THIS WEEK: After spending the last month on the road, the Roadrunners conclude regular-season action at home this week, hosting Pac-10 rival Cal Poly on Sunday at 5 p.m. in the Icardo Center. CSUB enters the dual with an 8-3 overall record and a 5-3 mark in the Pac-10. Four wrestlers will be making their final appearance in a ?Runner uniform Sunday. Seniors Jeremy Doyle (149), Daniel Alejandro (157), Daniel Atondo (165), and Ryan Bergman (285) will be honored in a short ceremony prior to the first bout of the night.
LAST WEEK: The Roadrunners split a pair of duals on the road last week, falling 21-13 to Pac-10 opponent Cal State Fullerton before bouncing back for a 21-12 win over non-conference foe Menlo College. Brandon Zoetewey was a bright spot for CSUB, winning both of his bouts at 125. Elijah Nacita (141) increased his win streak to 13 with a 7-2 decision over Fullerton's Adin Duenes while Jeremy Doyle (149) earned his first 30-win season with a 6-0 shutout of Menlo's Jarell Price.
SENIORS BID FAREWELL: Jeremy Doyle (149), Daniel Alejandro (157), Daniel Atondo (165) and Ryan Bergman (285) will compete for the final time at home Sunday as the quartet close out their senior season.
Doyle's senior highlights include being named the Most Outstanding Wrestler at the California Collegiates earlier this month as well recently earning his 30th win, bringing his career record to 56-32.
Alejandro holds a career record of 31-28 to go along with seven career pins.
Atondo, who has compiled a 64-42 career mark, is seeking a second consecutive bid to the NCAA National Championships after using a third place Pac-10 finish to enter the tournament last year.
Bergman has wrestled for two years at 197 and two years a 285, compiling a career mark of 40-42 to go along with 10 pins.
PAC-10 RANKINGS: The fifth edition of the Pac-10 rankings were released Feb. 6. Elijah Nacita (141) and Daniel Atondo (165) both hold tight at No. 3, while Brandon Zoetewey (125) and Thomas Kimbrell (133) are No. 4 and No. 5, respectively. Ryan Bergman (285) checks in at No. 5 and Riley Orozco (184) holds steady at No. 6. Meanwhile, Jason Points (174) and Jeremy Doyle (149) both fell two spots to No. 7.
With the match-up against Cal Poly this week, CSUB will be looking for upsets against No. 2 Boris Novachkov (125), No. 1 Chad Mendez (141), No. 3 Eric Maldonado (149), No. 2 Chase Pami (157) and No. 4 Arturo Basulto (197).
NATIONAL STATISTICS: Two Roadrunners are listed in this week's national statistics, released Feb. 6. Daniel Atondo (165) is in a six-way tie for No. 2 in major decisions (11), while Elijah Nacita (141) is in a seven-way tie for No. 9 in technical fall victories (5).
PIN FOR A WIN: Through 597 matches, the Roadrunners have earned 80 of their 372 wins by virtue of a pin. That number far surpasses the 2006-07 season total of 61. Leading the way in that statistical category are Elijah Nacita (141), Jeremy Doyle (149), Trevor Hall (157) and Ryan Bergman (285) who have all totaled six pins. However, the ?Runners fastest pin to date (23 seconds) came by the hands of freshman Justin Durham (133).
400 AND COUNTING: On Saturday, Jan. 19, Head Coach T.J. Kerr became the fifth active NCAA coach to reach 400 career wrestling victories, following a 37-12 win over Portland State. Kerr now holds a 35-plus-year career record of 403-200-7. Now in his 24th season at the helm of the Roadrunner program, Kerr also owns a 221-130-4 record at CSUB.
UP NEXT: The Roadrunners hit the practice mats for the remainder of the month, awaiting the 2008 Pac-10 Championships on March 2-3. University of Oregon will host this year's championship event in Eugene, Ore., at the McArthur Court. For more information and advance ticket purchases, visit the Ducks online at www.goducks.com.
TICKETS, PLEASE: Tickets information for all Roadrunner wrestling meets may be found online at www.gorunners.com. For ticket package and group ticket information -- or to purchase tickets by phone -- call the CSUB Athletics Ticket Office at (661) 654-BLUE.
NEED MORE INFO?: For all of the most up-to-date information about CSU Bakersfield wrestling and all other Roadrunner sports, check out the CSUB Athletics Web site at: www.gorunners.com.
