Cal Poly wrestling lost 9-38 against No. 8 Arizona State, finishing the dual-meet portion of the season winless.
The Sun Devils started with two pins in two matches to go up 12-0 early. The Mustangs could not come back and finished the meet with only two wins by sophomore Tom Lane and senior Colton Schilling.
In response to Arizona State’s quick start, Lane was able to win a comeback overtime decision against Cade Belshay to cut into the Sun Devils’ significant lead. The 197-pounder improved his dual record to 4-2.
Head coach Jon Sioredas said that despite Lane’s initial sloppy start to the match, Lane has started to separate himself from the pack as one of Cal Poly’s better competitors.
Schilling, one of four seniors honored before the meet, recorded his team-leading ninth fall, or pin, of the season in three minutes and 37 seconds. The 141-pounder is undefeated in six dual matches this season.
Sioredas said Schilling has always been a “pinner,” but the senior has matured to be more strategic.
“I think he could be a threat [in the NCAA Championships],” Sioredas said. “He’s got some big moves, he’s in shape and he’s strong.”
Junior Joshy Cortez almost notched his fifth consecutive win, but the Sun Devils’ Jason Tsirtsis edged away with a 2-1 decision.
“I thought we fought well all-in-all, but those guys are good,” Sioredas said.
Arizona State recorded another three major decisions, a fall and a technical fall to give them their large margin of victory.
“That’s just where we’re at right now,” Sioredas said. “We’re building and we’re moving in the right direction.”
Sioredas has two weeks to prepare his team for the Pac-12 championships Feb. 25 in Corvallis, Oregon. A Cal Poly wrestler has not won a Pac-12 championship since 2013, when Devon Lotito won the 133-pound conference title.
Ten Mustangs will compete individually in their respective weight classes to qualify for the NCAA championships. Wrestlers can secure a bid with a high placement in the conference tournament.
Last year, then-junior Colt Shorts and Schilling qualified for the NCAA championships for the Mustangs.