Photo by: Reagan Lee
CBU Wrestling Continues To Build Excitement For the Future - A Season in Review
4/8/2021 9:00:00 AM | Wrestling
RIVERSIDE – It was a unique, challenging season across the board for collegiate wrestling, but California Baptist University wrestling continued to improve and make history in year three of its NCAA Division I membership in the 2020-21 season.
Like the rest of the country, the Lancers dealt with a postponed, shortened season that included cancellations and an ever-evolving schedule throughout the campaign. CBU still found time to make some history and build up even more anticipation for the future when it accepted conditional membership status from the Big 12 Conference starting in 2022-23.
The Lancers gained valuable experience in their all-dual season, as they faced four Big 12 and two Pac-12 squads, including two ranked opponents. Even while battling through injuries, CBU won two duals on the year.
"This was a very significant year for CBU wrestling," Coach Lennie Zalesky said. "Being accepted into the Big 12 Conference is a monumental event for the future development of the wrestling program. Being a part of the Big 12 conference will help recruit some of the best wrestlers in the nation and bring in some teams that many Southern California wrestling fans long to see. Our wrestlers continue to get better against tough competition and will continue to grow as we move forward to our first year of eligibility for the NCAA Wrestling Tournament."
HISTORY MADE AT HEAVYWEIGHT
Zach Schrader became the first CBU wrestler to earn a top-25 ranking in NCAA Division I when FloWrestling named him the No. 25 heavyweight on Jan. 26. Schrader went 5-3 in his final collegiate season, which included two matches against top-15 opponents, to end his Lancers' career with a 67-32-1 overall record.
Schrader graduated as a top-10 figure in CBU's record books. His 67 career wins rank eighth and his 18 pins are sixth all-time. He also holds the NCAA Division I era record with 45 wins and 14 pins over the last three years. He earned two National Collegiate Open All-American finishes the last two seasons and won the heavyweight title in 2019. The NCO did not take place in 2021.
GER-LOCKED IN
Caden Gerlach made quite the first impression in his collegiate debut. The 184-pound redshirt freshman went 6-1 on the year, with four bonus-point wins including three pins to his credit. His one loss came against 18th-ranked Alan Clothier from Northern Colorado. He posted victories over wrestlers from Utah Valley, Cal Poly, Stanford, Fresno State and North Dakota State.
LINING THINGS UP
There's plenty to be excited about for the future, as the Lancers are set to return eight of their 10 starters next season. CBU's regular lineup was comprised of four freshmen, three sophomores and a junior.
Dilan Ajtun, a redshirt sophomore, put together a winning record for CBU at 125 pounds. Redshirt sophomore Josh Grant (165), redshirt freshman Chaz Hallmark (141), sophomore Christian Nunez (133), redshirt junior Arick Lopez (197) and sophomore Zachary Rowe (157) all won multiple matches on the year.
All six of those wrestlers are set to return in 2021-22 and should compete for starting positions again. AJ Raya will look to hold down the 149-pound spot for the third year in a row for CBU next season, while freshman Johann Steinforth could slot in at 165 or 174 as a sophomore.
TOP OF THE CLASS
Head Coach Lennie Zalesky and Assistant Coach Derek Moore announced the signing of three new Lancer wrestlers in November. Elijah Griffin, Brady Hoshino and Jake Prudek will look to make a big impact for CBU in their collegiate careers.
"These guys are a cut above; it's a very good class," Zalesky said. "This is definitely the best early signing group we have ever had."
Griffin comes in as the highest-ranked recruit in the Zalesky era. He is a top-20 ranked wrestler nationally at two different weight classes and by two different outlets. The Open Mat lists him as the fourth-ranked 113 pounder, and FloWrestling has him ranked No. 18 at 120 pounds.
It is for good reason, as Griffin is a four-time Oklahoma State Champion out of Tulsa, Oklahoma and Cascia Hall Prep. He is a three-time All-American in freestyle and Greco-Roman styles.
Griffin, who projects to wrestle at 125 or 133 collegiately, also won a Junior Fargo National Championship in Greco while still a cadet.
Hoshino is a three-time Hawaii State placer and won the 138-pound state title in 2020. The Kanoeohe, Hawaii native and Iolani High School product projects to wrestle at 149 pounds at the next level, Zalesky said.
Prudek is a two-time California Triple Crown winner out of Caruthers High School. He is ranked top-12 in the state and won Freestyle and Greco championships at the high school U.S. Open.
