The SDSU wrestling team closed out a month long six-match home stand on Jan. 25 with a win over Cal-Poly and a loss to No. 17 Oregon State. 

The Jacks defended Frost Arena well as they went 5-1 in January, with wins also coming against Buffalo, Dakota Wesleyan, Boise State and Northern Colorado. 

“We’re beating the teams we’re supposed to beat and losing to the ranked teams,” SDSU head coach Chris Bono said, “so it’s status quo for us.“ 

SDSU handled Cal Poly, winning seven of the 10 matches in the dual en route to a 23-10 win. The matchup against the ranked Beavers of Oregon State proved much tougher as the Jackrabbits fell 35-6. Of the 10 wrestlers who competed for OSU, seven of them are ranked individually. SDSU was only able to snag two victories in the dual, with No. 7 Cody Pack getting a 3-1 decision over No. 21 Alex Elder at 157. The other win for the Jacks came at 285 as No. 30 J.J. Everard earned a 5-2 decision over Nate Keeve. 

The Jacks season now stands at 8-6, with a 1-0 record in the Western Wrestling Conference after the win against Northern Colorado. 

“We’ve got to turn it up the last month and a half of the season, show some fight and some grit and pull through,” Bono said. 

Earlier this week, Bono was named a coach for one of five USA Wrestling teams going overseas in March for an international tour. 

“I want to thank USA Wrestling for the opportunity to go overseas and coach some of the best guys in the world,” Bono said of his selection. 

Bono’s team includes SDSU assistant coach Jon Reader, 2012 Olympic Bronze Medalist Coleman Scott, and 2014 NCAA champion David Taylor of Penn. State. 

Next up for the Rabbit Wrestlers is a road trip out west as they travel to face conference foes Wyoming and Air Force. 

“It’s two conference duals, and we’ve got to win,” Bono said. “This is how we qualify for the NCAA tournament so we’ve got to go 20-for-20 and get our guys to the tournament.”

After the trip, the Jacks close the year with three more home matches against Utah Valley, Stanford, and North Dakota State before the WWC Championships in Fargo, ND on March 7.