FRESNO, Calif.—The Bakersfield wrestling program hosted the fourth edition of the Roadrunner Open at Selland Arena Sunday afternoon. There were no team scores.
The top finish by an active CSUB wrestler came from Bryce Hammond (R-Jr., Bakersfield, Calif., Bakersfield HS) who placed second at 174 pounds. Hammond won his three preliminary matches by a combined score of 42-3. In the finals, Hammond lost to No. 12 Zac Brunson (for the second time in three days) by a 7-6 count.
Reuben Franklin (Sr., Murrieta, Calif., Vista Murrieta HS)) who is redshirting this season for the Roadrunners, won the 197-pound title. Franklin was 5-0 on the day with one pin and one technical fall. In the finals, Franklin defeated Oregon State's Cody Crawford 5-2.
“We are improving every competition and in every match,” said Bakersfield head coach Mike Mendoza.
Ian Nickell (R-Jr., Bakersfield, Calif., Bakersfield HS) finished third at 133 pounds. Nickell advanced to the semifinals where he lost Purdues Danny Sabatello 4-1. After winning his wrestleback, Nickell defeated Grand Canyon's Godwin Nyama-Cutler 9-5 for third.
Matt Williams (R-Fr., Apple Valley, Calif., Sultana HS) finished third at 197 pounds. Williams went 2-0 before losing in the quarterfinals to Illinois' Jeff Koepke 7-3. Williams won three straight in the consolation bracket, setting up a rematch with Kopeke for third. Williams handed Koepke a 5-2 defeat for the placing.
Zach Zimmer (R-Fr., Clovis, Calif., Indiana) came in fifth at 125 pounds. Zimmer lost his opening bout of the day to Stanford's Mason Pengilly. Zimmer would win five wrestleback bouts in a row, advancing to the consolation semifinals where he lost 12-4 to Dominic Parisi of Appalachian State. In the fifth place match, Zimmer won by medical forfeit over Evan Silver of Stanford.
AJ Fierro (R-Fr., Bakersfield, Calif., Bakersfield HS) was sixth at 149 pounds. Fierro dropped a 16-3 decision to Dylan Cottrell of Appalachian State in the quarterfinals. He his first two wrestlebacks before being pinned by Brandon Nelsen of Purdue in the consolation semifinals. Joey Moon of North Carolina defeated Fierro 8-2 to take fifth.
“We have had some minor setbacks with some individuals, but as a whole, the team is moving in the right direction,” Mendoza said.
Bakersfield returns to the mat next Saturday when the Roadrunners host Northern Colorado at Bakersfield High School. CSUB has seven wrestlers on the roster who graduated from BHS. The dual begins at 5 p.m. For information on tickets, call 661-654-2343.
~www.GoRunners.com~
