LAS VEGAS, Nev.—Bryce Hammond's second place finish and Reuben Franklin's third place showing highlighted CSU Bakersfield's performance at the 2015 Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational Saturday.
In the 174-pound semis, Hammond trailed the second seed, Missouri's Blaise Butler 7-4 heading into the third period. Hammond scored a two-point near fall 11 seconds into the third to draw within one. Hammond posted a four-point near fall to defeat Butler and earn a spot in the finals.
Hammond, the sixth seed, faced the top ranked wrestler in Division I, Cornell's Brian Realbulto in the finals. Realbulto, the 157-pound national runner-up a year ago, entered his match with Hammond with an undefeated record (18-0). Realbuto defeated Hammond by a 11-1 count.
Franklin opened his run in the 197-pound consolation bracket by defeating the 11th seed, Oklahoma's Brad Johnson 12-2. Franklin advanced to the consolation semifinals by defeating American University's Jeric Kasunic 10-2. With spot in the third place match on the line, Franklin faced the second seed, Michigan's Max Huntley.
Franklin trailed for most of the first period before taking a 5-4 lead early in the second. Franklin caught Huntley and pinned Intermat's fifth ranked wrestler with 46 seconds remaining in the second to advance to the third place match. In a rematch from day one, Franklin took on West Virginia's Jacob Smith for third. Franklin used 2:22 of riding time on the way to a 6-1 victory.
CSUB's 141-pounder, Ian Nickell, began day two with an 11-6 victory over Iowa State's Dante Rodriguez. Missouri's Matt Manley defeated Nickell in the second consolation round of eight match via technical fall. Nickell wrestled for seventh place against Arizona State's Robbie Mathers and lost 4-2 in a bout between two Pac-12 wrestlers.
As a team, the Roadrunners turned in their best performance since 2010 (8th, T) by placing ninth (62.5). Missouri was the team champion (154).
The tournament continues Saturday with the preliminaries beginning at 9 a.m. The finals are set for 3 p.m. The Roadrunners open Pac-12 action Dec. 17 at Stanford. That dual will be televised by the Pac-12 Network beginning at 5 p.m. The next home CSUB dual is Jan. 8 when the Roadrunners host Cal Poly in Pac-12 action Jan. 8 at 7 p.m. Tickets are available at Vallitix.com.
~www.GoRunners.com~
2015 Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational—CSUB Results-Day 2
141
Con Round of 8 (1) #11 Ian Nickell def. #6 Dante Rodriguez (Iowa State), 11-6
Con Round of 8 (2) #10 Matt Hanley def. Ian Nickell by TF (16-1) at 5:56
Seventh Place Match Robbie Mathers (Arizona State) def. Ian Nickell, 4-2
174
Semifinals #6 Bryce Hammond def. #2 Blaise Butler (Missouri), 10-7
Finals #1 Bryan Realbuto (Cornell) def. Bryce Hammond, 11-1
197
Con Round of 8 (2) Reuben Franklin def. #11 Brad Johnson, 12-2
Con Round of 4 Reuben Franklin def. Jeric Kasunic (American), 10-2
Con Semis Reuben Franklin pinned #2 Max Huntley (Michigan), at 4:14
Third Place Match Reuben Franklin def. Jacob Smith (West Virginia), 6-1
