Cal Poly Wrestlers Shine at Pac-12 Championships

Corvallis, Ore. — Five Cal Poly wrestlers advanced to the finals in their respective weight classes at the Pac-12 Championships held over the weekend. The Mustangs had a strong showing, with notable performances that secured NCAA Championship bids for some athletes.

Cal Poly’s Head Coach praised the team’s progress, saying, “I think our effort’s been outstanding. We’re continuing to get better as the season goes along, and we just gotta keep it going.” His team’s performance reflected this commitment during the semifinals held at Oregon State’s facility.

Among the standout competitors was redshirt junior, who rebounded from a previous loss to pin Oregon State’s No. 2 seed Kekana Fouret in a dramatic 165-pound match. Earlier, at the 125-pound class, No. 1 seed earned a decisive 16-2 major decision against Little Rock’s Jayden Carson. He now faces a familiar rival, No. 13 Maximo Renteria, in the finals.

In the 149-pound weight class, No. 2 seed Romney earned a solid 15-7 major decision victory against No. 3 seed Damion Elliott. He will encounter No. 1 seed Nasir Bailey again, who previously defeated him in a close match. Romney will seek redemption from their last encounter, where he narrowly lost 4-1.

Additionally, several Mustangs who were expected to compete faced challenges. Chance Lamer and both encountered surprising defeats but managed to secure wins in the third-place matches, with Lamer ensuring his spot in the NCAA tournament.

No. 3 seed at 184 pounds also advanced, winning decisively and set to face No. 4 seed Timothy McDonnell for the championship. In the heavyweight division, No. 2 seed Tinker dominated his semifinals with an 11-0 major decision against No. 3 seed Brett Mower. Tinker, now riding an 11-match winning streak, will meet No. 1 seed Jake Andrews in the finals.

Fans can follow live updates on title matches starting at 6 p.m. on Mustang News Sports’ social media platforms.