'Runners serving up local flavor
| Saturday, Nov 07 2009 10:30 PM
Last Updated Saturday, Nov 07 2009 10:30 PM
Loading Stories
Advertisement
If Saturday's Blue-Gold Scrimmage and Alumni Meet is any indication, the Cal State Bakersfield wrestling squad will have a local flavor this year.
Returning Pac-10 champion Elijah Nacita was one of four Bakersfield-area products who won matches at this year's event at Icardo Center.
A 2006 state champion from Bakersfield High, Nacita was the lone CSUB wrestler to defeat an alumnus, besting Thomas Kimbrell, 1-0, in the 141-pound class.
"Bakersfield is a big wrestling community and it's good to have guys from past teams on the team now," Nacita said. "It's good to know them a little more and to be able to help them and push each other because we know more about each other; our strengths and weeknesses ..."
Nacita will next compete as one of two Roadrunners in the 44th National Wrestling Coaches Association All-Star Classic at Cal State Fullerton on Nov. 22. CSUB opens its dual meet schedule at No. 5 Minnesota on Nov. 28.
Two other former Drillers, Anthony Box and Frank Lomas, and ex-Centennial standout David Morgan also won matches to help the Blue squad to a 19-9 victory over the Gold.
Box, a sophomore, dominated his 149-pound match en route to a 12-0 victory over teammate Colin Cornett. Lomas, also a sophomore, slipped past Tyler Iwamura for a 2-0 win at 125 and Morgan defeated Levi Cooper 6-3 in the heavyweight bout.
"It means a lot of us," said T.J. Kerr, entering his 26th season at CSUB. "Most Division I programs, they may have one local kid. We're lucky. We've got a support group here that is strong enough. Obviously BHS is the banner school, but ... we like the local kids for a variety of reasons."
The Alumni won 11 of 12 matches for a 38-3 team victory.
Former Roadrunner wrestling standouts Efren Ceballos, Brandon Zoetewey, Roberto Vargas, Jeremy Doyle, Nathan Vasquez, Ian Nelms, Ernesto Ancona, Raphael Davis, John Devine, Garth Wara and Eric Parker all won there matches.
