STANFORD, Calif. - Winning nine of the 10 bouts, the 16th-ranked Stanford wrestling team dominated Utah Valley, 37-5, Friday at Burnham Pavilion in Stanford, California. The Cardinal moves to 6-2 on the year, while the Wolverines drop to 3-4 overall.
Redshirt sophomore Nathan Butler set the tone for the Cardinal with a 2-0 decision over Dustin Dennison at heavyweight. After no score in the opening period, Butler rode out Dennison in the second and picked up the escape in the third for the win. He moves to 18-4 on the season and 5-1 in duals.
In the most anticipated match-up of the evening, Stanford's Connor Schram, ranked 20th nationally, pulled out a 3-1 sudden victory over 18th-ranked Chasen Tolbert at 125 pounds. Tied 1-1 heading into overtime, Schram scored a takedown in seven seconds for his 12th win of the season, and his first over a ranked opponent.
Utah Valley cut the Stanford lead to 6-5 as Jade Rauser recorded a 20-1 technical fall over junior Eric Cramer in 4:30 at 133 pounds.
True freshman Joey McKenna, ranked second in the nation, improved to 13-1 on the year and 5-0 in duals with a 14-0 major decision over Jarod Maynes at 141 pounds. The Towaco, New Jersey native tallied two takedowns, eight nearfall points, an escape and 3:19 of riding time in the win.
Redshirt freshman Paul Fox increased the Stanford lead to 14-5 with a 15-3 major decision over Matthew Ontiveros at 149 pounds. He posted two takedowns, a reversal, eight nearfall points and 2:38 of riding time for the victory. He paces the team in wins this season with 22.
The team score jumped to 23-5 as redshirt freshman Walker Dempsey notched a 7-3 decision over Raider Lofthouse at 157 pounds and 12th-ranked Jim Wilson received a forfeit win. Dempsey is now 4-6 on the year, while Wilson improves to 16-4.
Redshirt junior Peter Galli then registered a 16-0 technical fall in 3:49 over Ross Taylor at 174 pounds. He led 14-0 after the first period and tallied an escape in the second for his second technical fall of the season. He is now 12-8 overall and 4-0 in duals.
Redshirt sophomore Garet Krohn got in on the action with a 10-2 major decision over Will Sumner at 184 pounds. It was his first major decision of the season as he moved to 10-4 overall and 1-1 in duals.
Senior Micahel Sojka capped off the scoring with a 17-0 technical fall of his own, defeating Aryton Almberg at 197 pounds. Sojka is now 11-5 on the year and 4-2 in duals.
Stanford will be back on the mat Saturday, Jan. 16 as it hosts Duke. The Cardinal and Blue Devils square off at 1 p.m. PT in Burnham Pavilion. Admission is free.
No. 16 Stanford 37, Utah Valley 5
