David Willauer – — Cal Poly Wrestling –Stanford, CA– Bernie Truax, RBV Alum, claimed his second Pac-12 Conference wrestling title while 157-pounder Luka Wick and heavyweight Trevor Tinker earned second-place finishes Sunday night at Maples Pavilion.
Truax earned a pair of one-point decisions to duplicate his Pac-12 championship performance of 2021, edging Kordell Norfleet 1-0 with a second-period escape in the semifinals and defeating Nick Stemmet of Stanford 7-6 in the 197-pound finals, scoring three takedowns and an escape.
Ranked No. 5 nationally, Truax is now 13-1 for the season. The two-time NCAA All-American placed fourth in both the 2021 and 2022 nationals.
Five other Mustangs placed third to help Coach Jon Sioredas’ Mustangs to a third-place team finish, the program’s highest finish in the conference finals since the 2009-10 season. Cal Poly won all five of its Pac-12 dual meets this season as well.
Antonio Lorenzo placed third at 125 pounds while Ethan Rotondo was third at 133. Both will join Truax at the NCAA Division I National Championships on March 16-18 in Tulsa, Okla. Several other Mustangs could be extended at-large invitations on March 8.
Wick (14-12) defeated Isaiah Crosby of Oregon State 6-0 in the 157-pound semifinals, notching a takedown in the second period after a scoreless first period, then adding an escape, takedown and riding time in the final period. Wick blanked Crosby 3-0 in a dual meet two weeks ago as well.
In the finals, Wick dropped a 13-4 major decision to Daniel Cardenas of Stanford. The Pac-12 was allocated just one automatic qualifying spot at 157 pounds.
At 285, also with just one qualifying spot, Tinker (15-8) surrendered a pair of takedowns before he was pinned by Cohlton Schultz of Arizona State in 2 minutes, 48 seconds, snapping a seven-match winning streak. Tinker won his semifinal-round match versus J.J. Dixon of Oregon State 5-1, recording a first-period takedown, second-period escape and a penalty point (stalling) and riding time in the final period.
In the consolation finals, Lorenzo earned his spot in the nationals with a 7-4 decision over Nico Provo of Stanford. Lorenzo (8-8) scored three takedowns and riding time for the win.
Rotondo (11-13) went 2-2 on the day, both wins against Stanford’s Jackson DiSario — 3-1 in the first round and 3-2 in the finals. After a scoreless period in the consolation final, Lorenzo rode DiSario out in the second period and notched a takedown and riding time for his third victory over DiSario this season.
Both the 125 and 133 weight classes were allocated three automatic qualifying spots for the nationals.
Also placing third for Cal Poly were 141-pounder Lawrence Saenz, 149-pounder Dom Demas and 165-pounder Legend Lamer.
Saenz (11-8) beat Jason Miranda of Stanford for the second time this year, a 3-2 decision Sunday on a second-period reversal and riding time. Demas (11-7) won a 7-3 decision over Joseph Bianchi of Little Rock.
Legend Lamer earned two falls on the day before defeating Tyler Brennan of Little Rock in a 9-0 major decision. Lamer raised his record for the season to 12-11.
Brawley Lamer (174) and Jarad Priest (184) both finished fourth. Lamer lost his last match in a 6-4 overtime decision against Cael Valencia of Arizona State while Priest was edged by Brook Byers of Stanford 6-5.
Oregon State ended Arizona State’s three-year championship run with 123.5 points, followed by Stanford with 113.5 points and Cal Poly with 112. The Sun Devils were fourth with 110.5 points.
Results for Cal Poly wrestlers:
125 — Antonio Lorenzo maj. dec. Jeremiah Reno (LR) 10-2, was dec. by Brandon Courtney (ASU) 4-2, dec. Eddie Flores (CSUB) 8-4, dec. Nico Provo (S) 7-4 (third place)
133 — Ethan Rotondo dec. Jackson DiSario (S) 3-1, was dec. by Michael McGee (ASU) 9-6, dec. Joshua Sarpy (LR) 4-2, dec. Jackson DiSario (S) 3-2 (third place)
141 — Lawrence Saenz bye, was dec. by Emilio Ysaguirre Jr. (ASU) 8-6 SV-1, dec. Angelo Martinoni (CSUB) 6-2, dec. Jason Miranda (S) 3-2 (third place)
149 — Dom Demas dec. Riley Gurr (OSU) 5-3, was dec. by Jaden Abas (S) 5-3, dec. Josh Brown (CSUB) 10-4, dec. Joseph Bianchi (LR) 7-3 (third place)
157 — Luka Wick bye, dec. Isaiah Crosby (OSU) 6-0, was maj. dec. by Daniel Cardenas (S) 13-4 (second place)
165 — Legend Lamer (CP) pinned Braden Smelser (CSUB) 1:41, was dec. by Shane Griffith (S) 3-0, pinned Tony Negron (ASU) 1:56, maj. dec. Tyler Brennan (LR) 9-0 (third place)
174 — Brawley Lamer was dec. by Albert Urias (CSUB) 5-3, dec. Triston Wills (LR) 5-4, was dec. by Cael Valencia (ASU) 6-4 SV-1 (fourth place)
184 — Jarad Priest was dec. by Jacob Hansen (CSUB) 10-8, was dec. by Anthony Montalvo (ASU) 4-1, dec. Mason Diel (LR) 8-6, was dec. by Brook Byers (S) 6-5 (third place)
197 — Bernie Truax bye, def. Kordell Norfleet (ASU) 1-0, dec. Nick Stemmet (S) 7-6 (first place)
285 — Trevor Tinker bye, dec. J.J. Dixon (OSU) 5-1, was pinned by Cohlton Schultz (ASU) 2:48 (second place)
