STANFORD, Calif. – Behind redshirt senior Ryan Mango, the Stanford wrestling team defeated No. 20 Boise State, 19-12, Thursday, at Maples Pavilion in Stanford, Calif. The Cardinal improves to 9-3 on the season in dual competition and 2-0 in the Pac-12. Boise State falls to 1-2 overall and 1-1 in the Pac-12.
Stanford jumped out to an early 9-0 lead in the dual, winning six bouts overall. The Cardinal never trailed as all four of its ranked wrestlers captured wins, including a major decision by Mango, in the program’s first home televised dual.
Senior 157-pounder Bret Baumbach started things off with a 4-0 decision over Holden Packard. He registered a takedown in the first period and an escape in the second while securing 2:06 of riding time. He improves to 12-6 overall and 6-3 in duals this season.
Redshirt freshman Jim Wilson, ranked 20th nationally, continued to give the Cardinal the momentum with a 9-3 decision over the Broncos’ Steven Hernandez at 165 pounds. Wrestling with a face mask in the first period, Wilson fell behind 2-0. He ditched the mask in the second period and went to work, recording a takedown and three near fall points to go up 5-3. He added an escape, another takedown and 2:47 of riding time in his team-best 23rd win of the season. The Lodi, Calif., native improves to 11-1 in duals this season.
Senior Kyle Meyer held off Austin Dewey, 7-5, at 174 pounds to give the Cardinal a 9-0 advantage. Meyer held a 5-0 lead in the third period, but Dewey notched two takedowns and an escape to cut the lead to 6-5 by the end of the period. However, Meyer also had 1:08 riding time to his advantage.
Boise State finally got on the board at 184 pounds as seventh-ranked Jake Swartz posted a 6-0 decision over redshirt freshman Zach Nevills.
Stanford senior Dan Scherer added three points to the Cardinal’s score with a 6-2 decision over Cody Dixon at 197 pounds. He took a 5-0 lead in the third period, but gave up a reversal to Dixon. He tacked on 1:05 in riding time for his 12th win of the season. He moves to 7-1 in duals.
Sophomore Evan Silver, ranked 14th nationally, captured his 15th win of the year, edging Rami Haddadin 5-4 at 125 pounds. He took a 3-0 lead into the third period, where Haddadin chose to start in the down position. After scoring an escape, Haddadin tied the match with a takedown, but Silver scored on a reversal to regain the lead.
Mango capped off the scoring for Stanford with a 13-4 major decision over Ben DeMeulle at 133 pounds. Ranked 12th overall, the redshirt senior moved into a tie with former Cardinal head coach Chris Horpel (’75) for eighth place on Stanford’s career wins list with 98. Mango moves to 17-3 on the year and 11-1 in duals.
Stanford plays host to Oregon State on Saturday, Jan. 11 in Maples Pavilion. The dual will be televised live on the Pac-12 Networks at 3 p.m. PT.
Stanford 19, Boise State 12
157: Bret Baumbach (S) dec. Holden Packard (B), 4-0
165: #20 Jim Wilson (S) dec. Steven Hernandez (B), 9-3
174: Kyle Meyer (S) dec. Austin Dewey (B), 7-5
184: #7 Jake Swartz (B) dec. Zach Nevills (S), 6-0
197: #20 Dan Scherer (S) dec. Cody Dixon (B), 6-2
285: #5 J.T. Felix (B) dec. Josh Marchok (S), 7-5
125: #14 Evan Silver (S) dec. Rami Haddadin (B), 5-4
133: #12 Ryan Mango (S) maj. dec. Ben DeMeulle (B), 13-4
141: Travis Himmelman (B) dec. Peter Russo (S), 4-2
149: Chris Castillo (B) dec. Donovan Halpin (S), 8-5