Nearly three-quarters of the way through the regular season, Cal Poly wrestling’s rotation looks different from what it did on opening day. Zeth Romney and Trevor Tinker – two of Cal Poly’s five nationally ranked wrestlers at their weights – have been absent from the lineup since mid-to-late December.
Wrestling head coach Jon Sioredas kept the team prepared in the case of season-altering incidents. A “next-man-up” mentality cemented itself within the program and kept Cal Poly on track throughout the course of the season.
“The number two guy at the weight, and even the number two guy at a weight below, needs to be ready,” Sioredas said. “We treat them like starters ahead of time, anticipating injuries that will eventually happen. And when that does happen, next guy steps up, and he’s ready to go.”
The mindset shift has proven to be crucial to the overall development of the program’s future. The “next man up” mentality allows for every wrestler, not just the starters, to grow in their own individual ways.
True freshman Levi Bussey and redshirt freshman Alek VanBebber are two wrestlers who embody the mindset of “next-man-up.” Bussey wrestled in place of Tinker, despite being nearly an entire weight class below the heavyweight. VanBebber dropped weight from 149 pounds to 141 pounds to wrestle in place of Romney.
“I think, from a coaching staff standpoint, it allows us to pour into the backups, as well, and into the red shirts, and not just our starters,” Sioredas said. “I think the easy way is grab your best couple guys, and pour everything into them, and they do well, but then what happens if one or two guys goes out?”
VanBebber attests to the effectiveness of the culture implemented within the team. He is a firm believer that the “next-man-up” mindset is what allowed Cal Poly wrestling to maintain a steady course as the Pac-12 Championship approaches.
“Everyone trains hard, everyone’s focused, even in the weight room, with our diets and the wrestling room,” VanBebber said. “If you watch everyone, they’re scrapping, no one’s falling over for anyone else. Even 125-pound wrestlers, 141-pounders, they don’t care. Everyone’s gonna wrestle the same.”
Cal Poly Wrestling’s season is nearing its conclusion, with one tournament remaining before the 2026 Pac-12 Championships. The championships will be hosted in San Luis Obispo at the Mott Athletics Center. Cal Poly is looking to utilize their “next man up” mentality to find success in the championships and potentially the postseason.