Purdue
Cal Poly Wins 4 Bouts in Tight Battle with No. 24 Purdue in Opener
11/1/2025 11:00:00 PM | Wrestling
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — In its 2025-26 season opener, No. 28-ranked Cal Poly wrestling went blow for blow with No. 24 Purdue in a tightly-contested dual inside Mott Athletics Center on Saturday night, but came up just short, falling 19-13 to the Boilermakers.
The Mustangs won four of the 10 bouts and eight of the matches on the night were decided by a decision, including a pair in overtime. Cal Poly more than held its own against a Purdue side that had seven nationally ranked wrestlers take the mat inside Mott.
Redshirt junior Koda Holeman got Mustang fans on their feet right away with a major decision in the opening bout at 125 pounds. The 27th-ranked wrestler at 125 pounds secured six takedowns en route to a dominant 20-8 major decision to give Cal Poly an early 4-0 lead.
2025 NCAA All-American Zeth Romney took the mat at 141 pounds and gave Cal Poly its second victory of the dual with a thrilling overtime triumph over No. 18-ranked Greyson Clark. After earning a penalty point late in the third period to force overtime, Romney secured an escape in the second overtime period to capture a 6-5 decision.
The dual marked Romney’s first time wrestling at 141 pounds since he went 7-2 as a true freshman competing in the weight class, winning the 2022 Menlo Open title in his last appearance at 141. Last year, Romney placed third at 133 pounds at the NCAA Championships to become Cal Poly’s fourth All-American all-time at 133 and first in 15 years. Romney is currently ranked No. 4 in the nation at 141 pounds and recorded 13 victories over ranked opponents a year ago.
Romney’s win gave the Mustangs a 7-3 lead, but then Purdue won four straight matches to take a 16-7 advantage, winning three of those bouts by decision. Graduate student Andre Gonzales fell in sudden victory at 149 pounds in his Mustang debut, redshirt freshman Jagger French dropped a 2-0 decision at 157 pounds and redshirt junior Cash Stewart lost a tight 8-4 decision at 174 pounds.
Redshirt junior Ceasar Garza, a transfer from Michigan State, gave Cal Poly a chance at contending for the dual victory by scoring an upset at 184 pounds in his Mustang debut. The 28th-ranked 184-pounder grabbed a 10-7 decision over No. 23 James Rowley to make it 16-10 in favor of the Boilermakers.
In the next bout at 197 pounds, graduate student Cole Jackson fought hard, but dropped an 11-4 decision to No. 26 Ben Vanadia, allowing Purdue to put the dual out of the Mustangs’ reach.
Graduate student Trevor Tinker capped off the dual by securing a ranked win, defeating No. 32 Hayden Filipovich by a 9-3 decision at heavyweight. Tinker is currently ranked No. 16 in the country at 285 pounds and last year captured the Pac-12 title at heavyweight and qualified for NCAAs for the third straight season, finishing with a team-best 24-7 record.
The Mustangs return to action on Friday, Nov. 14, at 7 p.m. to host Pac-12 rival Cal State Bakersfield inside Mott Athletics Center as part of the program’s annual Alumni Weekend.
No. 28 Cal Poly (13) vs. No. 24 Purdue (19)
125: No. 27 Koda Holeman (CP) maj. Jacob Macatangay (PUR), 20-8
133: No. 18 Blake Boarman (PUR) dec. Anthony Lucio (CP), 8-2
141: No. 4 Zeth Romney (CP) sv. No. 18 Greyson Clark (PUR), TB-1 6-5
149: Gavin Brown (PUR) sv. Andre Gonzales (CP), SV-1 4-1
157: Stoney Buell (PUR) dec. Jagger French (CP), 2-0
165: No. 3 Joey Blaze (PUR) tech fall Luke Gayer (CP), 19-4 (7:00)
174: No. 19 Brody Baumann (PR) dec. Cash Stewart (CP), 8-4
184: No. 28 Ceasar Garza (CP) dec. No. 23 James Rowley (PUR), 10-7
197: No. 26 Ben Vanadia (PUR) dec. Cole Jackson, 11-4
HWT: No. 16 Trevor Tinker (CP) dec. No. 32 Hayden Filipovich, 9-3
Purdue -1.0 team point for throwing headgear
