Cal Poly Wrestling wanted to end their regular season Pac-12 dual meet season with a high note, but their plans were thwarted as No. 16 Stanford downed the Mustangs in a 30-9 loss.
The Mustangs (5-5, 1-4 Pac-12) were without two top-ranked starters, while the Cardinal (10-2, 3-0 Pac-12) put their foot on the gas early and didn’t let up.
Redshirt freshman and No. 12 ranked 133-pounder Zeth Romney and graduate and No. 9 ranked 174-pounder Adam Kemp both missed their second straight dual due to injuries.
Redshirt freshman Ty Chandler filled in for Romney in the 133-pound weight class and came up just short as he was beaten out in a 9-4 decision.
True freshman Blake Hinrichsen filled in for Kemp at 174 pounds but didn’t get an opportunity to wrestle due to a Stanford forfeit in that weight class.
The only other Cal Poly wrestler to come out with a win was No. 23 ranked heavyweight and redshirt sophomore Trevor Tinker in a battle that came down to the wire as Tinker clinched the match with a takedown just seconds into the first overtime period to clinch the 11-8 sudden victory.
No. 30 ranked 125-pounder and redshirt freshman Dom Mendez attempted to gain some early momentum for the Green and Gold but came up short against the No. 16 ranked 125-pounder in an 8-2 decision.
No. 5 ranked 149-pounder and redshirt sophomore Chance Lamer wrestled in yet another tight battle this weekend against the No. 21 ranked wrestler at 149 pounds but gave up his second straight dual match in a close 4-3 decision.
His older brother, redshirt junior and No. 32 ranked 157-pounder Legend Lamer, had a tough time against the No. 8 ranked 157-pound wrestler and fell via an 11-2 major decision.
Cal Poly is currently at a low point in their season as they finish the regular season without a single win over a top-ranked opponent, a feat they achieved twice a season ago.
The defending Pac-12 dual meet champions finish their regular season with a 1-4 conference record and a fifth-place finish in the standings compared to their undefeated 5-0 record and first-place finish from a season ago.
The Mustangs will look to right the ship and gain momentum for the Pac-12 Championship tournament when they wrap up the dual meet season as they travel to take on Cal Baptist on Friday, Feb. 16 at 6 p.m. at the Dale E. and Sarah Ann Fowler Events Center.