestlers won seven bouts today but lost both of their opening duals at the Icardo Center in Bakersfield, Calif. The Cardinal (0-2, 0-1 Pac-10) dropped its season opener to No. 21 Navy, 27-11, before falling to conference opponent Cal State Bakersfield, 28-13.
Madrigal, who is off to a 4-1 start this year, won both of his bouts at 133 pounds by major decision. Junior Jake Johnson, sophomore Max Rosefigura and sophomore Lucas Espericueta also picked up wins for the Cardinal, while freshmen Nick Amuchastegui and Victor Haug both earned the first dual wins of their young careers.
The day began with the dual against the No. 21 Midshipmen and, wrestling without a heavyweight, Stanford won three of the nine bouts at contested weight classes.
Stanford dropped a 12-3 major decision at 125 pounds to open the scoring, but Madrigal evened things with an 11-3 victory over Navy freshman Aaron Kalil in the next bout. The Cardinal sophomore scored a key takedown with 33 seconds remaining, then held on for riding time to ensure the bonus-point win.
After winning a tight 3-0 decision at 141 pounds, the Midshipmen broke out to an 11-4 lead with a major decision at 149 pounds. At 157 pounds, Navy's Joel Ahern used riding time to edge 20th-ranked Espericueta, 3-2.
Amuchastegui got the Cardinal back on track with his first career dual win at 165 pounds, putting Navy veteran Jason Coyne on his back in the third period to claim an 11-1 major decision.
With the deficit whittled to 14-8, Stanford lost a major decision at 174 pounds to give Navy a 10-point cushion. In the 184-pound match, Stanford gave up a takedown with 26 seconds remaining to drop a 6-5 decision and increase Navy's lead to 21-8, thus sealing the Midshipmen's victory.
Johnson kept battling for the Cardinal, however, and rallied with five points in the third period to earn an 8-3 decision over Philip Neese at 197 pounds.
Stanford forfeited the bout at heavyweight to give Navy the 27-11 victory.
Stanford immediately switched gears to battle Cal State Bakersfield in the first conference dual of the year for both teams. The Cardinal split eight bouts evenly with the host Roadrunners, but was forced to forfeit two weight classes.
The Cardinal started by dropping another major decision at 125 pounds, but Madrigal once again knotted the score with his second major decision of the day. The Healdsburg, Calif. native came from behind in the second period to pick up a 17-9 win over Bakersfield's Justin Durham.
Stanford lost another close match, 11-8, at 141 pounds to give the Roadrunners the lead back, but at 149 pounds, Rosefigura scored a takedown with 16 seconds remaining to pick up a 6-5 decision and tie the team score back up at 7-7.
At 157 pounds, another exciting battle went in the Cardinal's favor, with Espericueta scoring a takedown with just one second remaining to top Trevor Hall, 6-5. With the win, Stanford took its first lead of the day, 10-7.
The Cardinal lost by fall at 165 pounds, however, then forfeited the 174-pound bout to fall behind 19-7.
Wrestling up at 184 pounds, Haug, a true freshman, followed with his first career dual win. The Emigrant, Mont. native came from behind with five points in the third period to win an 11-8 decision.
Stanford lost a 12-5 decision at 197 pounds, ensuring the Bakersfield victory. The Cardinal then forfeited the match at heavyweight to reach the final score of 28-13.
The Cardinal returns to the mat next Friday night, taking on the Wyoming Cowboys in Laramie, Wyo. at 5 p.m. (MT). The team will wrestle in the Cowboy Open in Laramie the following day.
Stanford 11, Navy 27
125 - Prescott Garner (N) maj. dec. Matt Sencenbaugh (S), 12-3
133 - Porfirio Madrigal (S) maj. dec. Aaron Kalil (N), 11-3
141 - John Majka (N) dec. Cameron Teitelman (S), 3-0
149 - No. 18 Bryce Saddoris (N) maj. dec. Max Rosefigura (S), 14-4
157 - Joel Ahern (N) dec. No. 20 Lucas Espericueta (S), 3-2
165 - Nick Amuchastegui (S) maj. dec. Jason Coyne (N), 11-1
174 - Luke Rebertus (N) maj. dec. Victor Haug (S), 11-1
184 - Casey Caldwell (N) dec. Kyle Barrett (S), 6-5
197 - Jake Johnson (S) dec. Philip Neese (N), 8-3
HWT - No. 5 Scott Steele (N) by forfeit
Stanford 13, Cal State Bakersfield 28
125 - No. 17 Brandon Zoetewey (B) maj. dec. Matt Sencenbaugh (S), 13-0
133 - Porfirio Madrigal (S) maj. dec. Justin Durham (B), 17-9
141 - Elijah Nacita (B) dec. Cameron Teitelman (S), 11-8
149 - Max Rosefigura (S) dec. Sam Barnhart (B), 6-5
157 - No. 20 Lucas Espericueta (S) dec. Trevor Hall (B), 6-5
165 - Joey Granata (B) pinned Nick Amuchastegui (S), 2:12
174 - Jason Points (B) by forfeit
184 - Victor Haug (S) dec. Seamus Dean (B), 11-8
197 - Riley Orozco (B) dec. Jake Johnson (S), 12-5
HWT - No. 20 Mitch Monteiro (B) by forfeit