BAKERSFIELD, Calif. ? CSUB's wrestling team closed out the 2008 regular-season in style, earning a 27-12 win over Pac-10 rival Cal Poly Sunday night in the Icardo Center.
The Roadrunners finish the season with a 9-3 overall dual record and a 6-3 conference mark.
Prior to the first match, CSUB honored seniors Daniel Alejandro, Daniel Atondo, Ryan Bergman and Jeremy Doyle. Two of those seniors picked up big wins in the meet as Doyle and Alejando earned back-to-back major decisions at 149 and 157 to push Bakersfield's lead to 23-6.
Doyle, now 31-13 on the season, went up 7-1 after two periods and scored six points in the third for a 13-4 win. Alejandro, meanwhile, racked up the points in the second period, using a reversal, takedown and three-point nearfall to open a 9-1 lead. Another three-point nearfall and riding time gave the senior a 13-1 victory.
Garth Wara (197) started the night with a pin of Cal Poly's Arturo Basulto at the 3:29 mark. Down 5-1 early in the second period, Wara turned the Mustang westler on his back just under 30-seconds into the period for the win.
In the heavyweight division, and wrestling for the first time in a ?Runner uniform, sophomore Mitch Montero picked up a bit 8-2 decision over Jim Powers to push CSUB's lead to 9-0. At 125, Brandon Zoetewey earned a forfeit win and the ?Runners' final individual victory was a dual-ending 11-2 major decision by Riley Orozco at 184.
No.1 nationally-ranked Chad Mendes took a 6-1 decision over Elijah Nacita at 141, while the Mustangs also claimed decision wins at 133, 165 and 174.
CSUB will break from competition until March 2-3 for the the Pac-10 Championships hosted by University of Oregon.
CSU Bakersfield 27, Cal Poly 12
197 - Garth Wara (CSUB) pin Arturo Basulto, 3:29
285 - Mitch Montero (CSUB) dec. Jim Powers, 8-2
125 - Brandon Zoetewey (CSUB) win by forfeit
133 - Boris Novachkov (CP) dec. Thomas Kimbrell, 7-3
141 - Chad Mendes (CP) dec. Elijah Nacita, 6-1
149 - Jeremy Doyle (CSUB) maj. dec. Eric Maldonado, 13-4
157 - Daniel Alejandro (CSUB) maj. dec. Stephen Thalin, 13-1
165 - Ryan Williams (CP) dec. Daniel Atondo, 3-2
174 - Mike Williams (CP) dec. Jason Points, 4-2
184 - Riley Orozco (CSUB) maj. dec. Ernie Varela, 11-2
