BAKERSFIELD, Calif.—The CSU Bakersfield wrestling team heads to South Dakota State for a triangular on Friday.

The Roadrunners will face SIU Edwardsville at 3 p.m. (CST) before taking on the host Jackrabbits at 7 p.m. (CST). SIUE and SDSU will wrestle at 5 p.m. (CST). 

The Roadrunners are wrestling SIU Edwardsville for the first time since Jan. 18, 1986 when the 'Runners defeated SIUE 39-14. CSUB leads the all-time series 3-0, all at the Division II level.

An affiliate member of the Southern Conference in wrestling, SIU-Edwardsville is 2-8, 1-3 in league action. Cougar 125-pounder Joe Antonelli leads the team in victories with 12 (12-18). Heavyweight Chris Johnson is 11-11 while 184-pounder Derek Nagel and 197-pounder Jake Tindle both have 10 wins on the year.

This is the first dual between CSUB and South Dakota State. For the second consecutive week, the Roadrunners will face a member of the Big 12 in the Jackrabbits. The Jacks are 5-5 after a Jan. 15 dual at Northern Colorado.  Three SDSU wrestlers are ranked in Brance Simms (133), Cody Pack (157), and Nate Rotert (197). Simms' highest ranking is 18th in the Win Magazine poll. Pack is in five polls, with a high of sixth in the Amateur Wrestling and Win Magazine polls. Rotert is also in five polls, with a high of ninth coming in the FloWrestling and Wrestling Report rankings.

CSUB improved to 7-2 with a 27-19 victory over Utah Valley last Saturday night. Reuben Franklin posted his team leading 23rd victory (23-5) with a pin at 197 pounds. Ian Nickell improved to 21-8 on the year when he won 141-pound bout by major decision.

Franklin is ranked in six polls this week with a best of eighth coming in the Win Magazine poll. Bryce Hammond is in five polls with a best of eighth in both the Intermat and the Amateur Wrestling News polls.

~www.GoRunners.com~