Six Members of No. 12 Cal Poly Wrestling Team Nationally Ranked
1/25/2022 1:22:00 PM | Wrestling
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. -- The Cal Poly wrestling team has earned its highest national ranking in nearly four decades.
InterMat has ranked Coach Jon Sioredas' Mustangs No. 12 this week. Cal Poly wrestled its first official dual meet of the season Monday, falling 20-18 to No. 5 Arizona State.
In addition, Mustang 165-pounder Evan Wick has climbed to No. 1 in his weight class by InterMat. He previously was No. 2 behind Alex Marinelli of Iowa, but Marinelli dropped a 3-2 decision to then-No. 7 Carson Kharchla of Ohio State in a dual meet last Friday night. Amateur Wrestling News moved Wick up to No. 1 as well while WIN Magazine and The Open Mat have ranked Wick No. 1 most of the season.
Wick is 10-0 on the year following his 9-1 major decision against then-No. 6 Anthony Valencia of Arizona State on Monday. Marinelli is now 14-1 for the season and fell to No. 5 in the InterMat poll while Valencia is 13-1 and dropped to No. 8.
Wick is Cal Poly's first top-ranked wrestler since Chad Mendes won his first 30 matches of the 2007-08 season before falling to J Jaggers of Ohio State in the 141-pound championship match at the 2008 NCAA Division I National Championships.
"Our guys continue to improve and it is showing as we climb into the Top 12 in the country," said Sioredas. "Our performance is a direct reflection of our preparation. Our young team has big goals and a clear path forward, as we continue our development leading into the NCAA Championships.
"We are beyond proud to lead a program with a such a strong sense of purpose and camaraderie," Sioredas added. "We are having fun and enjoying each other as we chase our dreams."
Cal Poly broke into the rankings at No. 20 during the preseason, the first such ranking since the Mustangs were ranked No. 18 late in the 2011-12 season. Cal Poly rose to No. 15 following the Las Vegas Invitational in early December.
The Mustangs were ranked as high as No. 15 during the 2011-12 season. Last time Cal Poly was ranked above its current No. 12 ranking was during the 1982-83 season when the Mustangs were 10th. Cal Poly's highest team Division I ranking ever was No. 3 on March 3, 1971.
In addition to Wick, five other Mustangs are ranked by InterMat.
Bernie Truax (7-1) inched up one spot to No. 5 at 184 after his fall in 2 minutes, 4 seconds on Monday while Adam Kemp (10-2) remains No. 9 following his 14-5 major decision against the Sun Devils.
Also ranked are No. 18 Legend Lamer (7-3) at 149, No. 30 Antonio Lorenzo (10-6) at 125 pounds and No. 30 Lawrence Saenz (7-3) at 141.
Cal Poly finished fourth in the Pac-12 Championships in February, its highest finish in 11 years, and tallied 16.5 points in the NCAAs for 25th place, its highest finish in nine years.
The Mustangs return to action Sunday with dual meets against Northern Illinois and UALR in Little Rock, Ark.
InterMat has ranked Coach Jon Sioredas' Mustangs No. 12 this week. Cal Poly wrestled its first official dual meet of the season Monday, falling 20-18 to No. 5 Arizona State.
In addition, Mustang 165-pounder Evan Wick has climbed to No. 1 in his weight class by InterMat. He previously was No. 2 behind Alex Marinelli of Iowa, but Marinelli dropped a 3-2 decision to then-No. 7 Carson Kharchla of Ohio State in a dual meet last Friday night. Amateur Wrestling News moved Wick up to No. 1 as well while WIN Magazine and The Open Mat have ranked Wick No. 1 most of the season.
Wick is 10-0 on the year following his 9-1 major decision against then-No. 6 Anthony Valencia of Arizona State on Monday. Marinelli is now 14-1 for the season and fell to No. 5 in the InterMat poll while Valencia is 13-1 and dropped to No. 8.
Wick is Cal Poly's first top-ranked wrestler since Chad Mendes won his first 30 matches of the 2007-08 season before falling to J Jaggers of Ohio State in the 141-pound championship match at the 2008 NCAA Division I National Championships.
"Our guys continue to improve and it is showing as we climb into the Top 12 in the country," said Sioredas. "Our performance is a direct reflection of our preparation. Our young team has big goals and a clear path forward, as we continue our development leading into the NCAA Championships.
"We are beyond proud to lead a program with a such a strong sense of purpose and camaraderie," Sioredas added. "We are having fun and enjoying each other as we chase our dreams."
Cal Poly broke into the rankings at No. 20 during the preseason, the first such ranking since the Mustangs were ranked No. 18 late in the 2011-12 season. Cal Poly rose to No. 15 following the Las Vegas Invitational in early December.
The Mustangs were ranked as high as No. 15 during the 2011-12 season. Last time Cal Poly was ranked above its current No. 12 ranking was during the 1982-83 season when the Mustangs were 10th. Cal Poly's highest team Division I ranking ever was No. 3 on March 3, 1971.
In addition to Wick, five other Mustangs are ranked by InterMat.
Bernie Truax (7-1) inched up one spot to No. 5 at 184 after his fall in 2 minutes, 4 seconds on Monday while Adam Kemp (10-2) remains No. 9 following his 14-5 major decision against the Sun Devils.
Also ranked are No. 18 Legend Lamer (7-3) at 149, No. 30 Antonio Lorenzo (10-6) at 125 pounds and No. 30 Lawrence Saenz (7-3) at 141.
Cal Poly finished fourth in the Pac-12 Championships in February, its highest finish in 11 years, and tallied 16.5 points in the NCAAs for 25th place, its highest finish in nine years.
The Mustangs return to action Sunday with dual meets against Northern Illinois and UALR in Little Rock, Ark.
Players Mentioned
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
Cal Poly’s Cash Stewart Post Dual Press Conference - SIUE (Feb. 2, 2025)
Monday, February 03
Cal Poly Wrestling Head Coach Jon Sioredas Post Dual Press Conference - SIUE (Feb. 2, 2025)
Monday, February 03
Cal Poly vs. SIUE, Wrestling Highlights -- Feb 2nd, 2025
Sunday, February 02
Cal Poly’s Trevor Tinker Post Dual Press Conference - Cal State Bakersfield (Jan. 21, 2024)
Tuesday, January 23
