BAKERSFIELD, Calif. ? The CSUB wrestling team opened the 2008-09 season on a positive note, earning a 28-13 win over Pac-10 rival Stanford Saturday in the Icardo Center. The Roadrunners then put up a battle against Navy, but after a strong start, Navy took over late in the match, claiming a 23-16 win to give CSUB a split in its home-opener.
At 125, senior Brandon Zoetewey earned a pair of wins, including a 13-0 major decision over Stanford's Matt Sencenbaugh. Zoetewey, the preseason No. 17 ranked wrestler in the nation, also claimed an injury default victory over Navy's Pat McCaffrey.
Sophomores Elijah Nacita (141) and Riley Orozco (197) also won both their bouts to start off the season 2-0. Nacita used a six-point third period to defeat Stanford's Cameron Teitelman 11-8. He broke a late 7-7 tie with a pair of takedowns in the final minute of action. In his dual against Navy's John Majka, Nacita opened with a 7-0 lead in the first period and built his lead to 10-0 before giving up a takedown late in the third. A reversal in the waning seconds, and riding time, gave Nacita the 13-2 major decision.
Orozco, one of the Roadrunners' three returning national qualifiers, overpowered Stanford's Jake Johnson with a 12-5 major decision, with Johnson's points all coming from escapes. Against Navy's Philip Neese, Orozco used four takedowns to take an 8-3 lead in the first period, but Neese tied the score 8-8 with an escape, takedown and nearfall in the second period. Choosing the down position to begin the third, Orozco quickly fought his way to an escape, then scored a takedown with two seconds remaining for the 11-8 win.
The final match of the night featured a battle between No. 20 Mitch Monteiro of CSUB and No. 5 Scott Steele of Navy. Monteiro too an early 2-1 lead with a takedown at 1:04 in the first period, but Steele came alive late in the match to earn the 12-6 decision and give Navy the 23-16 win over the ?Runners.
The Roadrunners return to the mats Dec. 5 and 6 when they compete in the 27th Annual Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational. CSUB returns to the Icardo Center on Dec. 20 for a pair of duals against Cal Baptist and Pac-10 rival Portland State.
CSU Bakersfield 28, Stanford 13
125: Brandon Zoetewey (CSUB) maj dec. Matt Sencenbaugh, 13-0
133: Porfirio Madrigal (STAN) maj dec. Justin Durham, 17-9
141: Elijah Nacita (CSUB) dec. Cameron Teitelman, 11-8
149: Max Rosefigura (STAN) dec. Sam Barnhart, 6-5
157: Lucas Espericueta (STAN) dec. Trevor Hall, 6-5
165: Joey Granata (CSUB) fall Nick Amuchastegui, 2:12
174: Jason Points (CSUB) win by forfeit
184: Victor Haug (STAN) dec. Seamus Dean, 11-8
197: Riley Orozco (CSUB) dec. Jake Johnson, 12-5
HWT: Mitch Monteiro (CSUB) wins by forfeit
Navy 23, CSU Bakersfield 16
125: Brandon Zoetewey (CSUB) wins by injury default Pat McCaffrey
133: Aaron Kalil (NAVY) fall Justin Durham, 1:34
141: Elijah Nacita (CSUB) maj dec. John Majka, 13-2
149: Bryce Saddoris (NAVY) maj dec. Calvin Miller, 19-6
157: Trevor Hall (CSUB) dec. Robby Neill, 10-7
165: Matt DeMichiel (NAVY) dec. Joey Granata, 7-5
174: Luke Rebertus (NAVY) dec. Jason Points, 10-3
184: Casey Caldwell (NAVY) maj dec. Troy Goodban, 12-3
197: Riley Orozco (CSUB) dec. Philip Neese, 11-8
HWT: Scott Steele (NAVY) dec. Mitch Monteiro, 12-6
