BAKERSFIELD, Calif.--The Bakersfield wrestling team defeated Menlo College 33-10 Friday night in a dual in the Icardo Center. The Oaks are ranked 18th in the current NAIA wrestling top 25 poll.
The dual opened at 125 pounds where Menlo's Troy Lakin defeated Sergio Mendez (Fr., Arleta, Calif., San Fernando HS) 6-5. Zach Zimmer (R-Jr., Fresno, Calif., Indiana Univ.) got the 'Runners on the board with a technical fall (18-2, 5:23) over Juan Zorrilla at 133 pounds.
Ian Nickell (R-So., Bakersfield, Calif., Bakersfield HS) increased the Bakersfield lead with a major decision, 13-3 against Steele Escobedo at 141 pounds. Escobedo is ranked 11th in the current NAIA individual rankings. At 149, Dalton Kelley (R-Sr., Alamosa, Colo., Alamosa HS) handed Jose Maldando a 11-4 loss for a 12-3 CSUB lead.
Menlo's Christian Franks won by major decision (11-1) over Mike Herrera (R-So., Vista, Calif., Rancho Buena Vista HS). Eric Lopez, the No. 1-ranked wrestler in the NAIA at 165, defeated David Meza (R-So., Fullerton, Calif., Buena Park HS) 4-3 to pull the Oaks to within two, 12-10.
'Runners 174-pounder, Bryce Hammond (R-So., Bakersfield, Calif., Bakersfield HS), who is ranked as high as No. 12 in the Division I polls, returned to the mats for the first time since spraining his right knee at the Dec. 29 Midlands Championships, and pinned Paul Bracamonte in just 31 seconds. The pin was the fastest fall of Hammond's career, beating the time of 1:04 he needed to stick Tim Hollowell of Menlo at the 2013 Roadrunner Open.
Sean Pollock (R-Jr., Oceanside, Calif., Rancho Buena Vista HS) won by forfeit at 184. Reuben Franklin (Jr., Murrieta, Calif., Vista Murrieta HS) pinned Martin Gonzalez 3:50 into the 197-pound bout. Sammy Cervantes (R-Sr., Chula Vista, Calif., Palomar College) wrapped up the night for the 'Runners with a 2-1 victory at heavyweight.
"Overall, the guys who wrestled tonight, wrestled very well," said Bakersfield head coach Mike Mendoza.
The Roadrunners are off until Jan. 31 when Bakersfield travels to San Francisco State for a 1 p.m. dual. The Gators are ranked 19th in the current Division II Wrestling Coaches Association Top 20 poll.
~www.GoRunners.com~
Bakersfield (B) 33, Menlo (M) 10
125: Troy Lakin, M, dec. Sergio Mendez, 6-5. 133: Zach Zimmer, B, tech. fall Juan Zorrilla, 5:23 18-2. 141: Ian Nickell, B, maj. dec. Steele Escobedo, 13-3. 149: Dalton Kelly, B, dec. Jose Maldando, 11-4. 157: Christian Franks, M, maj. dec. Michael Herrera, 11-1. 165: Eric Lopez, M, dec. David Meza, 4-3. 174: Bryce Hammond, B, pinned Paul Bracamonte, 0:31. 184: Sean Pollock, B, forf. 197: Reuben Franklin, B, pinned Martin Gonzalez, 3:50. 285: Sam Cervantes, B, dec. Scott Brasil, 2-1.
