Local report: Olympians lend support to wrestling fundraiser
By THE BAKERSFIELD CALIFORNIAN
U.S. Olympic gold medal winning wrestler Jake Varner will highlight a "Night of Olympians" fundraising event on Nov. 1 for the Coyote Club.
Varner, the 96-kilogram Olympic champion in London, was a two-time California state champion at Bakersfield High School and later a four-time NCAA All-American at Iowa State, where he was the national champion at 197 pounds as a junior and senior.
The "Night of Olympians" will be held at the Petroleum Club, 5060 California Ave., starting at 6 p.m. Tickets are $100 each, with proceeds benefiting the Cal State Bakersfield wrestling program.
Also being recognized will be Kern County's two other Olympic athletes from the London Games: cyclist Jimmy Watkins and 400-meter runner Christine Sonali Merrill, a Bakersfield Christian High School graduate and former UC San Diego athlete who represented Sri Lanka.
The event will also highlight three former wrestling Olympians who competed at CSUB: Joe Gonzales, John Azevedo and Tim Vanni.
For ticket information, call 661-302-4455.
JC women's soccer
GLENDALE-- Mitzi Ibarra scored two goals to lead Bakersfield College to a 2-0 victory at Glendale College. The Renegades (7-6, 3-4 Western State Conference) will host West L.A. College on Friday.
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