May 2, 2012
STANFORD, Calif. - The Stanford wrestling team celebrated another memorable season with its annual awards banquet on Saturday night. The Cardinal recognized numerous wrestlers with team awards and bid farewell to senior Nick Amuchastegui, as well as, redshirt juniors Kyler Hasson, Mike Kent, Spence Patrick and Matt Sencenbaugh.
Seven wrestlers were recognized with the Tod Surmon Award for their outstanding performance at a home dual this season. The winners were as follows: Amuchastegui (Utah Valley), Bret Baumbach (American), Jordan Bryan (Oregon State), Ryan Mango (Missouri), Patrick (Southern Oregon & Oregon State), Garrett Schaner (CSU Baskerfield) and Dan Scherer (Menlo College & Boise State).
Amuchastegui and Mango were the co-winners of the Vern Jones Outstanding Wrestler Award. Amuchastegui became the first Cardinal wrestler to reach the NCAA finals two times and just the second to become a three-time All-American. He finished the season with a 24-1 overall record and a runner-up finish at 174 pounds at the NCAA Championships. Mango won his first Pac-12 Conference title at 125 pounds and placed fifth at NCAAs to capture his second All-America accolades. He led the team this season with 30 wins and six falls.
Amuchastegui and freshman Michael Sojka were the co-winners of the Stanford Wrestling BAGUBA Award, given to the student-athlete who best represents what the coaches look for in a Stanford wrestler. Amuchastegui also received the team's Outstanding Scholar-Athlete Award. The Talent, Ore., native is a two-time winner of the NCAA Elite 88 Award and the reigning Capital One/CoSIDA Men's At-Large Academic All-America of the Year.
Patrick was deemed the team's Most Improved wrestler this season. Competing at 184 pounds, Patrick posted 17-11 overall record and a 12-4 mark in duals. He was 19-20 in his previous two seasons on The Farm. In 2011-12 he was third on the squad with 41 dual points and was the runner-up at the Pac-12 Championships in his hometown of Boise, Idaho.
The Coaches Award, given to the individual who made the most significant contributions to the well-being of the team in terms of attitude, improvement, or special leadership, was given to both Bryan and Sencenbaugh.
Stanford wrestlers also proved to excel in the classroom this year. The Cardinal led the conference with eight wrestlers earning Pac-12 All-Academic honors. Amuchastegui was selected to the First Team for the fourth straight season. He was joined by Hasson and sophomore Yen. Earning Second Team honors were Timmy Boone, Baumbach, Donovan Halpin, Schaner and Scherer.
Under the direction of fourth-year head coach Jason Borrelli, Stanford (8-8, 3-2 Pac-12) was 16th at the NCAA Championships, the third-highest finish in school history. The Cardinal placed third at the Pac-12 Championships, crowning two conference champions in the same season for the first time since 2004.