Feb. 2, 2011

Complete Release in PDF Format

THIS WEEK: Stanford host California Baptist University on Friday, Feb. 4. The Cardinal and Lancers will meet at 6 p.m. PT in Burnham Pavilion. Stanford wrestlers will also compete in the California Collegiate Open in San Francisco on Saturday, Feb. 5.

BOISE STATE RECAP: The lone Stanford wrestler to pick up a win against Boise State was junior Nick Amuchastegui. The 174-pounder posted a 4-0 decision over 11th-ranked Jake Swartz for the Cardinal’s only points of the night.

SAN FRANCISCO STATE RECAP: Stanford dropped its third straight dual as it was edged, 18-16, by visiting San Francisco State. Each team won five bouts, but the Gators scored more bonus points for the win. With senior heavyweight Dylan Rush the only starter in the lineup, several wrestlers made their season debuts. Among them were sophomore Kyler Hasson, redshirt freshman Sam Umlauf and freshman Donovan Halpin. Umlauf picked up his first collegiate win with a 5-0 decision over Dylan Phillipy at 157 pounds. Other winners for Stanford were Jordan Gray (149 pounds), Dan Scherer (184 pounds), Alan Yen (197 pounds) and Rush (285 pounds).

UP NEXT: Stanford will close out the regular season at home as it hosts Pac-10 foes Cal Poly and Arizona State next weekend. The Cardinal will face the Mustangs on Friday, Feb. 11 at 6:30 p.m. and the Sun Devils on Sunday, Feb. 13 at 2 p.m.

ABOUT CAL BAPTIST: Cal Baptist is 10-8 overall entering this week’s competition. The Lancers are coming off a perfect 6-0 showing at the NCWA National Duals last weekend, where they defeated Auburn, Texas-Arlington, Cincinnati, Marion Military, Grand Valley State and Central Florida.

IN THE RANKINGS: Senior Zack Giesen, junior Nick Amuchastegui and sophomore Ryan Mango are listed among the top-10 in this week’s InterMat rankings. Mango is the highest ranked Cardinal wrestler, coming in at No. 6 at 125 pounds. Amuchastegui remained at No. 7 at 174 pounds, while Giesen also stayed put at No. 13 at 197 pounds. As a team, Stanford is ranked at No. 25.

FOR THE RECORD: Senior Zack Giesen moved up to sixth all-time in career wins at Stanford as he registered his 100th victory at the Lone Star Duals. He needs just two wins to pass Scott Wiggen for fifth place and is just the sixth wrestler in Stanford history to reach the 100-win plateau. Junior Nick Amuchastegui’s win at Boise State gave him 86 for his career, the 10th-most all-time in program history. Senior Lucas Espericueta needs five wins to move into the top-10.

NWCA All-STAR CLASSIC: For the first time in program history, two Stanford wrestlers participated in the NWCA All-Star Classic. Junior Nick Amuchastegui won his featured bout, 4-0, against Illinois’ Jordan Blanton at 174 pounds. Senior Zack Giesen was declared the winner of his exhibition bout over Cal Poly’s Ryan Smith at 197 pounds. Giesen built a 7-2 lead before Smith was forced to default in the final period due to injury.

TOP NOTCH RETURNERS: Stanford’s 17 returners are highlighted by five NCAA qualifiers, which is the most the Cardinal has ever had entering a season. Last year, Stanford sent four wrestlers to the NCAA Championships in Omaha, Neb. - Nick Amuchastegui, Zack Giesen, Ryan Mango and Justin Paulsen. Amuchastegui placed fourth at 165 pounds to pick up his first career NCAA All-America honors. It also marked the highest finish by a Stanford wrestler since 2004.

FRESH FACES: Stanford has seven newcomers on its roster this year. Highlighting the rookies are three state champions in Oregon’s Luke Amuchastegui, Hawaii’s Galen McCleary and Missouri’s Dan Scherer. Additionally, the new faces on the Cardinal roster include Donovan Halpin (Petaluma, Calif.), Garrett Schaner (Big Rapids, Mich.), Matt Schneider (Atlanta, Ga.) and Alan Yen (Saratoga, Calif.).

HEAD COACH Jason Borrelli: Stanford is under the guidance of third-year head coach Jason Borrelli. In his first two seasons on The Farm, Borrelli has accrued a 25-30-2 record and sent a total of six wrestlers to the NCAA Championships. Borrelli, a former Central Michigan standout, first came to The Farm as an assistant coach in 2007 and quickly helped guide the Cardinal to one of its most successful seasons in school history.