Senior Sendoff

STANFORD, Calif. – The Stanford wrestling team returns to The Farm to host Cal Poly for its final Pac-12 dual, Sunday, at noon in Maples Pavilion. Admission is free. 

Sunday also marks Stanford's final home dual of 2018-19. The Cardinal will recognize its seven seniors - Nainoa Calvo, Walker Dempsey, Austin Flores, Paul Fox, Mason Pengilly, Brian Rossi and Rico Stormer - at the 10 minute intermission of the Pac-12 Networks' telecast. 

"I am incredibly thankful for the sport and everything it has taught me."

Ahead of Senior Day on Sunday, Mason Pengilly shares his Stanford experience.#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/BlK2AiNuO6

— Stanford Wrestling (@CardWrestling) February 15, 2019

Stanford, which is 8-3, 2-1 Pac-12, is coming off a 19-16 Pac-12 win over Oregon State on Friday. It was the first time in program history the Cardinal had defeated the Beavers in Corvallis. It was also the first time in school history that Stanford has won two straight over Oregon State. Head coach Jason Borrelli, now in his 11th season at the helm of the program, has now tied Chris Horpel (1979-01) as Stanford's all-time winningest coaches with 105 dual victories apiece.

Stanford has three wrestlers ranked in the top 20 in the InterMat individual polls. Redshirt sophomore Nathan Traxler, a 2018 NCAA qualifier, is the highest-ranked Cardinal at No. 12 at 197 pounds. Redshirt sophomore Requir van der Merwe is No. 15 at 149 pounds, junior Gabriel Townsell is No. 20 at 125 pounds. 

Cal Poly is 0-7 in duals, including 0-2 in the Pac-12 with just the Cardinal and Arizona State left on its schedule. The Mustangs are coached by Jon Sioredas, who is in his third season with the program. Junior 197-pounder Tom Lane, a 2018 NCAA qualifier, leads Cal Poly with a 17-9 overall record.   

The Cardinal started 2019 with a program-best fourth-place finish at the Southern Scuffle in Chattanooga. The Cardinal finished with nine placewinners - also a school record. Traxler was named the Pac-12 Wrestler of the Week after going 4-1 in the tournament and finishing as the runner-up at 197 pounds.
 

A runner-up finish at the Southern Scuffle helping the team to its best tournament finish in Chattanooga has earned @nathantraxler4 @pac12 Wrestler of the Week honors!

??? » https://t.co/9436kuZ9mw#GoStanford #CardinalCaliber pic.twitter.com/CNf8jMz8hn

— Stanford Wrestling (@CardWrestling) January 9, 2019

Townsell has also been recognized by the Pac-12 this season, taking home wrestler of the week honors on Feb. 6. Townsell secured a Cardinal win (21-15) over No. 9 Arizona State with an 8-4 decision against Brandon Courtney. Townsell, who is ranked 20th nationally at 125 pounds, was trailing Courtney, 4-2, late in the third period. Courtney needed to score one more takedown to give the Sun Devils the dual victory (based on criteria). With just eight seconds left in the match, Townsell faked an inside trip and as Courtney stepped back, he used a lateral drop to score six as time expired.
 

Saturday's clutch performance earned @TheBlackCard125 @pac12 Wrestler of the Week ??.

??? » https://t.co/jz35l09rJn#GoStanford #CardinalCaliber pic.twitter.com/Wv50DwHz7q

— Stanford Wrestling (@CardWrestling) February 6, 2019

Stanford has signed eight promising high school seniors to join the team in the fall. The incoming class consists of Jaden Abas (San Diego, Calif.), Nick Addison (Fair Haven, N.J.), Luciano Arroyo (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.), Logan Ashton (Buford, Ga.), Jackson DiSario (McDonough, Ga.), Seamus O'Malley (Lakewood, Ohio), Fabian Santillan (Eaglewood, Colo.) and Dawson Sihavong (Clovis, Calif.).
 

Stanford vs. Cal Poly • Maples Pavilion