2021 NCAA Round of 12 finisher Chance Rich (Photo/Tony Rotundo; WrestlersAreWarriors.com)CSU Bakersfield Roadrunners
“Extremely grateful for the opportunity to lead this program that has had a tremendous history and to try to get back to those ‘glory years.' … We have the staff and wrestlers to do some great things.†--Head Coach Luke Smith
A youthful, California-raised flock of Roadrunners are beginning to coalesce with the guidance of Head Coach Luke Smith's conspicuously Midwestern coaching staff. “We do have a very young team,†Coach Smith acknowledged. “Two-thirds of our team, this is their first- or second year in Bakersfield. … We only have one, true 5th-year senior that's been here the entire time -- that's [Josh] Loomer.â€
This mix of youth and anticipation of the full season has made for a productive offseason. Second-year Assistant Coach Steve Bleise approves of the response from the ‘Runners thus far. “Since nationals got done last year -- I'd say April ‘til now -- we've been consistently training. They've been excited to get after it, because they kind of had it taken away for a bit.â€
Similarly excited to return to the mat is recent staff addition, Assistant Coach Matt Meuleners, whose previous team (Brown University) did not compete during the COVID season. Despite his recent move into town, Meuleners is already pleased with the productivity of his wrestlers. “Our guys got a lot of Bakersfield grit. They enjoy putting in that hard work.â€
With a newly completed coaching staff alongside him, Coach Smith enters his first year (and fifth overall with CSU Bakersfield) with excitement and determination. His staff and wrestlers have found common ground despite their disparate geographic roots in the blue-collar work ethic embedded in Bakersfield and the greater Central Valley. “We are a development-based program,†Smith explained. For Smith, the emphasis on catered, individual development is at the heart of Bakersfield's ability to maximize the potential of their wrestlers. “When we step on the mat and compete, all I want them thinking about is going out there and trying to execute their individual gameplans relentlessly for four 7-minutes or longer, if it takes that.â€
The eager Roadrunner wrestling team has earned itself a strong, competitive schedule, and their staff obliged with a worthy regular-season slate. Starting with the Menlo Open in week one, the Roadrunners will appear in four total tournaments in the first semester (including the Roadrunner Open, the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invite, and the Southern Scuffle), in addition to an early-season away-dual at preseason #5 (Tourney/Dual) Michigan. In the second semester, the ‘Runners are busy with the conference dual-slate as well as the Chippewa Challenge quad-dual event at Smith's alma mater, Central Michigan.
In his first full year at the helm, Smith has completed his staff and aims to produce wrestlers worth etching in the Bakersfield record book. A motivated team will face a schedule of tough challenges, with many opportunities to make their mark. The staff and team seem resolute to do it in classic Bakersfield fashion: with tough, homegrown California kids. “I do think it's pretty great ... that we have a team entirely of California guys. That creates a uniqueness that I've never seen -- these guys take a lot of pride in representing their home state.â€
TOP RETURNERS
#14 Chance Rich (133; Valencia HS, #SS) and #24 Angelo Martinoni (141; Folsom HS, #SJS) are the Roadrunners' two most-decorated returners, having qualified for the 2021 NCAAs. Both Rich and Martinoni took losses only to NCAA Top 12 opponents of the course of their 2021 tournaments, with the former reaching the Round of12 himself.
KEY DEPARTURES
Bakersfield's most notable graduate from last season is Pac-12 Champion and 2x NCAA qualifier Dominic Ducharme at 184lbs (Windsor HS, #NCS), one of the final members of the latest generation of Roadrunners, all but closing a chapter for the program that included conference champions and NCAA qualifiers Russell Rohlfing (Sonora HS, #SS) and Sean Nickell (Bakersfield HS, #CS), among others.
TOP NEWCOMERS
With eleven new faces in the room, comprising five transfers with previous collegiate experience from the JUCO to Division 1 levels and six true freshmen, there are many new talents in the Bakersfield wrestling room. Tyler Deen (Buchanan HS, #CS) returns to California after a two-year stint at the University of Nebraska. Having spent 2020 on redshirt, Deen joins the Roadrunners with four years of eligibility and is considered a threat for the 149lbs starting spot.
Although returning NCAA qualifier, Angelo Martinoni is the senior man at 141lbs, incoming Division 3 All-American transfer Luis Ramos (Selma HS, #CS; D3 Central College) is sure to provide the push needed to make 141 a productive weight for Coach Smith and company. It is yet to be seen if 2020 NJCAA All-American Jayden Smith (Brawley Union HS, #SDS; NJCAA Northeastern Oklahoma A&M) will earn himself a starting place at either 184lbs or 197lbs.
WRESTLER TO WATCH
“One guy that people kind of forgot about, because he wasn't completely healthy last year ... Josh Loomer,†Coach Smith stated. A 2020 Pac-12 Champion and NCAA qualifier, Josh Loomer (184/197; Cajon HS, #SS) is among the most senior members of the team and looks for some redemption after a lackluster 2021 season at 197lbs. It'll be interesting to see if he returns to 184lbs.
Albert Urias (Ridgeview HS, #CS), the returning starter at 174lbs, has earned his coaches' praise with his work ethic and focus, leaving a noticeable impression on the staff. A de facto team leader, Urias, “does all the right things,†says Coach Smith. “He's worked unbelievably hard.â€
Coach Meuleners went on to add that Urias, “embodies everything that Bakersfield Wrestling is about.†It is the sort of praise that is indicative of the investment the early-tenured staff is already garnering from their young roster.
For Coach Bleise, he's excited for the long game. Knowing how many freshmen and sophomores are on their roster, he's excited to see the transitions these young underclassmen make with a couple full-seasons under them. “You really see guys jump levels during that period between 18 to 21.â€
POTENTIAL LINEUP
125: Eddie Flores (So)
133: #14 Chance Rich (So), Pac-12 Runner-up, NCAA Round-of-12
141: #24 Angelo Martinoni (So), NCAA Qualifier/Luis Ramos (So), NWCA DIII All-American
149: Josh Brown (Jr)/Tyler Deen (Fr-Tr)
157: Brock Rogers (Fr)
165: Braden Smelser (Fr)
174: Albert Urias (So)
184/197: Josh Loomer (Jr), Pac-12 Champion, NCAA Qualifier
184/197: Jayden Smith (So), NJCAA All-American
285: Eric Mittlestead (Fr)/Jake Andrews (Fr)
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