After a three-week hiatus, Cal Poly Wrestling was back on the mat on Feb. 2, dominating Southern Illinois University Edwardsville for a 26-16 win.
It was the first home meet for the Mustangs (4-6) since December, and the home crowd was in full effect, pushing the Mustangs to win all but three of their individual matches.
They started off the meet strong, with the dynamic tandem of No. 33 Koda Holeman and No. 2 redshirt sophomore Zeth Romney leading off at 125 and 133 pounds and both earning decision wins.
“Felt great to be back in Mott,” redshirt sophomore Cash Stewart said. “The environment was awesome, the whole team just wrestling out of their minds.”
No. 6 149-pounder redshirt junior Chance Lamer got the crowd going midway through the match, putting on a dominant performance and snagging a 17-5 major decision win.
He had three takedowns in the third period alone and continued his undefeated streak of 11 matches this season.
“Chance is a killer,” head coach Jon Sioredas said. “Once he gets his motor going, man it’s fun to watch.”
The day’s highlight was a breakout performance from 174-pounder Stewart, who landed a dramatic pin for a fall victory.
It was Stewart’s first match since moving up a weight class, where he had been wrestling at 165 pounds earlier in the year.
“At a home dual, to get a nice big pin like that in front of the home crowd, it was awesome,” Stewart said. “I know my parents, my family’s all watching at home, so I pointed to the camera to let them know, just loving the support.”
He didn’t wrestle last year due to a shoulder injury, so this has been his first opportunity to break through to the starting squad.
Sioredas applauded the work Stewart put in over their three-week break, which led to his victory against the Cougars.
“He’s got a bright future ahead of him,” Sioreads said. “He’s a fun kid to work with, just a really really good worker, does everything right on the mat, off the mat, [he’s] an incredible leader.”
The team finished the meet strong, punctuated by No. 21 165-pounder Luka Wick getting a last-second escape to tie the match score at 1-1 before he walked it off with a takedown in overtime.
Rising in the rankings
Strong performances in recent invitationals and dual meets have propelled the Mustangs up the rankings this season.
The team rose to 15th in Intermat’s tournament rankings after strong showings at the NWCA National Duals in January.
It’s the highest the team has been featured on the list since 2022.
The Mustangs currently field five ranked wrestlers: Holeman, Romney, Wick, Chance Lamer and No. 23 285-pounder redshirt junior Trevor Tinker.
At this point in the season, many will already be looking ahead to the NCAA Championships, which loom at the end of March.
For Chance Lamer and other experienced wrestlers, Sioredas is working to begin prep for the major tournaments following their regular season.
“[Chance has] been getting better and better and better each week,” Sioredas said. “He’s obviously got really big goals so we’re just trying to treat each match just to help in preparation to get him ready for the NCAA Championships.”
Romney, the standout Cal Poly wrestler over the season, has consistently climbed the rankings, reaching the highest point of his career at No. 2 for 133 pounds.
Eight of his 12 victories this year have come against ranked opponents, and he will no doubt be a wrestler to watch as the NCAAs approach.
Big month ahead
The Mustangs had had a long midseason break this year, a welcome rest period for a team dealing with injuries all season.
“I’m happy because we’re starting to show what we’ve been up to over these last couple weeks,” Sioredas said. “I obviously watch these guys every day, and I feel like we’re well equipped and prepared, and healthy for the first time in quite a while.”
They have a quick turnaround for their next meet, their Pac-12 opener against Oregon State on Friday.
After Oregon State, the Mustangs will host Northern Illinois and Little Rock in a double meet on Friday, Feb. 14.
They lost to Little Rock earlier in the season, in the quarterfinals of the NWCA National Duals, and will be looking for redemption at home.
“I’m excited for some of those ranked wrestlers to come to town and give us a run for our money,” Stewart said. “If we win, we win and that’s awesome, that’s what we’re going for, but I think we all just want that challenge.”
The Mustangs’ biggest challenge will be against the Pac-12 rival Oregon State Beavers, who they will duel at Mott Athletics Center on Feb. 7 at 7 p.m.