Youthful Mustangs Struggle Through Season 2016-17 Season in Review
Under first-year head coach Jon Sioredas, Cal Poly won six dual meets, the most since the 2011-12 squad also won six matches, and sent a pair of wrestlers to the NCAA Division I National Championship in St. Louis. Included in the six victories was a 19-18 triumph over No. 27 Indiana. Cal Poly also defeated West Virginia by the same score and San Francisco State, Cal Baptist, CSU Bakersfield and Northern Colorado. The Mustangs won four of the dual meets by capturing the final bout. Spencer Empey won three bouts by decision against Indiana, West Virginia and Northern Colorado while Colt Shorts earned a decision to lead the Mustangs over CSU Bakersfield. Cal Poly trailed Indiana 18Colt Shorts works his San Francisco State opponent for a potential fall en route to 21-14 mark. 12 with two bouts to go, West Shorts, who placed second at 157 pounds, and Colton Schilling, third Virginia 7-0 and 15-10 with three bouts left, CSU Bakersfield 18-14 at 141, qualified for the nationals. with two bouts to go and Northern Colorado 14-0 and 18-6 before cap"In our staff's first year, we have learned a ton about our team, our turing the final four bouts. program, and our community," said Sioredas. "It is remarkable interactThe Mustangs won them all, finishing the year with a 6-10 record. ing with wrestling alumni and supporters stretching over 60 years and it In tournaments, Sohrab Movahedi claimed first place in the is humbling to lead one of the most storied wrestling programs. Roadrunner Open and Menlo Open. Jett Moy and Tom Lane also "We have a lot to celebrate in our first year," Sioredas added. "First placed first in the Menlo Open. Second-place finishes were earned by and foremost, our academic performance must be commended. This is a testament to our support staff and the diligence and commitment of our student-athletes. "We achieved a perfect score of 1,000 in the NCAA Academic Progress Rate, which is an assessment of academic success, and earned a Public Recognition Award from the NCAA. This past winter quarter, we received the highest grade-point average in seven years. We currently carry the highest team cumulative GPA in over three years." Shorts led the Mustangs with 21 wins, finishing his senior campaign with a 21-14 record. Empey was 17-16 and Schilling was 13-11 with a team-leading nine falls. Other Mustangs who posted winning records included Travis Berridge, 13-9 at 174 pounds, Movahedi with a 14-5 mark and Mitch Woods, 13-7 at 184 pounds. Thomas Lane was 14-14 at 197. In dual meets, 149-pounder Joshy Cortez led the team with 20 takedowns. Yoshito Funakoshi at 133 pounds notched 15 takedowns and his 29 escapes topped the squad. Empey led in reversals with six while Shorts was No. 1 in two-point near falls with four. Lane had six four-point near falls and Shorts’ seven riding time points led the squad. Colton Schilling led Cal Poly with nine falls as a junior last season. Woods was 6-0 in dual meets while Shorts posted an 8-6 mark, Schilling 6-4, Movahedi 4-1 and Berridge 4-2. Colt Shorts and J.T. Goodwin at the Reno Tournament of Champions Shorts was named Most Outstanding Wrestler at a team banquet and Empey in the Roadrunner Open while Schilling was presented the Most Improved Award. Other award Cal Poly finished sixth at the Pac-12 finals. Arizona State snapped Oregon State’s run of five consecutive conference team championships, winners include Blake Kastl with the Leadership Award, Tyler Schilling with the Coaches Award and Empey with the Academic Excellence scoring 127 points to finish 4.5 points ahead of Stanford. The Sun Award. Devils produced five individual champions. 2017-18 Cal Poly Wrestling Media Guide -- Page 17