BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- After a rough night at home against Air Force, the Vanguard men's wrestling program sent nine wrestlers to the CSU Bakersfield Roadrunner Open on Sunday.  The best finisher was Roman Torres, who ended up in sixth in the heavyweight bracket.
 
What Happened?  Robert Villegas faced Josh Neiwert of Cal Poly Humboldt to open the 133-pound bracket and though he tried to remain defiant, Villegas fell 15-0 to Neiwert.  Hector Hernandez was also in the bracket and took on Josiah Sandoval of CSUB and unfortunately, the Roadrunner made a pin in the first period.  Hernandez got some revenge in the consolation bracket, as he took Juan Diaz to the mat for a pin to advance.  However, the bracket then pitted him against Villegas, and with only one Lion allowed to go on, Villegas was the one who stole the show, as he used a seven-point first period to win 14-5.  Villegas then got a takedown to open his bout against Carter Schmidt of Oklahoma, but Schmidt did most of the scoring after that, as he won 11-4.
 
Caidence Turner entered the 157-pound bracket and he drew Daniel Manibog of CBU in the first round.  Turner found two escapes in the match, but that was all he could do, as Manibog won 17-2.  Turner then squared off against Tyler Jones and though he managed to keep Jones from scoring in two periods, Turner could not manage a takedown, as he lost 7-2.
 
Mason Hernandez and Sunni Motas were involved in the 165-pound tournament and Hernandez faced CBU's David Alonso in his first fight of the day.  Hernandez made an escape and a takedown in the first to leap ahead 4-3, but that would be his best moment, as Alonso prevailed 18-5.  Hernandez then dispatched Brady Svetich with ease in a 16-0 blasting over two periods to advance in the consolation bracket.  That moved him forward to face Evan Manzo of CSUB and though Hernandez fought aggressively, Manzo would win 23-4.
 
Motas and Cole Zoller of CP Humboldt struggled to make ground, as neither made a takedown in their battle.  Both picked up one point during regulation and though Motas had a great effort, Zoller won 2-1 with the bonus point from riding time.  Motas got a free advance in the consolation bracket, as David Berkovich had to back out, which moved him to a showdown against Alonso.  The two were equal throughout regulation, with Alonso netting one takedown and Motas picking up three escapes.  With the placing rounds within reach, the two headed to sudden victory and while Motas searched for a winner, Alonso snuck in a takedown to win 6-3.
 
VU had two wrestlers at 174 pounds in Keagen Kroeger and Marquize Brown, but both went 0-2.  Kroeger faced CPU Humboldt's Ryan Clink in the first round and though Kroeger gave it his all, Clink would make a pin in the second period.  His next opponent was Chris Neal of CSUB and Kroeger again did his best but lost 15-0 in the second period.  Brown picked up the first takedown of his meeting with Isaiah Morales but that was all he got, as Morales rolled off 18 unanswered points in the first period to advance.  Brown then got an escape in the opening frame against Joseph Buck of CP Humboldt, but Buck was otherwise in control, as he won 17-1.
 
Isaiah Hernandez competed in the 197-pound bracket and faced Peter Ming in his first tussle.  He tried to make an early score, but Ming struck first and turned that move into a pin to advance.  Hernandez then fell into a matchup against Diego Morales of Menlo and neither wrestler scored after two periods.  Things seemed to be lining up for Hernandez, but Morales made an escape to start the third and then produced a takedown, as the Oak would win 4-0.
 
Torres engaged against Trevor Tinker of CP Humboldt and he could not get much going, as an early takedown turned into a pin for Tinker.  Torres was able to produce a victory in his next encounter, as he faced another Humboldt wrestler in Cole Jackson.  Jackson led 2-0 after two periods but Torres flexed and made an escape and a takedown to go ahead 4-2.  A reversal by Jackson knotted things at 4-4, but Torres then made a late escape to win 5-4.  Torres was up against Tristan Kemp of CBU next and Kemp made two takedowns and an escape to win 7-1.  Torres had done enough to reach the bout for fifth place, but he had to pull out due to an injury, as he finished a respectable sixth.
 
What was Said?  "The guys wrestled well," said Head Coach Caleb Flores.  "We saw a lot of progress from the last time we wrestled.  We are looking forward to getting back to work."
 
What's Next?  The final home wrestling event of the schedule is slated for Saturday, December 7, as the Lions host Westcliff, Menlo, and Fresno State for a quad dual that starts at 10:00 a.m.