Newsletter 3.7: Finding a way to lose and finding a way to learn
There are losses that sting because you did not show up.
And then there are losses that hurt because you did.
Friday night against NC State was the second kind.
We wrestled with real effort. We competed. We put ourselves in position to win. And when it came down to the final match, in front of a loud and engaged crowd, we were right there again. In the end the scoreboard said 21–20, but anyone who was in the building felt how thin the margin truly was.
I told our team afterward that this one hurt especially bad because we wrestled quite well. We did not give it away with a lack of effort or belief. We found ways to lose small moments, and at this level, that is often all it takes. As painful as that is, it is also where growth lives.
It brought me right back to the Iowa State dual earlier this season. Two top ten teams. Two nights where the final outcome came down to the last match. Ranked teams on the ropes. Opportunities within reach, and yet, we could not quite close the door.
That does not mean there was no progress.
The atmosphere on Friday night was everything you hope a college wrestling dual meet can be. A big crowd. Energy in the building. A rowdy section of high school wrestlers that turned Maples into a real home-mat advantage (shout out to Buhach Colony Wrestling). Nights like that instruct you. They expose you. And if you are willing to learn, they make you better.
The highlight of the night was Nico Provo knocking off the returning national champion, Vincent Robinson. It was a performance rooted in focus and courage. Nico is the model for our core value of discipline. Anything he can control in his life will be controlled, but, unfortunately, that doesn’t guarantee success in the absolute chaos of a wrestling match. Your preparation allows you to compete at a high level; focus and effort determine the outcome. Nico brought plenty of both to pull out the win. A reminder of what is possible when you wrestle freely and trust the environment you train in.
A close second for “match of the night” came when we needed team points and true freshman Angelo Posada went out and delivered a first-period pin against a nationally ranked opponent. Angelo continues to show an attacking style of wrestling, as over half of his wins this season have come by bonus points. That ability to score big in big moments matters. (Angelo sends a big “you’re welcome” to the Stanford wrestling faithful for his decision to come to Stanford, as he will provide many more highlights in his next 4-5 years).
Cardenas continues to be the brand of this program. He puts points on the board, creates chaos, and scores bonus points with an electric style that we love. He wrestles in a way that forces the action, and that identity is something we are proud of.
Abe (I would use his last name but it is a challenge to spell) also had a great win against a tough opponent. It was the kind of solid, composed performance that helps you take the next step as a competitor, and one that should serve him well moving forward.
This stretch has also required us to adapt. Hunter Garvin and Lorenzo Norman are both out for the season following surgeries, which is never easy, especially when those losses hit key weights. I am proud of how EJ Parco and Collin Guffey have stepped up in their absence. They have embraced the responsibility, competed hard, and filled those spots with toughness and reliability.
The dual ultimately came down to the final match at 133. Knox was put in a difficult position, knowing we needed bonus points to win the dual. He wrestled hard for the team, pushed the pace, and fought for every position. While he could not open up his opponent the way we needed, he stayed in the fight and pulled out the win. That effort matters, even when the result hurts.
Now we head to Blacksburg to face another top ten opponent in #8 VA Tech. Another opportunity. Another environment. Another chance to turn painful lessons into progress.
We have shown we belong in these moments.
The next step is finishing them.
What I believe most about this group is that they are not shrinking from these moments. They are stepping into them. We have gone toe to toe with three top ten teams and put ourselves in position every time. That does not guarantee future results, but it does tell you something about who we are becoming. Growth is rarely linear, and progress often shows up disguised as frustration. We will take the lessons from these nights, carry them with us to Blacksburg, and keep leaning into the work. When this group breaks through, it will not be by accident. It will be because they earned it.
Also, I love this lineup. While we lost Hunter and Lorenzo, it was frustrating going through the early part of our season with them intermittently in the lineup, hoping they could be healthy enough to compete. Additionally it wasn’t fair to them. In short, we had a limited sense of the future. There was a lot of uncertainty. Now we know what we are working with…and I love it. I have faith that the guys that step in are going to figure it out and compete representing “the brand.” They will join Cardenas, Knox, Provo, in building this powerhouse of men. It is what happens in this program. Attitude, Discipline, Perseverance, Family, Growth. Our core values will show up in Blacksburg and Charlottesville.
@ Virginia Tech, 7:00pm, Friday, 1/23- You can watch on ACCNX (ESPN+)
@ Virginia, 1:00pm (moved up because of impending snow), Saturday, 1/24 (not sure if it is streamed as their schedule does not indicate that it is)
Mark your calendars for our last two home matches of the season on January 30th and February 15th. The crowd truly helped our team get energized at the last home dual. We need you. Let’s make the last two events our best attendance yet. Mark your calendars for the final two home matches of the season on Friday, January 30th (vs Cal Poly- Alumni Night) and Sunday, February 15th (vs Pitt- Military Appreciation). The energy you brought to the last dual was essential, and we need that electric atmosphere again. Let’s make these last two events the loudest, most impactful crowds of the year!
For Tickets: Click Here
Box Score NC State
No. 6 NC State 21, No. 13 Stanford 20
141: #12 Ryan Jack (NCST) fall #17 Jack Consiglio (STAN), F2:50
149: #5 Koy Buesgens (NCST) maj. dec. #9 Aden Valencia (STAN), 14-5
157: #10 Daniel Cardenas (STAN) tech. fall Brogan Tucker (NCST), 21-5 (5:37)
165: #16 Will Denny (NCST) dec. EJ Parco (STAN), 6-5
174: #5 Matty Singleton (NCST) dec. Collin Guffey (STAN), 8-2
184: Abraham Wojcikiewicz (STAN) dec. Don Cates (NCST), 8-5
197: #19 Angelo Posada (STAN) fall #27 Patrick Brophy (NCST), F1:36
285: #2 Isaac Trumble (NCST) tech. fall Luke Duthie (STAN), 22-6 (6:10)
125: #13 Nico Provo (STAN) dec. #1 Vincent Robinson (NCST), 4-1 (SV)
133: #7 Tyler Knox (STAN) dec. #33 Troy Hohman (NCST), 6-3
