BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -– Five CSUB wrestlers are headed to the Qwest Center in Omaha, Neb., next week for the 2010 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships. At-large bids and complete brackets were announced Wednesday by the NCAA.
For the Roadrunners, Elijah Nacita (141 pounds), Mike Larson (184 pounds), Riley Orozco (197 pounds) and Mitch Monteiro (HWT) all received automatic bids due to their placewinner status at the Pac-10 Championships held Feb. 26-27 in Davis. On Wednesday, 125-pounder Frank Lomas was added to the Roadrunner qualifiers after receiving one of four at-large bids allocated for his division.
Lomas enters his first NCAA Tournament with a 22-15 record and will face Shane Young (16-8) of West Virginia in the first round. The Bakersfield sophomore placed fifth at the Pac-10 Championships.
At 141 pounds, Nacita makes his second trip to the NCAA's riding an 18-11 overall record. He placed fourth at the Pac-10 Championships and will face Zack Kemmerer (29-11) of Pennsylvania on the opening round.
Larson, a redshirt freshman, made a run at the 184-pound Pac-10 title, finishing as the runner-up with a 23-14 overall record. In his first NCAA appearance, the McKinleyville, Calif., native will face No. 4 seed Michael Cannon (25-1) of American.
At 197 pounds, Orozco won his first Pac-10 title after going a perfect 9-0 in dual competition this season. The junior is making his third consecutive NCAA appearance and, with a 22-6 record, will open action against Rugters' Lamar Brown (25-9).
Coming off his second straight Pac-10 title, Monteiro earned the No. 11 seed in the heavyweight bracket. With a 15-5 record, the senior will face David Wade (21-14) of Eastern Michigan in the opening round of action.
In 2009, CSUB had six NCAA qualifiers and placed 36th overall. Brandon Halsey earned the distinction of being named the Roadrunners' 43rd NCAA Division I All-American, placing seventh in the 197-pound division.
The 2010 NCAA Championships runs from Mar. 18-20 and is co-hosted by the University of Nebraska and the Omaha Sports Commision. For ticket information call 402-422-1212.
