Smith Signs a Pair for CSUB Wrestling

Bakersfield, Calif. – CSU Bakersfield Head Wrestling Coach Luke Smith announced the signings of Khristian Dove and Hayden Zinkin to National Letters of Intent Sunday. Dove and Zinkin are the first commitments for the Roadrunners 2021-22 recruiting class.

"We're very excited to sign Khristian and Hayden to open up this recruiting class," said Smith. "This is an important class for moving our program forward and we've started with two great wrestlers with a lot of potential."

Dove brings unlimited potential to CSUB, having only picked up the sport as an eighth grader in Elk Grove, Calif. He has 55 career wins at Franklin High School, competing anywhere from 147 pounds to 172 pounds with a 5-10 frame.

Dove also competes for the Elk Grove Wrestling Academy under coach Jim Cook.

He placed fourth at the 2021 California State Finals Invitational as a 172-pouder and enters his senior season as one of the top competitors in the weight class.

The son of Christopher and Nikki Dove, he plans to major in Computer Science.

"Khristian started wrestling very late and has improved tremendously in a short period of time due to his exceptional work ethic," Smith said. "He has limitless potential, and I can't wait to start working with him."

Zinkin was also fourth at the CSF Invitational in 2021, wrestling his way through the 134-pound bracket, and placed second at this Fall's World Challenge.

He currently wrestles for Bullard High School and ranks third in the state in his weight class, after spending his first three prep seasons at Clovis North.

Zinkin's father and two uncles wrestled collegiately at Fresno State, while his great uncle Dennis DeLiddo, was the Bulldog's longtime head coach.

"Hayden comes from a historic California wrestling family," Smith explained. "We look forward to him continuing that tradition of excellence at CSUB. He is an absolute hammer on top and his style of wrestling translates very well to college competition."

Dove and Zinkin will join the Bakersfield roster for the fall of 2022.

The current group of Roadrunner wrestlers continues its season this week, with select grapplers heading to Las Vegas for the prestigious Cliff Keen Invitational on Dec. 3-4.

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