Jan. 30, 2009
Stanford, Calif. - The Stanford wrestling team (6-12-1, 1-4 Pac-10) picked up decisive victories over Portland State and Princeton tonight at Burnham Pavilion. In back-to-back duals, the Cardinal earned its first Pac-10 win and posted its second-largest margin of victory of the year. Stanford first topped Portland State, 29-12, then bested Princeton, 31-13.
Senior Luke Feist (17-10) highlighted the night by adding two pins to his season total. The Pac-10's current leader in the category (11), Feist stuck both of his opponents in the second period and now boasts the ninth-best single-season pin total in school history. He has 25 pins for his career, and tonight passed Zach Zimmerer '00 for fifth place on the program's all-time chart.
Stanford's three current win leaders - redshirt freshman Nick Amuchastegui (24-4), redshirt sophomore Lucas Espericueta (24-11) and junior Jake Johnson (26-13) - each completed perfect three-win outings after defeating their Oregon State opponents earlier in the day. Freshman Matt Sencenbaugh (8-22), sophomore Porfirio Madrigal (14-8) and sophomore Cameron Teitelman (12-14) each recovered from afternoon losses to win both of their evening matches.
Stanford began the night against Pac-10 foe Portland State, and Sencenbaugh quickly set the tone with his first dual-meet bonus-point win. The Auburn, Wash. native crushed Kevin Martinez with a 20-4 technical fall, turning his opponent four separate times before finally ending the match in the second period.
Madrigal held the momentum, battling out a 7-4 win over Thomas Cottrell. Teitelman followed suit with a 4-0 shutout of Camrun Arkills.
At 149 pounds, junior Tyler Parker (1-2) was defeated by Henry Kofa, 6-2, allowing the Vikings to snag their first points.
Espericueta turned the tables at 157 pounds, however, topping Alex Bubb by the same 6-2 score. Amuchastegui followed with his sixth pin, a first-period stick of Bryan Cantrell that gave Stanford a 20-3 lead.
In the next bout, freshman Victor Haug (8-18) suffered a close loss to Portland State junior Ryan Sonderegger, 5-3.
At 184 pounds, Johnson exploded out to a 9-4 win over Brady Garner after trailing at the start of the final period. Johnson's win sealed Stanford's fifth victory of the year, and first over a Pac-10 opponent.
Feist pasted Keena Washington to the mat 29 seconds into the second period, after turning him three times in the first. Feist's six team points rounded out the Stanford scoring, and the Cardinal forfeited the heavyweight match to finish in front, 29-12.
Stanford then looked to carry its energy into a dual with Princeton, hoping to finish the day with another victory.
Sencenbaugh posted another strong showing, nabbing a 12-1 major decision over Robert Benitez for his second bonus-point win in as many matches. The rookie put Benitez on his back twice, and had an 11-0 lead by the end of the second period.
Princeton forfeited the 133-pound and 141-pound bouts, giving Stanford a 16-0 opening cushion.
At 149 pounds, sophomore Max Rosefigura (14-15) got on the mat for the first time of the day, but lost a 14-4 major decision to Tiger freshman Daniel Kolodzik.
Espericueta and Amuchastegui held on for tight wins at 157 pounds and 165 pounds, respectively, putting Stanford in firm command of the dual. Espericueta edged Marty Everin, 4-3, to move within one win of the 50-victory milestone, while Amuchastegui fended off feisty freshman Andy Lowy, 9-7, to tie Zimmerer (1996-97) as the fifth-winningest rookie in school history. Amuchastegui continues his career-best 11-match win streak, having yet to lose a match in 2009.
At 174 pounds, Victor Haug lost his second 5-3 decision of the day, dropping a bout to Princeton's Mike Alvarez. With three bouts to go, Stanford held a 22-7 advantage.
Johnson once again clinched Stanford's win, taking care of Princeton's Kurt Brendel, 4-1. The win was the 60th of the junior's career.
Feist followed by pinning Zach Morse in 4:28 to extend Stanford's lead to 31-7. The Cardinal forfeited at heavyweight to round out the 31-13 win.
A number of Stanford wrestlers will compete at the California Collegiates in San Francisco tomorrow. The team's next dual is set for next Friday, Feb. 6, against Arizona State at 7 p.m. in Burnham Pavilion.
Stanford 29, Portland State 12
125 - Matt Sencenbaugh (S) tech. fall Kevin Martinez (PS), 20-4
133 - Porfirio Madrigal (S) dec. Thomas Cottrell (PS), 7-4
141 - Cameron Teitelman (S) dec. Camrun Arkills (PS), 4-0
149 - Henry Kofa (PS) dec. Tyler Parker (S), 6-2
157 - Lucas Espericueta (S) dec. Alex Bubb (PS), 6-2
165 - Nick Amuchastegui (S) pinned Bryan Cantrell (PS), 1:49
174 - Ryan Sonderegger (PS) dec. Victor Haug (S), 5-3
184 - Jake Johnson (S) dec. Brady Garner (PS), 9-4
197 - Luke Feist (S) pinned Keena Washington (PS), 3:29
HWT - Nick Gale (PS) by forfeit
Stanford 31, Princeton 13
125 - Matt Sencenbaugh (S) maj. dec. Robert Benitez (P), 12-1
133 - Porfirio Madrigal (S) by forfeit
141 - Cameron Teitelman (S) by forfeit
149 - Daniel Kolodzik (P) maj. dec. Max Rosefigura (S), 14-4
157 - Lucas Espericueta (S) dec. Marty Everin (P), 4-3
165 - Nick Amuchastegui (S) dec. Andy Lowy (P), 9-7
174 - Mike Alvarez (P) dec. Victor Haug (S), 5-3
184 - Jake Johnson (S) dec. Kurt Brendel (P), 4-1
197 - Luke Feist (S) pinned Zach Morse (P), 4:28
HWT - Stephen Turner (P) by forfeit