Battle on the Midway Won

SAN DIEGO - A fall by Gabriel Townsell and an upset by Requir van der Merwe sparked the Stanford wrestling team in a 22-15 win over Fresno State, Tuesday, on the flight deck of the USS Midway.

Townsell needed just 55 seconds to pin Robert Garcia IV at 125 pounds and give Stanford a 12-7 lead over the Bulldogs. Fresno State then took a 15-12 lead with three matches remaining. 

That's when van der Merwe went to work at 149 pounds. The redshirt sophomore fell behind 4-2 after two periods to 20th-ranked Khristian Olivas. He went down to start the third and scored a reversal to even the score. He was then able to register four near fall points before Olivas notched a reversal of his own. But van der Merwe had locked up riding time and earned the 9-6 decision to square up the team score.

Redshirt senior Paul Fox put the Cardinal up 18-15 as he edged out Isaiah Hokit, 3-2. He scored a takedown in the opening period and an escape in the third. Sophomore Dominick Mandarino sealed the win with a dominating 12-1 major decision over Jacob Wright at 165 pounds. The sophomore tallied a quick takedown and then four near fall points before riding out Wright with almost 2:30 of advantage time. He added another takedown in the second and an escape and takedown in the third to hold off Fresno State. 

The dual began at 174 pounds where graduate student Rico Stormer posted a 9-5 decision over Fresno State's Dominic Kincaid. Stormer scored first with a reversal to start the second period. Kincaid answered with a reversal of his own to begin the final frame. Stormer added two takedowns and two escapes in the period and tacked on his final point with riding time. Stormer is now 8-3 on the season and 2-0 in duals.

Redshirt sophomore Nathan Traxler, who is ranked eighth nationally at 197 pounds, shut out Danny Salas with a 7-0 decision. He registered a takedown and four near fall points in the opening period and an escape in the second. Without riding time secured, Salas chose neutral to start the third and avoided the major as no points were scored down the stretch.

Up next, Stanford will compete in the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invite Nov. 30 and Dec. 1.
 

Stanford 22, Fresno State 15