It was a fun trip to Chapel Hill.
The team wrestled well and earned a 28–6 win over No. 12 North Carolina on their home mat. That is not easy to do in this conference, and I am proud of the way our guys competed. I will get to the match breakdown in a moment.
Before the dual began, something unexpected happened.
As we were warming up, I noticed a familiar face in the stands. Mike Alvarez.
Mike and I were freshmen at Princeton together. He was a student-athlete, and I was in my first year as a head coach trying to figure out how to lead a Division I program that had not won a DI dual the year before.
He was the first student-athlete I met when I arrived in the summer of 2006. He had come to campus early as part of Princeton’s summer bridge program for first-generation college students. They brought students in ahead of the freshman class, gave them a few courses, and helped them acclimate to college life. It is an incredible model, and truthfully, as a first-generation college student myself, it would have served me well at Lehigh. I struggled significantly my first year in college and often joke that you could have dropped me on another planet and I might have felt more comfortable.
Mike wrestled in Delaware and had solid but modest high school success. He asked if he could walk on the team. We did not have many recruits coming in, and we certainly needed help. That first summer it was mostly Mike, one other wrestler, and me in the wrestling room.
What stood out quickly was not his talent level but his desire to learn. He wanted to understand the sport at a deeper level. He asked questions. He paid attention. He tried to implement what we discussed. We also connected over the fact that we were both first-generation college students. That shared experience created a bond.
As a young kid I was ultra competitive and wanted to win on any team I was on, so mobilizing those around me has always been something I have innately been driven to do. Through those early lessons in multiple sports I realized something about leadership. When you are leading a team, it is far more powerful to have one or two who are completely committed to the direction you are heading than to have a large majority who are only partially committed. Cultural change does not begin with consensus. It begins with conviction.
Mike was the first fully committed believer in what we were trying to build at Princeton.
There was no evidence at the time that we were on our way to becoming one of the top programs in the country. In fact, the evidence pointed the other direction. But Mike believed in the vision anyway, and that belief gradually spread.
By his senior year (2010), we secured a winning record in the Ivy League and placed third in the conference. Prior to this finish, 1987 was the last time Princeton had a winning record in the league. To an outsider, that may not register as significant. For us, it was confirmation that we were moving in the right direction. It gave credibility to the way we were operating and thinking.
Years later, Princeton would win an Ivy League title, produce All-Americans, a National Champion, and reach as high as fifth in the national rankings. Mike was not on those teams, but those achievements do not happen without the foundation he helped me create during his time.
So when I saw him in the stands at UNC, I found myself reflecting on those early years, how tough they were and how blessed I was to be at Chapel Hill with the Stanford team ready to take on the 12th ranked Tar Heels.
I am not certain that every one of our wrestlers is fully committed to the vision we have for Stanford wrestling (yet), but I am very confident that the 10 men we sent to the mat that night believe we can become the best team in the country. They wrestled with that kind of confidence and clarity.
And the results reflected it.
Stanford 28, North Carolina 6
We won eight of ten matches, including two with bonus points, and from the opening bout there was a sense of composure in how we competed.
At 125 pounds, Nico Provo set the tone with a 4–1 decision over No. 13 Kysen Terukina. Nico scored early, controlled positions, and managed the match with maturity. This season has certainly tested Nico with an incredible 12 of his 15 matches involving wrestlers ranked nationally in the coaches poll. He will be ready for anything in the post-season
Tyler Knox followed at 133 with a 3–0 win over No. 27 Ethan Oakley. Tyler had lost twice to Oakley last season, so this was meaningful. He scored a reversal to start the second period and rode him out, demonstrating the growth he has made over the past year. Tyler’s focus has become laser sharp in the last few matches, and his eyes are firmly locked on March
At 141, Jack Consiglio delivered one of the defining moments of the dual. Trailing 6–0 in the second period to No. 10 Luke Simcox, he did not waver. Using our top secret and trademarked leg in system. He secured a reversal and then locked up a bottom leg cradle for the fall. When the ref slapped the mat the bench erupted…such a cool moment to experience. It was the highest-ranked win of his career and a reminder of the confidence he now carries into big matches.
