Nickell Named Pac-12 Wrestler of the Week, Rises in National Rankings

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – CSU Bakersfield redshirt senior Sean Nickell has been named the Pac-12 Conference Wrestler of the Week after his upset of No. 14 Matthew Schmitt of West Virginia. Nickell has also risen to as high as No. 17 in the country in the national rankings.

It was an impressive weekend for the 133-pound Nickell who allowed just one point and didn't get taken down in three matches. His weekend began with the upset over Schmitt, in which he escaped Schmitt's control in the third period and added a point for riding time to earn the victory. In his other two victories, he was dominant. The Bakersfield native heated up after a scoreless first period against Utah Valley's Isaiah Delgado, scoring a reversal and a two-point nearfall in the second period. In the third, he took down Delgado, had a four-point nearfall and earned a point for riding time to earn the 11-0 major decision. Against Stanford, Nickell needed just 5:41 to earn the technical fall over Anthony Le. He produced takedowns in the first and second periods and had three four-point nearfalls in the bout.

Nickell improved his overall record to 19-7 and ranks 32^nd in CSUB history in career victories with 79 wins. With the big win over Schmitt, the redshirt senior also moved up to No. 17 in the country in the InterMat national rankings after previously rankings 20^th. Nickell also re-entered the FloWrestling Top 20 at No. 18.

CSUB's Russell Rohlfing lost to a pair of nationally-ranked competitors over the weekend and fell to No. 20 in the FloWrestling ranks. Rohlfing also dropped out of The Open Mat rankings after being rated No. 16 a week ago.

The Roadrunners will remain at home this week and will host No. 11 Wyoming on Sunday at 6:00 p.m. inside the Icardo Center.

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Players Mentioned

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

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

Players Mentioned

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

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