I've been a very big fan of Lightning Luke Smith for a long time. I really want to see CSU-Bakersfield have more success, but it's not an easy task when the administration seems to have little to no interest. To be frank, and I think it's clear with how many times the school has tried to be rid wrestling, it's one of those situations where wrestling only exists because alumni/community won't allow the school to get rid of it. Bakersfield has a rich history. A tradition of excellence & I'd love to see them back in their heyday again. To be even more candid, I sometimes wish they could go back to being NCAA Division II. I think they'd be more suited for that atmosphere and that environment.
I wrote this back in July & recently had Luke on an episode of JT1Wrestle. I stand a bit corrected. For well over a decade CSU-Bakersfield has been 100% self funded. Relying on donations & fundraising to have a program. However for the first time in a LONG time, the school will provide funding for the program this season. I think this alone will mean many positive changes for the Roadrunners.
The Roadrunners lose two of their standouts from last season.
Richard Castro-Sandoval, an NCAA DI qualifier with a PAC-12 runner-up finish in 2025, he missed it by a nose hair this year finishing 3rd in the PAC-12.
Guillermo Escobedo never did make the NCAA DI tournament, but he brought attention to the blue & gold with wins over M.J. Gaitan & Cash Stewart.
Who will be Bakersfield's star(s) this year? I'd love to see some of the names still left in the transfer portal consider being a Roadrunner.
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