I’ll jump to 165 as EJ Parco also utilized our top secret leg in counter system to defeat No. 16 Bryce Harper, 2–1. After a scoreless first and second period, in a curious choice of position in the third, Hepner took top. EJ craftily reversed Hepner, gave up the escape and was able to hold off the Tar Heel for the win. EJ remains unranked nationally, but he continues to win tight matches against ranked opponents. This was his fourth straight win and second consecutive victory over a ranked wrestler. That says something about his trajectory.
Back to weight order.
Aden Valencia extended the lead at 149 with a 16–7 major decision. He continues to score points in bunches and now has eight bonus-point wins this season. When you want to separate from strong teams, bonus points become critical.
Daniel Cardenas earned a 5–1 win over No. 27 Laird Root at 157. Daniel has now won eight consecutive matches. What stands out about him is not just the streak but the steadiness with which he competes. He does not give away positions and continues to build momentum at the right time of the year. His progression and improvement across the season will put him in position for a title run at Nationals.
At 184, Abraham Wojcikiewicz was thrown a curveball when UNC failed to send out #20 Jake Daily. Abe handled the “change-up” well, scoring all of his points in the final period and winning 5-2. His response after a setback last week reflects growth and maturity.
Angelo Posada closed out our scoring at 197 with a 4–0 win. Angelo wrestled a little tight coming off his big win last week which can happen when you first get success at this level. We’ll remind him that he is still on the “hunt”, so to speak, and has to continue to be aggressive in order to achieve his goals.The true freshman has now won eight straight matches and continues to compete with a level of belief that is impressive for someone in his first collegiate season.
We dropped matches at 174 and heavyweight, both of which provide lessons as we move toward postseason competition.
When you look at the dual as a whole, what stood out most was not just the score but the composure, confidence, and togetherness of the group. We found ways to win from all positions and that is what will be necessary to have success in the post season.
Seeing Mike in the stands reminded me that transformation rarely happens all at once. It begins with a few people who believe deeply and consistently enough that others start to follow.
We are building something at Stanford. It is still developing, and there is much work to be done. But Chapel Hill felt like another step forward. The belief within the room is growing.
To our alumni, our fans, and the Bay Area wrestling community, I would say this: if you believe in what this program can become, lean in with us. Show up. Engage. Stay connected. Cultural momentum builds when people choose to invest in it fully.
The vision remains clear. We want to be the best team in the country, not just occasionally but consistently. That kind of outcome requires sustained belief, sustained work, and a community aligned behind it.
The ACC Championships are next. Another opportunity to move forward.
And if experience has taught me anything, it is that lasting change does not require everyone at the start. It requires a few who are fully committed and willing to carry that belief long enough for it to spread.
We are moving in that direction.
No. 14 Stanford 28, No. 16 North Carolina 6
125: #9 Nico Provo (STAN) dec. #13 Kysen Terukina (UNC), 4-1
133: #8 Tyler Knox (STAN) dec. #27 Ethan Oakley (UNC), 3-0
141: #16 Jack Consiglio (STAN) fall #10 Luke Simcox (UNC), F4:54
149: #12 Aden Valencia (STAN) maj. dec. Nate Askew (UNC), 16-7
157: #10 Daniel Cardenas (STAN) dec. #27 Laird Root (UNC), 5-1
165: EJ Parco (STAN) dec. #16 Bryce Harper (UNC), 2-1
174: Collin Carrigan (UNC) dec. Collin Guffey (STAN), 9-7
184: #29 Abraham Wojcikiewicz (STAN) dec. Nick Fea (UNC), 5-2
197: #8 Angelo Posada (STAN) dec. Robert Platt (UNC), 4-0
285: Jacob Levy (UNC) dec. Brokton Borelli (STAN), 9-2
