GILROY—The family that wrestles together, stays together.
Senior wrestlers and twin brothers Matt and Mark Penyacsek will continue their athletic and academic careers together, signing their letters of intent to do so at Cal State Bakersfield next season in the Gilroy High library Friday.
“I’m pretty excited to wrestle in college and get four more years,” Mark said. “It’s DI, so that was a big part of the choice. I want to get to the national level and get to the podium.”
The brothers have been double trouble for the Mustangs the last few years and were especially lethal last season. Both brought home Central Coast Section titles, helping Gilroy to its 12th straight team title and punching their tickets to the state meet. Matt (170) earned a spot on the California Interscholastic Federation podium with a fifth place finish.
Matt, who also took home a Mid-Cals title last season, said he too is hoping he can work his way to an NCAA title. He believes the mentality and dedication of the Roadrunners team is exactly what he needs to get there, too.
“They have a really hard working program,” Matt said. “I just thought it would be a good fit there because of that. I’m a really hard worker and I want to make sure the people around me are hard workers, too.”
The brothers got the chance to see their new team in action as the Roadrunners competed against wrestlers from the University of Illinois and Appalachian State at Gilroy High the same day.
Matt and Mark are both family orientated and are excited to take the next step in their wrestling careers together. They will get to see other familiar faces, too. Since the Penyacsek brothers will wrestle in the PAC-12, they’ll see former teammates Paul Fox, Isaiah Locsin and Victor Olmos who are all at Stanford as well as Nikko Villarreal who wrestles for Arizona State.
For now, the Penyacseks are focused on their upcoming senior season. Both are ranked No. 4 heading into the season—Matt at 170 pounds and Mark at 182—and are looking to end their high school careers with a bang.
Gilroy’s season starts on Dec. 3 at the Monterey Bay League Novice meet at Watsonville High School.
“Hopefully we’ll be state contenders and even win state (titles),” Matt said. “(I’m excited about) hopefully, eventually becoming and NCAA champ (with CS Bakersfield). That’s always the goal.”
