Grapplers Travel to Reno for Tournament of Champions

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – After taking last weekend off, the CSU Bakersfield wrestling program will return to action on Thursday at the Reno Tournament of Champions.

"Reno is always a good, tough tournament," said CSUB head coach Manny Rivera. "Thursday is an opportunity to show we've improved and it's a chance for our guys to finish the semester strong and get some momentum heading into break."

CSUB is coming off a tough 20-17 loss to Pac-12 rival Oregon State in their last time on the mat, despite winning five of the 10 bouts. Josh Loomer (5-6) and Noah Blakley-Beanes (6-3) will be the only two competitors wrestling this weekend that competed at Oregon State. Loomer dropped an 8-3 decision to Corey Griego in Corvallis, while Blakley-Beanes was pinned by Grant Willits in the second period.

Mark Penyacsek (5-6) will return from an injury he sustained at the Roadrunner Open this weekend. Penyacsek was CSUB's top wrestler at 197 pounds to begin the season.

Noe Garcia (0-4), Josh Annis (3-2), Matt Penyacsek (1-3), Reed South (9-3) and Kalani Tonge (5-3) will also be in action for the first time since the Roadrunner Open. South's nine victories are tied with Sean Nickell for tops on the team and he finished fifth at the Roadrunner Open. Six of those victories have come via technical fall.

Freshman Albert Urias (3-3), Lokahi Tonge (1-4), Chance Rich (3-2) and Angelo Martinoni (6-3) will all be competing unattached, as will sophomore Joseph Valdez.

The entire tournament will be steamed live on FloWrestling and will begin at 9:00 a.m.

National Rankings
Redshirt Senior Sean Nickell and redshirt junior Russell Rohlfing slipped a bit in this week's national rankings after an idle weekend. Nickell dipped from 19^th to 20^th in the FloWrestling rankings at 133 pounds, while remaining at No. 20 according to InterMat. Rohlfing fell out of The Open Mat rankings at 149 pounds and dropped from 14^th to 16^th according to FloWrestling.

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Players Mentioned

Noah Blakley-Beanes: 133; 5' 9"; Redshirt Sophomore

Noe Garcia: 184; 5' 10"; Sophomore

Sean Nickell: 133; 5' 7"; Redshirt Junior

Mark Penyacsek: 184; 6' 1"; Redshirt Sophomore

Matt Penyacsek: 174; 5' 11"; Redshirt Sophomore

Russell Rohlfing: 141; 5' 10"; Redshirt Sophomore

Kalani Tonge: 141/149; 5' 5"; Sophomore

Josh Annis: 157/165; 6' 0"; Junior

Josh Loomer: 174/184; 6' 2"; Freshman

Reed South: 174; 5' 11"; Junior

Players Mentioned

Noah Blakley-Beanes
: 5' 9"; Redshirt Sophomore
: 133

Noe Garcia
: 5' 10"; Sophomore
: 184

Sean Nickell
: 5' 7"; Redshirt Junior
: 133

Mark Penyacsek
: 6' 1"; Redshirt Sophomore
: 184

Matt Penyacsek
: 5' 11"; Redshirt Sophomore
: 174

Russell Rohlfing
: 5' 10"; Redshirt Sophomore
: 141

Kalani Tonge
: 5' 5"; Sophomore
: 141/149

Josh Annis
: 6' 0"; Junior
: 157/165

Josh Loomer
: 6' 2"; Freshman
: 174/184

Reed South
: 5' 11"; Junior
: 174