STANFORD, Calif. – On Senior Night, the Stanford wrestling team registered a 35-7 win over Simpson, Friday, at the Ford Center in Stanford, Calif. The Cardinal improves to 12-4 overall in duals this season, marking the third-most dual wins in program history.
Stanford won eight of the 10 bouts as the Red Hawks forfeited at three weights. Seniors Donovan Halpin (149 pounds) and Alan Yen (197 pounds) scored bonus points for the Cardinal.
The Cardinal started out with a 12-0 lead as Simpson forfeited at 285 pounds and 125 pounds. The Red Hawks’ A.J. Valles scored the first points for Simpson with a 2-1 decision over Stanford freshman Tommy Pawelski, who wrestled up a weight at 133 pounds.
Sophomore Peter Russo secured a 4-2 decision over Anthony Vega at 141 pounds to notch his fifth win of the year. He recorded a takedown in the first period and a reversal in the second in the win.
Halpin then added to the Cardinal lead with a 10-0 major decision over Marco Frantantoni at 149 pounds. He led 5-0 after the first period and rode Frantantoni for the entire second period. After scoring an escape to start the third, Halpin earned a stalling point, a takedown and finished with 2:55 of riding time. It marked the third major decision of the year for the senior.
Redshirt freshman Peter Galli improved to 8-3 on the year with a 10-5 decision against Richard Ortiz at 157 pounds. He led 8-0 in the third, but gave up five points late in the period to Ortiz.
Sophomore 165-pounder Jesus Loza wrestled in the first dual action of his career on Friday. The Newark, Calif., native dripped a 9-1 major decision to Chan Chao.
Up next, senior Kyle Meyer added to his success on the season with a 7-2 decision over Brady Beamon at 174 pounds. He scored all of his points in the first two periods of the bout before giving up a takedown in the third. The Monett, Mo., native moves to 18-10 overall on the year and 9-4 in duals.
Simpson also forfeited at 184 pounds, giving the win to Stanford redshirt freshman Zach Nevills. He then wrestled the Red Hawks’ Matthew Tsarnas in an exhibition bout, capturing an 11-0 major decision. He collected three takedowns, three near fall points, an escape and 2:15 of riding time.
Senior Alan Yen capped off the dual for the Cardinal with a 13-5 major decision over Marcuz Zachary at 197 pounds. Yen held an 8-1 lead in the third period and it seemed he would get the easy major. However, Zachary scored four points late in the period before Yen countered with another takedown and 3:14 of riding time to ensure the major decision. The Saratoga, Calif., native improves to 6-4 overall and 3-0 in duals this year.
Stanford honored all six of its seniors prior to the start of the dual, including Bret Baumbach, Ryan Mango and Dan Scherer.
Stanford will head up to San Francisco on Saturday, Jan. 25 for a dual at San Francisco State. The Cardinal will take on the Gators at 1 p.m. PT.
Stanford 35, Simpson 7
285: Josh Marchok (Stan) won by forfeit
125: Eric Cramer (Stan) won by forfeit
133: A.J. Valles (Simp) dec. Tommy Pawelski (Stan), 2-1
141: Peter Russo (Stan) dec. Anthony Vega (Simp), 4-2
149: Donovan Halpin (Stan) maj. dec. Marco Frantantoni (Simp), 10-0
157: Peter Galli (Stan) dec. Richard Ortiz (Simp), 10-5
165: Chan Chao (Simp) dec. Jesus Loza (Stan), 9-1
174: Kyle Meyer (Stan) dec. Brady Beamon (Simp), 7-2
184: Zach Nevills (Stan) won by forfeit
197: Alan Yen (Stan) maj. dec. Marcus Zachary (Simp), 13-5