Local report: CSUB wrestling fundraiser features 8 ex-Olympians
By THE BAKERSFIELD CALIFORNIAN
Cal State Bakersfield's Night of Olympians wrestling fundraiser tonight now has eight former Olympians expected to attend.
Jake Varner, the Bakersfield High graduate who won an Olympic gold medal in August in freestyle wrestling at 96 kilograms, will be the featured Olympian.
The event will be held at the Petroleum Club, 5060 California Ave., starting at 6 p.m. Tickets are $100 each and benefit the CSUB wrestling program.
Also scheduled to attend are two other Olympians from Bakersfield who competed at the London Games: Jimmy Watkins, a Kern County fire engineer who placed sixth in cycling, and Bakersfield Christian High School graduate Sonali Merrill, who competed in the 400-meter hurdles for Sri Lanka.
Three former CSUB wrestlers who were Olympians in the past will attend: Tim Vanni, a fourth-place finisher in the 1988 Olympics and fifth-place finisher in 1992, and freestyle wrestlers John Azevedo and Joe Gonzales.
Rounding out the former Olympians will be Dan Mello, a Greco-Roman competitor, and Stephen Abas, a 2004 Olympic silver medalist in freestyle wrestling.
Call 661-302-4455 for ticket information.
Ex-CSUB basketball star in comedy act Friday
Kenny Warren, the all-time leading scorer for the Cal State Bakersfield men's basketball program, will return to Bakersfield Friday to participate in "an evening of comedy" at the Skybar Lounge, 4208 Rosedale Highway.
Local comedians Ernesto Gomez and Joe Alaniz will also participate in the event. Admission is $5.
Warren played at CSUB from 1990-94 and scored 1,521 points. He also holds CSUB records in 3-pointers (641), assists (520) and games played (131).
BC wins in volleyball
Caitlin Bernardin had 15 kills and 26 digs to lead the Bakersfield College volleyball team past Citrus, 25-23, 25-16, 25-19, in a Western State Conference South match at BC.
Edithza Urias had 17 kills and Morgan Frazier had 37 assists for the Renegades. BC (17-5, 6-3 WSC). BC will host College of the Canyons on Friday.
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