Stanford's NCAA qualifier Tyler Eischens (photo courtesy of Tony Rotundo; WrestlersAreWarriors.com)The dual-season is in full swing as the season inches closer to its apex, only a handful of weeks away. Pac-12 conference duals have begun, with #7 Arizona State taking an early lead in the dual-standings, followed by #21 Oregon State and Stanford. This weekend, all but CSU Bakersfield took the mat, with Oregon State traveling to face Arizona State on Sunday, while Cal Poly joined host Little Rock in a tri-dual with non-conference Northern Illinois. Stanford wrestled against in-state NAIA destination, Menlo College.
Pac-12 Dual Standings (as of 2/1/2022)
1st. #7 Arizona State (3-0)
2nd. Stanford (1-0)
T3rd. #24 Oregon State (1-1)
T3rd. Cal Poly (1-1)
5th. CSU Bakersfield (0-1)
6th. Little Rock (0-3)
Stanford tops in-state #9-NAIA Menlo (41-6)
Stanford won eight of ten bouts against a local, NAIA opponent in Menlo College at Fremont High School in the Central Coast Section, on Saturday the 29th. The Cardinal fielded its full-strength lineup, with #12 Jaden Abas (149) returning to the fray and earning an injury default in an under-a-minute match with #5 (NAIA Coaches' Poll) Elijah Palacio. All four other nationally ranked wrestlers for the Cardinal came away with bonus points, with falls from #3 Shane Griffith (165) – over #7 (NAIA) Rysan Leong – and #30 Tyler Eischens (174), a technical fall from #6 Real Woods (141), and a 13-4 major decision at 133lbs from #28 Jackson DiSario over #7 (NAIA) Jacob Mendoza. Nick Stemmet, currently unranked but who has spent time in the rankings, earned an early stoppage via an 18-3 technical fall at 197lbs, while heavyweight Peter Ming earned a fall.
Cal Poly Sweeps Tri-Dual, Overwhelms Northern Illinois (28-6) and Little Rock (40-0)
The Mustangs earned two definitive dual victories on Sunday the 30th, winning fifteen of seventeen total bouts alongside three forfeit victories. In the first dual of the day, Cal Poly took seven of nine contested bouts, with #9 Adam Kemp (174lbs) sneaking past #23 Mason Kauffman via 2-1 TB-1 decision, two escapes to one. At 184lbs, #5 Bernie Truax controlled his ranked-bout against #19 Brit Wilson, scoring two takedowns en route to a 6-2 decision. Of note, at 165lbs, #16 Izzak Olejnik did not take the mat against Cal Poly's #1-ranked Evan Wick.
With momentum built, the Mustangs rolled right into their dual with conference-foe Little Rock. The host Trojans forfeited at 157lbs and heavyweight, and the Mustangs took the twelve-point spot in stride in an eventual shutout. Abe Hinrichsen (133) separated himself against a capable Jaylen Carson of Little Rock, 8-1. Evan Wick (165) logged a 6-1 decision over Tyler Brennan, before Adam Kemp earned a 4-1 victory over Little Rock standout Triston Wills at 174lbs. Bonus points closed the dual for Cal Poly, when Bernie Truax (184) and Trent Tracy (197) earned early stoppages via technical fall.
Little Rock Endures Losses to Cal Poly and Northern Illinois (6-35), Wills Avenges Loss for Ranked Win
Despite their initial loss to Cal Poly, the Trojans regrouped to take the mat against the Northern Illinois Huskies, taking two of eight contested bouts. Again forfeiting at 157lbs and heavyweight, the Trojans earned victories at 133lbs, a 6-3 decision from Jaylen Carson, and at 174lbs, a 4-1 ranked-win for Triston Wills over #23 Mason Kauffman – a rematch from earlier in the season. Tyler Brennan faced his second ranked-opponent on the day, dropping a 9-0 major decision to #16 Olejnik at 165lbs.
#7 Arizona State Stays Perfect In-Conference, Escapes Talented #21 Oregon State (20-17)
Bringing a four-dual win-streak into Tempe, the #21 Beavers traveled to square off against the #7 Sun Devils in a battle of undefeated Pac-12 dual-teams (1-0, 2-0, respectively). In a dual featuring four ranked matchups and several ranked wrestlers, the Sun Devils took the dual meet six matches to four. Of note regarding the Arizona State lineup, #19 Jesse Vasquez (141) is out for the season due to injury, while #2-ranked heavyweight Cohlton Schultz was abroad with the US Greco Team at the Grand Prix Zagreb Open. Fortunately, #8 Anthony Valencia (165) came back from earning a spot on the Mexican World Team in time to take the mat.
Leading off at 125lbs, #4 Brandon Courtney repelled a determined, #17-ranked Brandon Kaylor of Oregon State. Courtney prevailed 6-5, ultimately by out-escaping Kaylor, two escapes to one. Both Courtney and Kaylor earned two takedowns apiece. #4 Michael McGee took Courtney's lead and ran, overwhelming #13 Devan Turner to the tune of four takedowns en route to a 12-1 major decision at 133lbs.
#14 Grant Willits responded for the visitors, earning a major decision over Arizona State's Ethan Pickren, 9-1, at 141lbs. The Sun Devils responded in kind, winning the next three matches by decision. #9 Kyle Parco (149) welcomed since-graduated #28 Cory Crooks back to Tempe, in a close bout. Scoreless through two periods, Parco topped Crooks 4-1 on the strength of a third-period escape, takedown, and riding time.
At 157lbs, #3 Jacori Teemer was pushed to the edge by #16 Hunter Willits. After trading escapes in regulation, the two went to tiebreakers, with Teemer prevailing, 2-1 TB-1. #8 Valencia (165) earned four takedowns in a 10-3 decision over Mason Reiniche, pushing the dual score to 16-4 Arizona State. The Beavers would then take 174lbs and 184lbs, when #28 Mateo Olmos and #13 Trey Munoz combined for a major decision and technical fall. Olmos wrestled to the tune of six takedowns, defeating Ryan Rochford 13-3. Munoz doubled up the takedown total, scoring twelve on Josh Nummer in a cut-and-release affair, with Nummer being spared the remainder of the match, 26-10. Dual-score tightened to 16-13 ASU, #11 Kordell Norfleet took the dual with a match remaining, earning a 14-2 major decision at 197lbs over Ryan Reyes. In the heavyweight bout to conclude the night, #9 Gary Traub wrestled for pride, defeated Arizona State's Chad Porter via 14-5 major decision to end the dual on a high note for the departing Beavers.
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