Friends of Stanford Wrestling,
On Friday night, we returned to Burnham Pavilion.
It’s a space that holds decades of Stanford wrestling memories, and it felt right to be back there for a night that brought together current Cardinal and alumni alike. Burnham was loud, tight, and rowdy in the best way, a fun change of pace from Maples and a reminder of how powerful wrestling can feel when the room is right on top of the action.
Even the announcer was a change from Maples, and we actually thought it was great. I’m not exactly sure what he was saying after we scored takedowns. I think it was something along the lines of “three weeeeeee,” though I’ve had a few people tell me it was a bit annoying. Well, when you score 36 takedowns to three, just about anything would get annoying after that many times. If it got annoying for us, I’m certain it drove our opponents crazy, so we may keep it.
From that setting, our team delivered its most dominant performance of the season. We earned a 43–3 win over Cal Poly, the largest margin of victory we’ve recorded against them as far back as we’ve checked. I’m sure Chris Horpel, the captain of program statistics, and others will let me know if there was ever a larger margin. We started the dual at 184 pounds and won nine straight matches, eight by bonus points.
The numbers tell part of the story, but the bigger takeaway was how courageously and confidently our guys competed. Our goal every time we step on the mat is to put on a show and give fans something they can’t wait to come back and see again. On Friday night, our team delivered, and I was proud of the performance.
What continues to stand out to me is how much this team improves each week. We have a demanding schedule and we’re tested every time out, but this group responds the right way, through work, a desire to get better, and a really strong culture. I love where this team is right now.
After the dual, we gathered for an alumni social that captured exactly what nights like this are about. 70 or so of our faithful supporters stuck around, including several alumni who traveled a long way to be there and a few joining us for the first time in a while. That means more than you probably know.
We were fortunate to welcome alumni who flew in, including Matt Topham ’92, Tony Williams ’23, and Lance Johnson ’93. We also had several alumni back in the room who we were excited to reconnect with, including Jeff Jackson ’92, Dave Winn ’92, Matt Cano ’95, Logan Ashton ’23, and Brian Veit ’90. They joined the faithful fans (sorry there are too many to name) we regularly see at our competitions. If I missed anyone, please reach out. I’d love to make sure we stay connected.
One of the most rewarding parts of this job is watching alumni come back and rediscover how much this program still means to them. Once people step back into the room, into the gym, into the conversations, Stanford wrestling becomes part of their lives again. Community is the cornerstone of what we are trying to build here, and nothing brings me more joy than seeing new faces at our events and meeting people who want to be part of this special program.
Friday night in Burnham was also about California wrestling. Two in-state programs, both undefeated against California opponents, competing in a building that has hosted generations of the best wrestlers this state has produced. That kind of night matters, not just for bragging rights, but because it connects the past, the present, and what comes next.
With a weekend off ahead of us, the focus now shifts fully to training. This is the stretch that carries our team into the postseason. The work we put in over the next few weeks will be critical in determining our success at the NCAA Championships. Judging by our first few practices, our guys are locked in. The intent is clear, the effort is real, and there’s a quiet confidence in the room that tells me this group is ready to make some noise in March. I feel great about where we are and even better about the work we’re doing.
That training will take us into our final two duals of the season. The last home match of the season is set for Sunday, February 15, at 5:00 PM against #12 Pitt. We anticipate a large attendance for this Military Appreciation Night, especially since the following day is President’s Day, meaning most schools will be closed. It’s our last opportunity this season to wrestle in front of our community and to show Stanford how supported this program truly is. We’d love to see our alumni back in the building one more time to be part of that moment. We then head to Chapel Hill to face No. 13 UNC on Friday, February 20. After that, it’s postseason wrestling. We’re grateful for the support that’s carried us to this point, and we’re excited for what’s ahead.
Box Score for Cal Poly is at the end of the newsletter.
Update On New AD and Department Leadership
Yesterday at our head coaches meeting, our new athletic director, John Donahoe, and his team introduced a broad five-year vision for Stanford Athletics. He will share more publicly in the near future, but what I can tell you is that it is bold and audacious. When executed, it will further solidify Stanford Athletics as the most successful athletics department in the country.
I love it. I feel incredibly good about where this department is headed and can’t wait to see what the next five years bring. Big things are happening for Stanford wrestling.
NCAA Tickets / Social / T-shirts
We still have a few tickets available for the greatest sporting event on earth, the NCAA National Championships, March 19-21, in Cleveland, OH. If you are interested in attending, shoot me an email
Save the Date! Our Stanford Wrestling NCAA social will take place between sessions on Saturday March 21st from 2:00-4:30pm at the Clevelander Bar. More details to follow.
NCAA T-shirts: Click Here *Order by Feb. 9th. Packages will be shipped directly to customers. We’ve added Youth and Women’s sizes for Black and White shirts.
No. 23 Stanford 43, Cal Poly 3
184: #30 Abraham Wojcikiewicz (STAN) maj. dec. Ryan Clink (CP), 14-2
197: #14 Angelo Posada (STAN) tech. fall Wesley Wilson (CP), 17-2 (6:14)
285: Luke Duthie (STAN) tech. fall Cole Jackson (CP), 22-6 (3:51)
125: #12 Nico Provo (STAN) dec. #18 Koda Holeman (CP), 11-7
133: #8 Tyler Knox (STAN) fall Anthony Lucio (CP), F1:52
141: Adam Mattin (STAN) fall Alek VanBebber (CP), F5:32
149: #11 Aden Valencia (STAN) tech. fall #27 Andre Gonzales (CP), 19-4 (6:56)
157: #10 Daniel Cardenas (STAN) tech. fall Anthony Berg (CP), 21-6 (4:36)
165: EJ Parco (STAN) maj. dec. Luke Gayer (CP), 11-1
174: Cash Stewart (CP) dec. Collin Guffey (STAN), 6-2
