California Baptist University's Chris Santana (left) battles an opponent during a match in his 157-pound weight class earlier this season. (Courtesy of CBU) |
Brawley native Chris Santana is continuing his success at the collegiate level in wrestling.
The 157-pound Brawley Union High 2007 graduate recently won his weight division at the 14th annual National Collegiate Wrestling Association’s national championships in Macon, Ga.
He is wrestling with the California Baptist University Lancers in Riverside as a redshirt sophomore. The Lancers also won the team title at the national championships.
“I think it’s really cool. I got the chance to compete in a national competition,” Santana said. “I’m just happy everything worked out.”
He also earned the All-America honor to cap off a successful season with the Lancers.
Santana transferred to CBU from Sierra College, a community college in Rocklin, located near the foothills of the Sierra Nevada.
After a successful career at Sierra, Santana was getting plenty of offers. He chose CBU because it’s close to home and its currently transferring from NAIA to the NCAA Division II.
“I’m really excited about that,” Santana said of the transfer. “It’s the next level of competition.”
The transfer will be complete next season. At the national championships, Santana beat Ryan Madson of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 7-4, for the title.
The 157-pound Brawley Union High 2007 graduate recently won his weight division at the 14th annual National Collegiate Wrestling Association’s national championships in Macon, Ga.
He is wrestling with the California Baptist University Lancers in Riverside as a redshirt sophomore. The Lancers also won the team title at the national championships.
“I think it’s really cool. I got the chance to compete in a national competition,” Santana said. “I’m just happy everything worked out.”
He also earned the All-America honor to cap off a successful season with the Lancers.
Santana transferred to CBU from Sierra College, a community college in Rocklin, located near the foothills of the Sierra Nevada.
After a successful career at Sierra, Santana was getting plenty of offers. He chose CBU because it’s close to home and its currently transferring from NAIA to the NCAA Division II.
“I’m really excited about that,” Santana said of the transfer. “It’s the next level of competition.”
The transfer will be complete next season. At the national championships, Santana beat Ryan Madson of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 7-4, for the title.