HEADED TO THE BIG 12
The Lancers received a letter of intent from the Big 12 Conference regarding affiliate membership starting in 2022-23. The Big 12 was home to Air Force, Fresno State, Iowa State, North Dakota State, Northern Colorado, Northern Iowa, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, South Dakota State, Utah Valley, West Virginia and Wyoming. The Lancers would give the conference 12 teams in 2022-23, as Fresno State is set to discontinue its program at the end of this season.
The approval of CBU to join the Big 12 is conditioned on the program's successful completion of its NCAA Division I four-year reclassification process. The Lancers are in the midst of the third year of the transition period with an anticipated final approval in July 2022. The affiliate membership will be effective for the 2022-23 academic year. CBU will join the other Big 12 wrestling members in a regular-season scheduling alliance and will compete for the league's postseason title and automatic qualification into the NCAA championships.
"It is a great privilege to be conditionally accepted into the Big 12 Conference," Zalesky said. "Historically, the Big 12 has a long tradition of being one of the best DI wrestling conferences in the nation. Today, the Big 12 is competitive with the best in the nation, and the conference has some of the best wrestlers and teams in the nation. We look forward to the challenge of competing with these teams. The West Coast, and particularly California, is host to many good and talented high school wrestlers, and I sincerely believe that CBU will compete well with these teams in the relatively near future."
Like the rest of the country, the Lancers dealt with a postponed, shortened season that included cancellations and an ever-evolving schedule throughout the campaign. CBU still found time to make some history and build up even more anticipation for the future when it accepted conditional membership status from the Big 12 Conference starting in 2022-23.
Something BIG is coming...#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/VpxlmLoy66
— California Baptist Wrestling (@CBUwrestling) February 16, 2021
The Lancers gained valuable experience in their all-dual season, as they faced four Big 12 and two Pac-12 squads, including two ranked opponents. Even while battling through injuries, CBU won two duals on the year.
We want to wish Zach Schrader a happy Senior Day. Thank you for all you've done for CBU Wrestling.
— California Baptist Wrestling (@CBUwrestling) February 6, 2021
🔷 His 67 wins, 18 pins rank top 8 in CBU history
🔷 45 wins, 14 pins rank #️⃣1️⃣ in D1 era
🔷 2x NCO All-American, 2019 champ
🔷 First D1 ranked wrestler in CBU history#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/f9ZmWVRBGN
"This was a very significant year for CBU wrestling," Coach Lennie Zalesky said. "Being accepted into the Big 12 Conference is a monumental event for the future development of the wrestling program. Being a part of the Big 12 conference will help recruit some of the best wrestlers in the nation and bring in some teams that many Southern California wrestling fans long to see. Our wrestlers continue to get better against tough competition and will continue to grow as we move forward to our first year of eligibility for the NCAA Wrestling Tournament."
HISTORY MADE AT HEAVYWEIGHT
Zach Schrader became the first CBU wrestler to earn a top-25 ranking in NCAA Division I when FloWrestling named him the No. 25 heavyweight on Jan. 26. Schrader went 5-3 in his final collegiate season, which included two matches against top-15 opponents, to end his Lancers' career with a 67-32-1 overall record.
Schrader graduated as a top-10 figure in CBU's record books. His 67 career wins rank eighth and his 18 pins are sixth all-time. He also holds the NCAA Division I era record with 45 wins and 14 pins over the last three years. He earned two National Collegiate Open All-American finishes the last two seasons and won the heavyweight title in 2019. The NCO did not take place in 2021.
👏👏👏
— California Baptist Wrestling (@CBUwrestling) January 24, 2021
Caden Gerlach puts on a show en route to his first career pin! It only took about a minute and a half.#LanceUp⚔ pic.twitter.com/D7RzVaQf5f
GER-LOCKED IN
Caden Gerlach made quite the first impression in his collegiate debut. The 184-pound redshirt freshman went 6-1 on the year, with four bonus-point wins including three pins to his credit. His one loss came against 18th-ranked Alan Clothier from Northern Colorado. He posted victories over wrestlers from Utah Valley, Cal Poly, Stanford, Fresno State and North Dakota State.
🤼 THE SQUAD 🤼#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/xhB0jg9Oa9
— California Baptist Wrestling (@CBUwrestling) February 12, 2021
LINING THINGS UP
There's plenty to be excited about for the future, as the Lancers are set to return eight of their 10 starters next season. CBU's regular lineup was comprised of four freshmen, three sophomores and a junior.
