Cardinal Captures Opener

STANFORD, Calif. - The 12th-ranked Cardinal wrestling team opened the 2016-17 season with a 21-9 win over Cal Poly, Saturday, outdoors at Football Fan Fest, marking just the second outdoor dual held on the Stanford campus.

Stanford won seven of the 10 bouts to move to 1-0 on the season and in the conference. Cal Poly dropped to 2-1 overall and 0-1 in the Pac-12.

The dual began at 149 pounds, where redshirt junior Tommy Pawelski put the Cardinal on the board first with a 3-2 decision over Joshy Cortez. Pawelski tallied an escape in the second period and the go-ahead takedown in the third. 

The Mustangs got even at 157 pounds as Colt Shorts edged Paul Fox, who is up a weight class this season, 3-2. With no score after two periods, Shorts notched an escape to take the lead. Fox scored a takedown, but Shorts was able to escape tying it 2-2. The difference was 1:32 of riding time in favor of Shorts.

Returning NCAA qualifier Keaton Subjeck, who is wrestling down a weight at 165 pounds this season, posted an 8-2 decision over Blake Kastl to make it 6-3 Stanford. The redshirt junior recorded three takedowns, an escape and riding time in the victory.

Redshirt senior All-American Jim Wilson, who moved up a weight class to 174 this season, posted an 8-4 decision over Matt Wilhelm to give Stanford a 9-3 lead in the dual. The Lodi, California native now has 97 career wins moving him into a tie for 10th place with Doug Perkins and Steve Yarbrough in program history.

Redshirt freshman Austin Flores dropped a 7-2 decision to Cal Poly's Thomas Lane in his collegiate debut at 184 pounds, pulling the Mustangs to within 9-6. Redshirt senior Josh Marchok then posted a 3-1 decision over J.T. Goodwin in his first collegiate match at 197 pounds to make it 12-6 Stanford.

At heavyweight, 11th-ranked Nathan Butler pulled out a 4-2 sudden victory decision over Spencer Empey. Trailing 2-1 after two periods, Butler registered an escape in the third to force the extra time. He is now 57-18 in his career.

Returning All-American Connor Schram, ranked fourth in the nation at 125 pounds, registered a dominating 8-2 decision over Isaac Blackburn to push the Stanford score to 18-6. Leading 5-1 after two, Schram tacked on two more points in the third and added riding time to the score. He moves to 42-13 overall.

After senior Eric Cramer dropped a 3-1 decision to Yoshito Funakoshi at 133 pounds, sophomore Joey McKenna, ranked third nationally at 141 pounds, completed the scoring for the Stanford with a 6-3 win over Colton Schilling. McKenna, who became the first freshman All-American in program history last season, is now 28-3 in his career.

Up next, Stanford hits the road next week to take on No. 4 Penn State in the Nittany Lions' home opener on Sunday, Nov. 13 at 11 a.m. PT.
 

Stanford 21, Cal Poly 9