Cal Poly Wrestling looked to hit the ground running coming out of their bye week but was handled by the No. 20 ranked dual meet team in the country and Pac-12 foe, Little Rock, on Saturday, Feb. 3.
The Mustangs (5-3, 1-2 Pac-12) welcomed back the No. 10 ranked 174-pounder in graduate Adam Kemp against the Trojans (12-5, 3-1 Pac-12), but his return was spoiled by another up-and-coming Pac-12 squad.
Redshirt freshman Dom Mendez handled his opponent in a decision victory in the 125-pound weight class, but redshirt freshman and No. 9 ranked 133-pounder Zeth Romney couldn’t get it done against the No. 7 ranked Nasir Bailey and fell via a 7-1 decision, snapping his seven-bout winning streak.
141-pounder and redshirt sophomore Abe Hinrichsen took his opponent into overtime tied one-to-one, but his opponent secured the takedown to finish out the 4-1 sudden victory.
No. 5 ranked 149-pounder and redshirt sophomore Chance Lamer secured the win due to a medical forfeit from his opponent, but his older brother No. 32 ranked and redshirt junior 157-pounder Legend Lamer fell in the first overtime period as well.
Graduate Michael Goldfeder dropped his match in the No. 25 ranked wrestler in the 165-pound weight class in a 7-1 decision, while No. 10 ranked and graduate 174-pounder Adam Kemp made his return against the No. 24 ranked wrestler in his weight class after being out multiple weeks with an injury and just beat out his opponent after he secured a takedown just over halfway through the final period.
At this point in the dual, the team scores were tied up at 12 all with three bouts to go, but the Mustangs didn’t get off to a hot start after redshirt sophomore Kendall La Rosa dropped his back-and-forth battle with his opponent in an 8-6 decision.
Redshirt sophomore Jarad Priest drew the No. 9 ranked 197-pounder and fell by way of a 7-2 decision to go down 18-12 in the overall team score.
No. 22 ranked heavyweight and redshirt sophomore Trevor Tinker held a slim lead over his opponent for most of the match, but his opponent secured a takedown to take the lead late in the final period to finish the 4-2 decision and the 21-12 loss.
If there’s anything to take away from this dual, it’s the fact that so many of these matches were decided by only a couple of points, and the Mustangs have previously shown the ability to win these close matches.
The Mustangs have yet to win a single dual against a Top 25-ranked opponent, and the road only gets tougher from here as they continue their Pac-12 conference schedule.
Cal Poly will have their hands full next when they host the No. 24 ranked Arizona State Sun Devils on Friday, Feb. 9 at 7 p.m. at Mott Athletics Center.