Dilan Ajtun, a redshirt sophomore, put together a winning record for CBU at 125 pounds. Redshirt sophomore Josh Grant (165), redshirt freshman Chaz Hallmark (141), sophomore Christian Nunez (133), redshirt junior Arick Lopez (197) and sophomore Zachary Rowe (157) all won multiple matches on the year.
All six of those wrestlers are set to return in 2021-22 and should compete for starting positions again. AJ Raya will look to hold down the 149-pound spot for the third year in a row for CBU next season, while freshman Johann Steinforth could slot in at 165 or 174 as a sophomore.
It felt good to get back to scrapping in Van Dyne#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/Gr0d23i4ko
— California Baptist Wrestling (@CBUwrestling) January 31, 2021
TOP OF THE CLASS
Head Coach Lennie Zalesky and Assistant Coach Derek Moore announced the signing of three new Lancer wrestlers in November. Elijah Griffin, Brady Hoshino and Jake Prudek will look to make a big impact for CBU in their collegiate careers.
"These guys are a cut above; it's a very good class," Zalesky said. "This is definitely the best early signing group we have ever had."
Griffin comes in as the highest-ranked recruit in the Zalesky era. He is a top-20 ranked wrestler nationally at two different weight classes and by two different outlets. The Open Mat lists him as the fourth-ranked 113 pounder, and FloWrestling has him ranked No. 18 at 120 pounds.
It is for good reason, as Griffin is a four-time Oklahoma State Champion out of Tulsa, Oklahoma and Cascia Hall Prep. He is a three-time All-American in freestyle and Greco-Roman styles.
🖊 SIGNED 🖊
— California Baptist Wrestling (@CBUwrestling) November 11, 2020
Welcome to CBU, Elijah!
▪️@theopenmat #️⃣4️⃣ 113 pounder in the nation
▪️@FloWrestling #️⃣1️⃣8️⃣ 120 pounder
▪️3x Oklahoma State champ
▪️2x Cadet World Team Trials All-American
▪️2x Junior Freestyle Fargo All-American
▪️Junior Greco Fargo champ#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/jNPSYfMe52
Griffin, who projects to wrestle at 125 or 133 collegiately, also won a Junior Fargo National Championship in Greco while still a cadet.
Hoshino is a three-time Hawaii State placer and won the 138-pound state title in 2020. The Kanoeohe, Hawaii native and Iolani High School product projects to wrestle at 149 pounds at the next level, Zalesky said.
Prudek is a two-time California Triple Crown winner out of Caruthers High School. He is ranked top-12 in the state and won Freestyle and Greco championships at the high school U.S. Open.
HEADED TO THE BIG 12
The Lancers received a letter of intent from the Big 12 Conference regarding affiliate membership starting in 2022-23. The Big 12 was home to Air Force, Fresno State, Iowa State, North Dakota State, Northern Colorado, Northern Iowa, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, South Dakota State, Utah Valley, West Virginia and Wyoming. The Lancers would give the conference 12 teams in 2022-23, as Fresno State is set to discontinue its program at the end of this season.
The approval of CBU to join the Big 12 is conditioned on the program's successful completion of its NCAA Division I four-year reclassification process. The Lancers are in the midst of the third year of the transition period with an anticipated final approval in July 2022. The affiliate membership will be effective for the 2022-23 academic year. CBU will join the other Big 12 wrestling members in a regular-season scheduling alliance and will compete for the league's postseason title and automatic qualification into the NCAA championships.
"It is a great privilege to be conditionally accepted into the Big 12 Conference," Zalesky said. "Historically, the Big 12 has a long tradition of being one of the best DI wrestling conferences in the nation. Today, the Big 12 is competitive with the best in the nation, and the conference has some of the best wrestlers and teams in the nation. We look forward to the challenge of competing with these teams. The West Coast, and particularly California, is host to many good and talented high school wrestlers, and I sincerely believe that CBU will compete well with these teams in the relatively near future."
Beginning in the 2022-23 season, @CBUwrestling will be a member of the Big 12 conference.
— FloWrestling (@FloWrestling) February 16, 2021
Players Mentioned
125
/ Wrestling
184/197
/ Wrestling
165
/ Wrestling
141
/ Wrestling
197
/ Wrestling
133
/ Wrestling
149
/ Wrestling
157
/ Wrestling
285
/ Wrestling
165
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