Benjamin RozakThe Stanford wrestling team has won more this year than it has in three decades, but it’s still got something to prove against Cal Poly in a Pac-10 dual at 7 p.m. in Mott Gym.
Cal Poly, on the other hand, is looking to add momentum as it nears the Pac-10 Conference Championships, now less than a month away.
Mustangs head coach John Azevedo said the squad has taken advantage of having the last two weeks off to train.
“It’s good timing for us,” Azevedo said. “During the season, when the guys are competing and traveling a lot, they’re less focused on training. With two weeks of quality training, the guys are peaking at the right time.”
Cal Poly’s Chad Mendes, No. 1 in the nation at 141 pounds, has yet to lose this season.
At 157, the Mustangs’ Chase Pami (19-4) will square off with Stanford’s tenth-ranked Josh Zupancic (30-5), who lost to Pami earlier this season. Zupancic has won 11 straight bouts, but he and Pami are 2-2 against each other.
“It’s going to be a good match,” Pami said. “I’m sure Zupancic will come out strong, but I’m looking to take the lead since this will determine who will be No. 1 in the championship (seeding). It will be a big confidence-builder.”
Eric Maldanado (10-8) at 149 and Boris Novachkov (15-6) at 125 also will partake in pivotal match-ups for Cal Poly (5-4, 4-2 Pac-10).
Novachkov will spar with No. 6 Tanner Gardner (32-1), a two-time All-American who is undefeated this season in duals. He leads the conference in both wins and pins.
Overall, Stanford (11-3, 4-2 Pac-10) boasts nine starters .500 or better.
“We’re really looking forward to it,” Maldanado said. “As a team we’re really excited for a chance to win the championship. We’ve been training hard for every tournament, let alone the Pac-10. It’s time for us to seize the title.”
The Mustangs finished fourth last year in the Pac-10, with seven individual placers.
After wrestling at Cal State Bakersfield, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State in the next two weeks, Cal Poly will head to the conference championships, held in Eugene, Ore. March 2 to 3.