From the Bakersfield Californian http://www.bakersfield.com/columnist/sports/evans/story/5154230p-5194626c.html
Illness derails Vasquez’s wrestling hopes this year
By JEFF EVANS, Californian staff writer
e-mail: [email protected]
Posted: Friday December 17th, 2004, 1:00 AM
Last Updated: Friday December 17th, 2004, 1:00 AM
Darrell Vasquez’s hope of winning a Division I wrestling title has been derailed by illness.
Vasquez, the only California four-time state high school champion during a spectacular career at Bakersfield High, placed fourth at 133 pounds in the Division I nationals last year for Cal Poly San Luis Obispo as a redshirt freshman.
At the start of this season, Vasquez was ranked among the national leaders in different polls.
Now his name has vanished from those polls. Vasquez has withdrawn from Cal Poly because he has had a relapse of the Epstein-Barr virus that first surfaced two years ago during Vasquez’s redshirt year.
The Epstein-Barr virus, named after the scientists who discovered it in the 1960s, is one of the causes of mononucleosis. Some doctors think it causes chronic fatigue syndrome, although that has not been proven, according to an Epstein-Barr virus web site.
For Vasquez, the virus has caused fatigue and exhaustion.
“Now I’m fighting to get better, “said Vasquez, who is spending much of his time resting at his home in Bakersfield. “I’m just trying to heal my body up and looking to get better.”
Being unable to work out or practice has been difficult, Vasquez said.
“My way of life, with wrestling and athletics, has been to work out, “he said. “It sounds easy, but the hardest thing I have to do is resting. I’m not doing anything. I’m not lifting weights or running. …
“It’s really hard seeing the polls and seeing my name drop off.”
Vasquez said he plans to re-enter Cal Poly as soon as his doctor gives the OK. “I really don’t know when I’ll return. I’m playing it by ear, “Vasquez said.
While at Bakersfield High, Vasquez battled through various injuries. He said the most notable were a staph infection toward the end of his sophomore year, a cut above his eye that required 12 stitches his junior year and human parvo virus, which affects the joints, that afflicted him his senior year.
“I would like to think that those things prepared me for what I’m going through now, “Vasquez said. “Physically, this is about the same as what I went through my freshman year. But mentally this is a lot tougher. I knew I was going to redshirt my freshman year, so sitting out wasn’t a big deal. But I’m supposed to be out there now. And I don’t know if I’ll get a medical redshirt for it (missing this season).”
Vasquez has two years of eligibility remaining and would get a third year if he gets a medical redshirt for this year.
Vegas-type weekend for CSUB
Fans of Cal State Bakersfield can see the Roadrunners in action this weekend and combine it with the lights and glitter of Las Vegas.
The Roadrunner men’s basketball team is participating in the annual High Desert Classic on Saturday and Sunday at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas.
This tournament features 18 Division II schools from across the country. The Roadrunners, who were looking to schedule Division II opponents, asked tourney organizers if they could participate and an opening existed.
CSUB requested games against West Region opponents and got its wish. On Saturday at 2:15, the Roadrunners will face Seattle Pacific. On Sunday at 6:45 p.m., CSUB faces Central Washington.
The CSUB men’s and women’s swimming teams will also be competing in the Saturday through Monday UNLV Invitational.
Giving CSUB another Nevada element, the Roadrunner wrestling squad will compete at the Reno Tournament on Sunday.
There will be a postgame reception for Roadrunner fans following Saturday’s basketball game at Metro Pizza, 1395 E. Tropicana Ave., Las Vegas.
Sanchez’s pinning continues
CSUB senior 133-pound wrestler Matt Sanchez had two more pins last weekend in the Northern Colorado and San Francisco State dual meets. He has nine pins this season and 23 in his career, which ranks 10th all-time at CSUB.
He is also 13-2 this season and ranked No. 1 in the Pac-10 and No. 5 in three different national polls.
Efren Ceballos, CSUB’s senior 125-pounder who is 9-1, is ranked second in the Pac-10 and sixth (Amateur Wrestling News), seventh (W.I.N. magazine) and ninth (Intermat) in the different polls.
Wrestling Gear
