BAKERSFIELD, Calif.—Redshirt Seniors Spencer Hill (Clovis, Calif., Fresno City College) and Sean Pollock (Oceanside, Calif., Rancho Buena Vista HS) got CSU Bakersfield off to a fast start in the final regular season wrestling dual Wednesday night as the Roadrunners defeated Cal Baptist 28-6.
“We can take a lot of things from this dual meet to get ready for the conference meet,” said CSUB head coach Mike Mendoza.
The dual started at 157 pounds where Hill posted a 9-4 decision over Nolan Kistler. Two matches later, Pollock charted a hard fought 2-1 victory over Harlan Kistler. Hill and Pollock's victories sandwiched wins from Adam Fierro (R-Jr., 165, Bakersfield, Calif., Bakersfield HS) and Jesus Ambriz (R-Jr., 174, Vista, Calif., Rancho Buena Vista HS).
“It's good that they (Hill and Pollock) won,” Mendoza said. “You always want to finish your last match in this gym with a win as a senior and they did that, so I am happy for them. “
With CSUB up 12-0, Roadrunner 197-pounder Matt Williams (R-Fr., Apple Valley, Calif., Sultana HS) recorded the first bonus points of the dual when he picked up a major decision, 12-4, against Paul Head. The Lancers (13-5), who are ranked No. 18 in the current Division II poll, got on the board when David Hill defeated Steven Wood 6-3 at heavyweight.
Sergio Mendez (So., Arleta, Calif., San Fernando HS) rallied from an early 3-0 deficit and used a third period take down to earn an 8-7 win against Christian Betancourt in the 125-pound bout. Ian Nickell (R-Jr., 133, Bakersfield, Calif., Bakersfield HS) pinned Zach McKenna with 31 seconds remaining in the second period to give the 'Runners six points and a 25-3 lead.
Timmy Box (R-Jr., 141, Bakersfield, Calif., Bakersfield HS) tallied the final CSUB victory of the night when he defeated Division II's No. 8-ranked wrestler, Peter Cunningham 8-1. Cal Baptist's Matt Hickman edged AJ Fierro (R-Fr., Bakersfield, Calif., Bakersfield HS) 3-2 at 149 to conclude the meet.
CSUB is off until Mar. 1 when the Roadrunners enter the Pac-12 Championships. The tournament will be hosted by Oregon State. The finals of the tournament will be televised by the Pac-12 Networks.
CSUB will enter the Pac-12 Tournament without the services of two-time defending 174-pound league champion Bryce Hammond (R-Jr., Bakersfield, Calif., Bakersfield HS). Hammond underwent surgery on Monday to repair a torn pectoral muscle which occurred during the Jan. 31 California Collegiate Open. Hammond is expected to return to the starting lineup in time for the 2015-16 season.
“We have to focus on the individual who will be wrestling at the Pac-12's,” Mendoza said. “We will have to fine tune and get focused on the guys who are competing.”
