The Stanford wrestling team achieved a significant upset by defeating the No. 12 Pittsburgh Panthers 21-12 at Maples Pavilion on Sunday, March 3, 2024. This victory marked Stanford’s final home dual of the season and showcased the depth and talent of both teams, featuring a total of 15 ranked wrestlers.
The Cardinal began the dual with remarkable momentum, winning the first six bouts and establishing a commanding lead before fending off a late challenge from the Panthers. At 125 pounds, No. 10 redshirt junior Nico Provo set the tone with a dramatic sudden-death victory over Tyler Chappel, finishing the match 8-5. Provo’s decisive takedown in overtime secured a 3-0 advantage for Stanford, highlighting his composure under pressure. He emphasized the importance of staying calm in high-stakes moments, stating, “Stay composed. That’s the biggest thing. It’s just an extension of the match.”
Stanford continued to dominate throughout the early rounds. At 133 pounds, No. 7 Tyler Knox earned a 4-0 decision against No. 26 Evan Tallmadge, doubling the team’s score to 6-0. The intensity heightened at 141 pounds, where No. 17 redshirt freshman Jack Consiglio narrowly secured a 3-2 victory over Briar Priest. Despite protests from Pittsburgh regarding a controversial call, the ruling stood, further solidifying Stanford’s momentum.
The Cardinal’s advantage grew to 12-0 when No. 13 redshirt freshman Aden Valencia battled to a 5-4 decision against No. 23 Kade Brown at 149 pounds. Stanford’s No. 10 redshirt junior Daniel Cardenas showcased his offensive prowess with a 9-7 victory over No. 17 Dylan Evans at 157 pounds, which extended the lead to 15-0. Cardenas, who ranks fourth nationally in technical falls, consistently applied pressure throughout the match.
At 165 pounds, redshirt freshman EJ Parco maintained Stanford’s winning streak with a decisive 7-3 decision over No. 32 Jared Keslar. Parco’s strategy involved a strong start with an opening takedown, and he later secured the victory with an additional takedown in the third period. He remarked on the importance of preparation, stating, “It’s not just the match. It’s everything that leads up to the match.”
Pittsburgh finally found success at 174 pounds, where Stanford’s redshirt sophomore Colin Guffey fell to No. 15 Luca Augustine, reducing the score to 18-3. The subsequent bout at 184 pounds was fiercely contested, with redshirt sophomore Abraham Wojcikiewicz narrowly losing to No. 27 Chase Krantz 8-6, further trimming the lead to 18-6.
The most anticipated matchup featured No. 13 true freshman Angelo Posada, who delivered a solid 5-2 victory over No. 8 Mac Stout at 197 pounds. This win elevated Posada’s national ranking to No. 8, extending his current win streak to seven matches. Reflecting on his success, Posada maintained a humble perspective, saying, “At the end of the day, it’s just another match. Win or lose, it’s just another match. I couldn’t care less about all of that. I’m just trying to get better.”
The dual concluded at heavyweight, where Stanford’s redshirt junior Luke Duthie faced No. 15 Dayton Pitzer, who recorded a fall to finalize the score at 21-12. Despite the loss, Pittsburgh’s late performance highlighted their competitive spirit, while Stanford’s strong start proved crucial in securing the upset.
Head coach Chris Ayres viewed the victory as part of a larger trend of improvement as postseason competition approaches. “The cool thing is that we’re getting better over here,” Ayres said. “We get better every week, so this was an example of that. It was a good win.” With one dual remaining before the postseason, Ayres emphasized the importance of maintaining momentum. The Cardinal will face No. 13 North Carolina in Chapel Hill on Friday, aiming to build on their recent success.
