Pac-12 Conference

131 2 0 1 8 - 1 9 P A C - 1 2 Y E A R I N R E V I E W W R E S T L I N G After competing for the Conference wrestling title since 1963, the STANFORD Cardinal !nally earned its !rst-ever Pac-12 crown, edging host ARIZONA STATE by two points. It was the closest team competition since Oregon State edged Boise State by two points in 2010. The Cardinal posted 81.5 points behind two individual Pac-12 Champions – Requir Van Der Merwe (149) and Nathan Traxler (197). ASU picked up 79.5 points behind individual titles from Christian Pagdilao (157), Josh Shields (165) and Zahid Valencia (174), while OREGON STATE !nished third just two points behind the Sun Devils with 77.5 points. The Beavers had four individual winners: Ronnie Bresser (125), Grant Willits (141), Bob Coleman (184) and Amar Dhesi (285). CSU Bakers!eld, behind Sean Nickell's (133) second Conference title, !nished fourth with 49.5 points. CAL POLY was !fth with 15.0 points. Valencia was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler of the Championships after he posted a pair of wins, both by technical falls. Valencia becomes the third all-time to be named Pac-12 Wrestler of the Year three times. The junior successfully defended his NCAA title at 174 pounds to !nish the year with a 31-2 record. The three-time All-American became the seventh Pac-12 wrestler to post back-to-back NCAA titles. He was recipient of The Hammer award presented by Amateur Wrestling News. The award is presented to the wrestler who wins the national title at what the writers at AWN decide is the most competitive weight class. OSU's Wilits was named Pac-12 Freshman of the Year after capturing the Pac-12 title at 141 pounds and quali!tied for the NCAA Championships. He !nished with a 18-9 record. Stanford's Jason Borrelli was named Pac-12 Coach of the Year by his peers after leading the Cardinal to its !rst-ever Pac-12 title. Along the way, the Cardinal defeated three ranked opponents during the season and sent !ve wrestlers to the NCAA Championships. TEAM RESULTS 1. Stanford ....................................................................81.5 2. Arizona State ............................................................79.5 3. Oregon State .............................................................77.5 4. CSU Bakers!eld ........................................................49.5 5. Cal Poly ....................................................................15.0 INDIVIDUAL SCORERS 125 Pounds Championship Ronnie Bresser (OSU) Def. Ryan Millhof (ASU), D; 5-4 Third Place Gabe Townsell (STAN) Def. Edward Flores (CSUB), MD; 15-6 133 Pounds Championship Sean Nickell (CSUB) Def. Mason Pengilly (STAN), Inj.; 6:45 Third Place Devan Turner (OSU) Def. Josiah Kline (ASU), MD; 14-6 141 Pounds Championship Grant Willits (OSU) Def. Brandon Kier (STAN), F; 3:38 Third Place Carlos Herrera (CSUB) Def. Cory Crooks (ASU), D; 3-2 149 Pounds Championship Requir Van Der Merwe (STAN) Def. Joshua Maruca (CSUB), D; 5-3 Third Place Russell Rohl!ng (CSUB) Def. Josh Reyes (OSU), D; 8-1 157 Pounds Championship Christian Pagdilao (ASU) Def. Hunter Willits (OSU), D; 6-2 Third Place Paul Fox (STAN) Def. Brawley Lamer (CP), D; 4-2 165 Pounds Championship Joshua Shields (ASU) Def. Jacob Thalin (CSUB), D; 9-4 Third Place Jared Hill (STAN) Def. Aaron Olmos (OSU), F; 2:10 174 Pounds Championship Zahid Valencia (ASU) Def. Bryan Batisto (CSUB), TF; 1.5 5:00 (20-4) Third Place Colt Doyle (OSU) Def. Rico Stormer (STAN), D; 4-2 184 Pounds Championship Bob Coleman (OSU) Def. Judah Duhm (STAN), D; 4-2 Third Place Dom Ducharme (CSUB) Def. Jacen Petersen (ASU), SV-1; 4-2 197 Pounds Championship Nathan Traxler (STAN) Def. Tom Lane (CP), D; 6-5 Third Place Austyn Harris (ASU) Def. Mark Penyacsek (CSUB), Inj.; 0:00 285 Pounds Championship Amar Dhesi (OSU) Def. Haydn Maley (STAN), MD; 17-3 Third Place Brady Gililand-Danie (ASU) Def. Sam Aguilar (CP), D; 4-3 PAC-12 WRESTLER OF THE YEAR: Zahid Valencia, Arizona State PAC-12 FRESHMAN/NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: Grant Willits, Oregon State PAC-12 COACH OF THE YEAR: Jason Borrelli, Stanford 2019 PAC-12 WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS (57th Annual) March 9, 2019 – Wells Fargo Arena, Tempe, Ariz. (Arizona State University, host) PAC-12 WRESTLERS OF THE WEEK Jan. 9 - Nathan Traxler, STAN Jan. 16 - Ronnie Bresser, OSU Jan. 23 - Josh Maruca, ASU Jan. 30 - Sean Nickell, CSUB Feb. 6 - Gabriel Townsell, STAN Feb. 13 - Dominic Ducharme, CSUB Feb. 20 - Rico Stormer, STAN Feb. 27 - Nathan Traxler, STAN

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