Season Opens at Virginia Tech

STANFORD, Calif. – The Stanford wrestling team opens the 2017-18 season on the road Saturday at No. 8 Virginia Tech. The dual is slated for 10:30 a.m. PT on the ACC Network EXTRA via WatchESPN.

Stanford returns five NCAA qualifiers and two All-Americans to its roster for head coach Jason Borrelli, who is now in his 10th season at the helm of the program.

"I am very excited about the team because I think we have a good balance of youth and upper class leadership," said Borrelli. "I have as high of expectations this year as I have ever had since I've been here. I think our young guys are very good and have a lot of talent. They have been working really hard and it's exciting to see where we will be come March."

Stanford will also wrestle in the Hokie Open on Sunday in Roanoke, Virginia.

"I really hope that we go in and compete hard," said Borrelli. "The first focus is the dual and that is where you get to see your team be a team. The guys will be a little more focused on themselves for the tournament and it is a little more individualized."

All three of Stanford's fifth-year seniors – Nathan Butler, Connor Schram and Keaton Subjeck – are multiple-time NCAA qualifiers and bring veteran leadership to the team.

"We have three fifth-years who have really led the program on the wrestling mat. I know what I am getting with the seniors this year," said Borrelli.

Schram, who gone back down to 125 pounds, was an All-American at the weight in 2016. Butler (285 pounds) was a Pac-12 Champion as a redshirt freshman in 2015 and is a three-time NCAA qualifier. Subjeck, a two-time NCAA qualifier, will move back up to 174 pounds this season.

Redshirt junior Paul Fox will look to build on the run he made at the NCAA Championships last season. From unseeded to earning All-America honors with a seventh-place finish at 157 pounds, Fox became the 20th wrestler in program history to become an All-American. Stanford wrestlers have combined to earn 27 All-America honors overall.

"The great thing about Paul is that he never focuses on the outcome," explained Borrelli. "He is a very process-oriented guy, so he comes to the room every day with the idea that if he puts in the work he will get a little better each day and the end results will come."

Also returning for the Cardinal is sophomore Gabriel Townsell, who qualified for the NCAA Championships as a true freshman at 125 pounds. Townsell will move up to 133 this season and battle redshirt junior Mason Pengilly for a spot in the lineup.
"I think it is a really healthy situation for us," explained Borrelli. "Mason is a guy who has done everything right. He has been around and put a lot of time in, but has just battled some injuries. Our hope is that we can keep him healthy physically. There is a ton of potential there.

"We certainly know what we are getting with Gabe. He is ready and wants to keep going with the momentum he built last year and thinks 133 is a better weight for him. It is exciting to see where we will be in February once it is settled."

Also back for the Cardinal is redshirt junior Isaiah Locsin, who returns to the team after battling injuries. In the national rankings as a true freshman, he competed a high level for Stanford in 2014-15. With Joey McKenna transferring to Ohio State, it opens up a spot at 141 pounds that Locsin appears to the frontrunner for. Sophomore Brandon Kier, who was 8-10 overall and 1-2 in duals as a true freshman, will challenge Locsin at 141 pounds.

"I would say Isaiah is the frontrunner for us at 141 because of where he was before his injuries and what I think he is capable of," stated Borrelli. 'With that said, Brandon Kier has made really big strides as well. He had a great summer, was around and trained every day and has gotten a lot better. When we get out there and compete it will be interesting to see what happens."

With Subjeck moving back up to 174 pounds this season, the Caridnal will have a three-way battle for the spot at 165. Redshirt freshmen Brandon Dallavia and Jared Hill will be challenged by true freshman Dominick Mandarino.

"I'm excited to see what will happen at 165. We have a good group there that will push one another. That will be a healthy and competitive weight class for us, so it will be interesting to see the outcome," said Borrelli.

Borrelli is excited for the potential of redshirt sophomore Austin Flores this season. The Pac-12 race is wide open at 184 pounds and the Clovis, California native will be in the mix.

"Austin goes about his business every day. He works hard and does everything right. He was riddled with injuries a bit last year, but he'll have a chance to get to nationals and accomplish his goals," said Borrelli.

Stanford also has a wealth of talent in its underclassmen, many who will appear in the lineup this season.

"I'm really excited about guys like Nathan Traxler, Brandon Dallavia and Requir van der Merwe," said Borrelli. "We have a good mix of young guys and it adds balance to the team which bodes well for us. The younger guys are going to get better and better for us."

After its first roadtrip, the Cardinal will return to The Farm next week to host Cal Baptist and Pac-12 foe CSU Bakersfield on Saturday, Nov. 11.
 

No. 21 Stanford at No. 8 Virginia Tech