BAKERSFIELD, Calif.—CSU Bakersfield looks to complete a strong 2015-16 campaign when the Roadrunners enter the Pac-12 Tournament at Arizona State Saturday.
Competition begins at 10:30 a.m. (MST) can be see on Pac-12.com. The tournament will culminate at 6 p.m. (MST) when the finals will be televised on the Pac-12 Networks.
Saturday's Pac-12 Tournament is the 29th for CSU Bakersfield since joining the league as an affiliate member in time for the 1987-88 season. The Roadrunners won Pac-12 Championships in 1996 and 1999. CSUB have finished second four times (1990, 1991, 1994, and 2007).
Two Roadrunners; Bryce Hammond (174) and Reuben Franklin (197) ended the regular season ranked first in their respective weight classes. Hammond is a two-time Pac-12 Champion, winning the 174-pound title as a freshman and as a sophomore. He sat out last season's tournament due to a shoulder injury.
Franklin leads the 'Runners in victories with 29 (29-5). Franklin has won 11 in a row entering the tournament and 16 of his last 17 matches. During his 11-match winning streak, Franklin has recorded four of his seven pins on the year.
CSUB 141-pounder Ian Nickell is closing in on 100 career victories. At 95-41, Nickell is now 17th in career victories for the Roadrunners. Nickell was named Pac-12 Scholar Wrestler of the Year on Thursday.
Former CSUB star Stephen Neal was named Co-Pac-12 Wrestler of the Century Feb. 22. Neal received numerous accolades during his career including two NCAA Championships, four Pac-12 championships and four All-American honors. In 1999, he won the Hodge Trophy after remaining undefeated over his final two seasons in Bakersfield.
Neal would go onto win the Freestyle Championship at the 1999 Pan American Games and the 1999 Freestyle World Championship, making him the only wrestler to win all three titles in the same year.
Despite having a bright future in wrestling, Neal decided to pursue a career in football. He spent 10 years with the New England Patriots as a right guard and was a part of three Super Bowl wins.
~www.GoRunners.com~
