Card Races Past Roadrunners

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – Posting bonus points in five matches, No. 11/17 Stanford opened the season with a 29-13 Pac-12 win at CSU Bakersfield on Sunday.

The Cardinal won seven of the 10 bouts in the dual and was 5-1 in extra matches wrestled on the afternoon. 

The dual began at 157 pounds, where fifth-year senior captain Requir van der Merwe set the tone with a 13-5 major decision over Brock Rogers. Moving up a weight class this season, van der Merwe looked good on offense, scoring three takedowns and had two near fall points in the win.

Redshirt sophomore Tyler Eischens, also wrestling up a weight class from last season, added to the Cardinal lead with a dominating 15-0 technical fall in 5:02 over Braden Smelser at 165 pounds. He opened with a takedown and had three turns in the first two periods for a total of 10 near fall points. 

Redshirt sophomore Shane Griffith remained undefeated as a Stanford wrestler, posting a 15-5 major decision over Albert Urias at 174 pounds. Griffith, who wrestled at 165 pounds during his rookie campaign, registered two takedowns, two four-point near falls in the win and accumulated 2:03 of riding time in the win.

After fifth-year senior Jared Hill came up short in a 4-0 decision to Dominic Ducharme at 184 pounds, true freshman Nick Stemmet made his collegiate debut at 197 pounds. Stemmet gave up the first takedown of the match, but quickly recovered and turned on his offense. The Yorkville, Illinois, native tallied five takedowns, a reversal and racked up 3:41 of riding time.

At a 125 pounds, Jackson DiSario fell behind early, but was able to tie things up with Eddie Flores to force overtime. Trailing 6-0 after the first, the sophomore took advantage of Flores choosing neutral to start the second, cutting into the lead with a takedown. After choosing down to begin the third, DiSario added an escape, another takedown and finished with riding time to take things to sudden victory. There, DiSario finished things off with his third takedown of the day to capture the win.

At 133 pounds, true freshman Jason Miranda made a statement with a fall in 6:01 in his collegiate debut over Chance Rich. Miranda led 8-0 after two periods, but Rich cut the score to 8-6 before Miranda scored another takedown and was able to put Rich on his back for the pin.

Redshirt freshman Jaden Abas, ranked No. 15 at 149 pounds, closed out the dual with a 13-6 decision over Kalani Tonge. Abas recorded a pair of reversals and eight near fall points in the win.

In order to provide additional opportunities for wrestlers to compete in a shortened season, extra matches were held prior to the start and at the conclusion of the dual. True freshman Peter Ming made his collegiate debut at heavyweight, posting a 9-2 decision over redshirt senior Jarrod Snyder of CSU Bakersfield. The Elk Grove native scored a takedown in the opening period and turned Snyder for four near fall points to lead 6-0 after the first. He tacked on another takedown in the second and an escape in the final period. 

Redshirt freshman Logan Ashton also made his collegiate debut in an extra match before the dual. The 133-pounder turned in a 5-4 decision over Alex Hernandez. Ashton scored a takedown in the opening period, but gave up a reversal to start the second. Tied 2-2, Ashton gave up two stalling points to Hernandez on bottom, but was able to secure a reversal of his own and finished with 1:25 in riding time to seal the victory.

Following the dual, four more extra matches were wrestled. True freshman Charlie Darracott shut out Josh McMillon at 157 pounds with an 8-0 major decision. The Flowery Branch, Georgia, native scored two takedowns and an escape, was awarded two points for stalling called on McMillon and rounded out the scoring with a riding time point.

Sophomore Dawson Sihavong followed up with a 15-0 technical fall in 4:44 against Jacob Peralta at 149 pounds. Leading 7-0 after one, Sihavong chose down to start the second. After a quick escape, he notched another takedown and was awarded a point for stalling on Peralta. A four-point turn ended it in the second period.

Eischens made his second appearance of the day and secured a first-period fall (2:00) over Hunter LaRue at 174 pounds. Ming gave up a 16-0 technical fall to CSUB heavyweight in the final extra match.

Up next, Stanford travels to San Luis Obispo for a pair of duals at Cal Poly and against California Baptist on Thursday, Jan. 28. The Cardinal will take on the Lancers at 10 a.m. and the Mustangs at 2 p.m. in Mott Athletics Center.
 

No. 11 Stanford 29, CSU Bakersfield 13

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