Smith Welcomes Anthony Valencia as Assistant Coach

Photo courtesy of Arizona State Athletics

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – Head Coach Luke Smith of the Cal State Bakersfield wrestling program has announced that former All-American Anthony Valencia will be joining the Roadrunner coaching staff. Valencia's impressive resume as an athlete in the Pac-12 is a great addition to the CSUB program. Valencia's first start as an assistant coach will be this Sunday, Jan. 14, as the Roadrunners host the Chippewa Challenge for Senior Day and Alumni Day.

"We are very excited to add Anthony to our staff," said Smith. "He had one of the greatest high school careers in California history and continues to pursue greatness on an Olympic level. Anthony is going to be a huge part of taking CSUB to the next level. He is going to be a great example for our young wrestlers to emulate."

Valencia began his career in wrestling at a young age and earned his way to the top of the high school rankings. Coming out of St. John Bosco High School, he was a three-time California State Champion and was the top-rated wrestler in his recruiting class, according to multiple national sources.

As a student-athlete at Arizona State, Valencia was a dominant force in the Pac-12 and nationally. As a Sun Devil, the Bellflower, Calif. native was a four-time Pac-12 individual Champion (3x 165, 1x 174), five-time NCAA qualifier, and a two-time NCAA All-American (2x 165).

Beyond his collegiate success, Valencia has also made a name for himself on the international level. He is a five-time Mexican National Champion and, as a member of the Mexico National Team, Valencia is still actively pursuing Olympic competition this summer.

Valencia will be an impactful addition to the `Runner family, providing firsthand experience as a Pac-12 wrestler for the Bakersfield squad.

"I'm excited to be a part of the Roadrunner family," Valencia said. "I have been wrestling for over 23 years and I am looking forward to beginning my coaching career with CSUB. I've gained a lot of experience over the years as an athlete, learning from several different coaches, and I'm planning on implementing some of that here at CSUB. California is my home state and I'm thrilled to be back!"

~GoRunners.com~

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