LAS VEGAS – The Roadrunner wrestling program opened up the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational, one of the toughest regular-season tournaments in the country, on Friday, Dec. 1. CSU Bakersfield finished the first day of competition 12th of 46 teams while four `Runners advanced to the final day.
The highlight of the first day for CSUB was a perfect start by redshirt senior Matt Williams (197). The native of Apple Valley, Calif. went 4-0 on the day with a pin, a pair of tech falls, and a decision to advance to Saturday's semifinals. With the four wins, Williams improved to 14-0 on the season.
Redshirt senior Sergio Mendez (133) started the day 2-0, but a loss in the Round of 16 knocked him down to the consolations. Mendez rebounded for another pair of wins to make it to the second consolation Round of 8 on Saturday.
Russell Rohlfing, a redshirt sophomore 141-pounder, looked to be on the brink of elimination when a last second reversal sent his bout against Isaiah Locsin (Stanford) to overtime. Rohlfing earned the sudden victory with a takedown and moved on to Saturday as well.
The final `Runner to make it to Day 2 was redshirt senior Coleman Hammond. The Bakersfield native defeated Army's Luke Weiland by major decision (9-1) to reach the second consolation Round of 8 and keep his shot at being a place winner alive.
The consolations begin at 9 a.m. at the Las Vegas Convention Center on Saturday. Williams will get his turn in the semifinals at 10 a.m. while the Championship finals are scheduled for 3 p.m. The Day 1 results for CSUB's wrestlers are listed below while brackets can be viewed here.
Sergio Mendez (125):
- Defeated Jake Campbell (Bucknell) 6-0 decision. Second win of season over Campbell (dual).
- Defeated Donald Kelley (Brown) by decision (9-5) to advance to the Round of 16.
- Lost to Ryan Milhof (Arizona State) by decision (9-4) in the Round of 16.
- Won by decision (11-8) over Aslan Kilic (Navy) in the consolation Round of 16.
- Defeated Trent Olson (Wyoming) by decision, 9-4, in the first consolation Round of 8.
Sean Nickell (133):
- Defeated Collin Anderson (Embry Riddle) via tech fall (17-2).
- Got second tech fall (16-0) of tournament with win over Ryan Friedman (Harvard).
- Lost by decision (4-3) to Zach Sherman (North Carolina).
- Pinned by Ali Nasar (Arizona State) at 2:24 in the consolation Round of 16.
Russell Rohlfing (141):
- Defeated Austin Harry (Army) 7-3 decision.
- Lost by decision (10-3) to Josh Alber (Northern Iowa) in the Round of 16.
- Earned major decision (15-3) over AC Headlee (North Carolina) in the consolation Round of 16.
- Defeated Isaiah Locsin (Stanford) by decision (9-7, overtime).
Kalani Tonge (149):
- Defeated Austin Nash (Purdue) 4-1 decision.
- Lost by decision (9-3) to Zander Wick (Wisconsin) in the Round of 32.
- Won by decision (7-2) over Brent Evans (North Idaho College) to advance to the consolation Round of 16.
- Lost by decision (5-3, overtime) to Kurt Mode (Oregon State).
Coleman Hammond (157):
- Pinned by second-seeded Josh Shields (Arizona State) at 2:39.
- Defeated Seth Harrington (Nebraska-Kearney) via tech fall (18-0) to advance to the consolation Round of 16.
- Won by decision (8-1) over Greg Gaxiola (Fresno State).
- Advanced to the consolation quarterfinals due to medical forfeit (Colin Heffernan, Central Michigan).
- Won by major decision (9-1) over Luke Weiland (Army) in the first consolation Round of 8.
Lorenzo De La Riva (165):
- Defeated Austin Nash (Purdue) 4-1 decision.
- Lost by decision (10-4) against Isaiah White (Nebraska) in the Round of 16.
- Defeated DJ Hollingshead (Bucknell) by major decision (16-6) in the consolation Round of 16.
- Lost by decision (13-9) to Demetrius Romero (Utah Valley) in the consolation Round of 8.
Bryan Battisto (174):
- Lost by major decision (11-2) to Drew Hughes (Michigan State).
- Lost by decision (7-5) to Bryce Rogers (Brown).
Dominic Ducharme (184):
- Lost by decision (4-2) to Steven Schneider (Binghamton).
- Lost by major decision (13-3) to Shwan Shadaia (Michigan State).
Matt Williams (197):
- Defeated Elias Mason (Embry Riddle) via tech fall (17-2).
- Defeated Trey Schlender (Nebraska-Kearney) at 4:46.
- Won by tech fall (19-4) over Wade French (Western Wyoming) to advance to the quarterfinals.
- Won by decision (8-1) over Jacob Seely (Northern Colorado) to advance to the semifinals on Saturday.
Mark Penyacsek (285):
- Lost by decision (8-2) against Ian Butterbrodt (Brown).
- Lost by decision (9-3) against Damian Trujillo (North Idaho College).
~GoRunners.com~
