Sheila SobchikThe Cal Poly wrestling team has performed well enough to maintain its national ranking of No. 19 in the W.I.N. Magazine poll, but head coach John Azevedo is not thrilled with its consistency so far this season.
Azevedo and the Mustangs will get a chance to prove themselves when fifth-ranked Oklahoma visits Mott Gym at 6 p.m. Saturday for a nonconference dual meet that will showcase a combined eight wrestlers individually ranked in their respective weight classes.
“Most the guys have had their good matches and bad matches,” Azevedo said Thursday. “It’s just a matter of putting it together at the same time. Hopefully that happens Saturday.”
Cal Poly unofficially began its season Nov. 16 with the Green & Gold Meet, an intrasquad scrimmage in which the two teams tied 23-23. The Mustangs then went to the Fullerton Open, at which they topped team standings with 286.5 points Nov. 18.
At the 25th annual Cliff Keen Invitational in Las Vegas from Dec. 1 to 2, Cal Poly was 15th among 49 teams, a finish Azevedo was displeased with.
“We didn’t wrestle well,” he said. “We left a couple guys behind, which doesn’t help your team score. Overall, I really don’t think we competed as well as we can.”
Cal Poly senior Darrell Vasquez won the Fullerton Open title at 133 pounds. The Mustangs also took three second-place finishes at the Fullerton Open.
With 49 points at the Cliff Keen Invitational, the Mustangs were led by Vasquez and senior Dave Roberts (141), who finished third and fourth, respectively.
In respective weight classes, Cal Poly junior Chad Mendes (125) is ranked third, Vasquez seventh and senior Matt Monteiro (197) ninth.
“Darrell’s done a good job,” Azevedo said. “He just lost that one match. David Roberts really wrestled really well at Vegas. Those guys are older. Of the younger guys, Chase Pami, looked well at Fullerton. Nick Hernandez wrestled tough.”
Among Oklahoma’s five ranked wrestlers are seniors Sam Hazewinkel (125) and Matt Storniolo (149), who are both ranked second.
Azevedo said there is definitely a transition from the nonconference tournament stage to nonconference dual meets, especially against a perennial Big 12 Conference power like the Sooners. Oklahoma is coming off a 17-15 loss to No. 2 Oklahoma State, which will visit Cal Poly at 1 p.m. Dec. 18.
“It’s definitely different,” Azevedo said. “Dual situation, one-on-one, school against school. That changes the dynamics a little bit. They’re one of the top teams. I think the guys are excited to try to beat them.”
Cal Poly will try to avenge 36-8 losses last year to both the Sooners and Cowboys this month.
“Being at home is part of it,” Azevedo said. “Guys want to perform well in front of the home crowd. That helps us. I think it motivates guys to do well for the team too. When it’s the duals, the team is more important (than individuals). Not to get beat bad. That all plays in.”
Azevedo said that wrestling the two Big 12 powers should prepare the Mustangs for Pac-10 competition, which begins at 3 p.m. Dec. 18 against visiting Cal State Fullerton.
That was the case last year, when Cal Poly rallied from the pair of 36-8 losses against the two Big 12 schools to finish 10-7 overall, 6-3 in the Pac-10, second in the conference tournament and 23rd at the NCAA Championships.
“I think it helps going against Oklahomas and some other teams,” Azevedo said. “It just makes them more confident coming into the Pac-10 duals as long as we stay healthy.”