BAKERSFIELD, Calif.—CSU Bakersfield hosts Utah Valley Saturday night in non-conference wrestling action. The first match is set for 6 p.m.

This is the third meeting between CSUB and Utah Valley with each team winning once. The 'Runners defeated the Wolverines 41-3 on Jan. 10, 2005. UVU defeated CSUB 19-16 on Nov. 30, 2013.

Although the Roadrunners and the Wolverines are both members of the Western Athletic Conference in most sports, Saturday's dual will be a Pac-12 vs. Big 12 meet.

Utah Valley is in its first season as an affiliate member of the Big 12 after six members of the former Western Wrestling Conference (Air Force, Northern Colorado, North Dakota State, South Dakota State, UVU, and Wyoming) joined the four full-time members of the Big 12 (Iowa State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and West Virginia) to form a 10-team league.

The Wolverines are 3-3 in dual competition. Utah Valley is led by 125-pounder Chasen Tolbert who is ranked in all six major individual polls with a high of 14th in the Amateur Wrestling News. UVU's 197-pounder, Derek Thomas is ranked in two polls.

CSUB improved to 6-2, 2-0 in Pac-12 duals with a pair of victories last weekend. The Roadrunners defeated Cal Poly 26-9 last Friday before defeating San Francisco State 32-12 last Sunday in San Francisco.

Reuben Franklin continues to lead the Roadrunners in victories as he is now 22-5 on year after earning a pin and a tech fall last weekend. 15 of his 22 wins this season have come via major decision, tech fall, or pins. Bryce Hammond got back on the mats for the first time since December with two wins last week. He is now 13-3 on the year. Both Franklin and Hammond are ranked in the top 10 of their respective weight classes.  

Ian Nickell won his 90th career match last Friday against Cal Poly. He is now 90-48 as a Roadrunner and is now tied for 19th in school history in career victories with Mike Johnson (1976-79).

~www.GoRunners.com~