Mission

The Cardinal Wrestling Club (CWC) is a not-for-profit organization providing an environment and instruction that prepares wrestlers for competition at the section, state and national level.

Through wrestling and the role that Stanford student-athletes play, the CWC educates, trains and inspires its members to achieve their educational and athletic best.

Coaching

Are you looking to train at the Division 1 level? If so, come train with the CWC. In addition to working with some of the premiere student-athletes from around the greater Bay Area, you will receive high-level instruction and training methods from our coaches and the Stanford Wrestling coaching staff. If you aspire for high school wrestling success and an opportunity to compete at the collegiate level, the CWC is the place for you.

Ben Darmstadt

Bio- Former NCAA D1 wrestler who graduated from Cornell University with a Bachelor's degree in Marketing. During his time at Cornell Benjamin was a 2x NCAA All-American, 2x EIWA Conference Champion, 2x All-Ivy league First Team, and 2x Cornell team captain. Prior to Cornell Benjamin was a 2x Ohio D1 Highschool State Champion and Junior Fargo Freestyle National Champion and was named Fargo Junior Freestyle Most Outstanding Wrestler.

Chris Caldwell

Chris is a former NCAA D1 wrestler who graduated from Boise State with undergraduate degrees in finance and economics. After graduation, Chris worked for 2.5 years as an investment banking analyst covering technology companies. Desiring the opportunity to get back on the mat, Chris spent 1 year in the Middle East coaching for Wrestling4Peace, which is an initiative launched by USA Wrestling to transcend borders/cultures and bring people together through the sport of wrestling. Chris was lucky enough to have spent 6 years coaching and learning under the legendary Ivan Ivanov at Suples Training Systems and looks forward to continued coaching success at the CWC.

Ahad Javansalehi

Ahad was a two-time Olympian and four-time Asian medalist competing for Iran in the early 1990s. He was a member of the 2013 U.S. Greco-Roman World Team staff, and has helped coach U.S. Senior teams at the 2014 World Cup in Iran and the 2014 Granma Cup in Cuba. For the past 7 years he has worked with Cornell’s Spartan RTC. During this time, he placed one wrestler on the senior world team, had one Junior silver medalist, and numerous Cadet World Team members.

Jordan Gray

Jordan is a former Cardinal wrestler and has coached with the Cardinal Wrestling Club since 2022. He is a higher education professional and holds a B.A. in Psychology from Stanford ('13) and a Masters of Education from the University of Illinois ('20). As a coach, Jordan uses the knowledge, expertise, and best practices he has gained in his academic studies and professional career to inform his work with the club's elementary, middle, and high school wrestlers. He is passionate about helping young wrestlers have fun and fall in love with wrestling, growing CWC student-athletes' mastery of technical wrestling skills and their application, as well as cultivating the mental practices and dispositions that contribute to young peoples' healthy personal development and success both on and off the mat. Prior to wrestling at Stanford, Jordan was a 4x Vermont state finalist and 3x champion, placed 4th and 5th at the New England Wrestling Championships, and was the 2009 Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award recipient for Vermont.

Current and former Stanford wrestlers will also occasionally help coach the CWC practices.

RTC Athletes

Danny Chaid
3rd Place U.S. Senior Open 2019
U23 World Team Trials Runner-Up
2X NCAA Qualifier – North Carolina
2X California State Medalist

Gabriel Townsell
Gabe kicked off the year with an intensive 10 day training camp at the OTC, followed by earning a win over Azerbaijan at the strong UWW Dan Kolov memorial tournament in Bulgaria. In April, Gabe earned 7th at the US Open in Freestyle and qualified for the World Team Trials.

Townsell attended Stanford University from 2016-2020, where he was a 3x NCAA Qualifier, Junior World alternate, U23 World Team Member, Junior Pan-Am Silver Medalist, and Academic All-American (2016-19).

Quentin Perez
Quentin, originally an east bay native, enjoyed a great first year with the CA RTC where he earned bronze at the Bill Farrell, had a strong showing at the US Open and most recently won his folkstyle bout on the Stalemates card in Iowa.

Perez joins us after a successful collegiate career at Campbell University where he was an honorable mention NWCA All-American, 3x NCAA qualifier and 2x SoCon tournament champion.

Sean Fausz
A four-time NCAA national qualifier while wrestling at North Carolina State. Fausz finished third at the 2019 World Team Trials at 61kg.

Alumni - NCAA Div 1 National Championships

Since 2005, CWC alumni have earned 6 All-American honors at the NCAA Championships.

Jon Jay Chavez – Cornell – 7th (2018)

Paul Fox - Stanford - 8th (2017)

Nikko Triggas – Ohio State – 8th (2010)

Jason Welch – Northwestern – 2nd (2013), 4th (2012), 6th (2011)

Alumni - California High School State Championships

Since 2005, CWC members have won 49 California state medals and 10 state championships.

Steven Abbate – Central Catholic – 5th (2017)

Jorge Barajas – Saint Francis – 4th (2012)

Danny Chaid – Bellarmine – 3rd (2012), 8th (2011)

Jon Jay Chavez – De La Salle – 7th (2012)

Hunter Collins – Gilroy – STATE CHAMP (2008), 3rd (2007), 2nd (2006), 8th (2005)

Ian Cramer – Gunn – 8th (2015)

Alex Felix – Gilroy – 2nd (2018), 3rd (2017), 4th (2016)

Orry Elor – College Park – 3rd (2011), 8th (2010)

Paul Fox – Gilroy – STATE CHAMP (2014), 2nd (2013), 2nd (2012), 8th (2011)

Graham Grant – Saratoga – 4th (2014)

John Hall – Palo Alto – 2nd (2007), 8th (2006)

Adam Hendrickson – Healdsburg – 6th (2012), 6th (2011), 7th (2010)

PJ Klee – Cardinal Newman – 2nd (2014)

Porfirio Madrigal – Healdsburg – 7th (2007)

Drew Meulman – Saint Francis – 2nd (2009), 7th (2008)

Joe Moita – De La Salle – 3rd (2012), 4th (2010)

Nathan Morris – Redwood – 6th (2014)

Dylan Morris – Redwood – 7th (2012)

Victor Pereira – Newark Memorial – 2nd (2012), 2nd (2011), 5th (2010)

Aaron Perez – James Logan – 7th (2018)

Brian Sergi – College Park – STATE CHAMP (2012)

Nikko Triggas – Campolindo – 2nd (2007), STATE CHAMP (2006)

Niko Villarreal – Gilroy – STATE CHAMP (2014), STATE CHAMP (2013), STATE CHAMP (2012), 3rd (2011)

Kayla Walker – Pioneer – 8th (2015)

Jason Welch – Las Lomas – STATE CHAMP (2008), STATE CHAMP (2007), STATE CHAMP (2006)

Joey Wilson – Half Moon Bay – 3rd (2007)

*Disclaimer: Cardinal Wrestling Club is an independent organization. Cardinal Wrestling Club is not Stanford University's agent or 'partner', or supported or endorsed by the University. The University does not indemnify or accept responsibility for any representations, activities, negligent acts, failure to act properly, and/or omissions, of the Cardinal Wrestling Club, its directors, officers, agents, employees, contractors, representatives, or members.