RIVERSIDE — The ripple effects of California Baptist University’s decision to discontinue its men’s wrestling program are being felt across the Inland community. The West Coast Regional Training Center, site of weekly wrestling clinics hosted at CBU where Lancers student-athletes and alumni c oached high school wrestlers from across Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, has closed its doors to the public after nearly a decade. The last weeknight session was Jan. 29. “The RTC underscored the CBU wrestling program’s community impact,” said former CBU all-American Nolan Kistler, who is helping to lead the “Keep CBU Wrestling” campaign. “Local youth and high school wrestlers could attend and benefit from college-level instruction.” Nolan Kistner speaks to wrestlers at the final clinic at The RTC on Jan. 29. Images courtesy of Joey Krebs Richard “Remy” Murillo, second from left, holds a #KeepCBUWrestling sign alongside classmates at the Lancers’ home match against Morgan State on Jan. 31. Images courtesy of Joey Krebs John W. North High wrestling coach Harlan Kistler walks the mat at The RTC on Jan. 29. Image courtesy of Joey Krebs Young wrestlers gather ahead of the action at The RTC on Jan. 29. Image courtesy of Joey Krebs Young wrestlers gather ahead of the action at The RTC on Jan. 29. Photo courtesy of Joey Krebs Show Caption1 of 5Nolan Kistner speaks to wrestlers at the final clinic at The RTC on Jan. 29. Images courtesy of Joey Krebs Expand A casualty of an athletics program that continues its push toward a national spotlight, many in this tight-knit amateur grappling group are dealing with the impact of a loss of the regional training center — aka “The RTC” — a training space that has cultivated numerous CIF masters and state champions and, in turn, promoted the Lancers’ own program to the next generation of prep wrestlers. “It sucks because of how much this place has helped me,” Santiago High junior wrestler Lucas Hernandez said. “I know it won’t be able to help other kids now, and I feel like kids need it because I need it.” And while the weeknight sessions shifted to Riverside Submission, a mixed-martial arts studio near campus, there are mixed feelings about the next move. THE RTC Most Thursday nights you could first hear and then smell it as you approach the CBU wrestling room near the east edge of campus. Glowing with a musk only enjoyed by those on the mats, step through the door and then you’d feel it – the sweat equity that these athletes put in behind the scenes to be champions. Wrestling is a sport centered on resilience, strength, toughness and learning on the go, sometimes with your head in your opponent’s armpit. “You can be 125 pounds or, you know, a massive kid at 285 pounds and still compete,” Kistler said. “I’d argue that it’s probably the most opportunistic sport for first-generation students.” Wall-to-wall padding with two NCAA-sized mats and just enough space near the door for a couple of rows of chairs for parents to sit and watch. Its simplicity is part of what made it special. “Nothing compares to The RTC,” Santiago senior wrestler Joey Whitford said. “They’ve made such a big community and they’ve done so much for wrestling in the Inland Empire.” The RTC proved to be a safe space for both boys and girls to make mistakes and make corrections, all under the watchful eyes of CBU wrestling coach Derek Moore and his staff. “This has been a house of learning and a second home to a lot of kids,” Moore said. “We love them all, teach them all. Anyone and everyone is welcome.” PREP POWERHOUSE There had never been anything like The RTC in the I.E., and it isn’t likely that any location can replicate its density of high-level training. The best high school wrestlers from Riverside, Corona, Norco, Jurupa Valley, Fontana, Rialto, Colton and Moreno Valley went toe-to-toe every week, while others from as far as Orange, Los Angeles and San Diego Counties gravitated toward the sessions. “There’s a lot of local high school wrestlers that train there and (CBU) brings in the best talent, like, I’m talking about global talent,” Kistler said. “Essentially, there’s nothing like it in Southern California.” So many CIF masters and state champions have come through The RTC that club leadership stopped trying to keep count. Beyond the titles, however, the young men and women found commonality in the shared experience and the culture of a high-level training environment. “Getting that extra workout during dual meets gives you an edge, and it means a lot to be able to wrestle some of the top guys,” Whitford said. LAST CHAMPION? Riverside North senior Coby Merrill captured a state championship last year at 285 pounds and he’s headed back to Bakersfield this weekend for this year’s championships. He could be the last CIF champion to train at The RTC. Currently the No. 1-ranked heavyweight in the state, Merrill credits The RTC with consistently elevating his level. “This is something that Nolan (Kistler) talks about and I totally agree with the idea of the alumni system,” Merrill said. “I have wrestled so many CBU alumni.” Merrill’s sparring matches against CBU alums Brady Bersano (’16), Peter Cunningham (’17), Nolan Kistler (’17), Harlan Kistler (’17), John Halajian (’19), Zach Schrader (’21), and many others, have been invaluable in his development. “I think if it wasn’t for training with guys like them, teaching the technique and rolling with them and helping me develop positions and skill, I don’t know if I’d be where I’m at today,” Merrill said. What ultimately sets The RTC apart, he said, is the access to the sport. “There are so many potential first-generation students, and wrestling gives them the opportunity to be the first in their family to go to college,” said Merrill, who is committed to Iowa State. “Watching CBU wrestling has inspired a lot of kids.” KISTLERS ARE BRISTLING Like his brother, current Riverside North High wrestling coach Harlan Kistler is one of the key weekly figures leading training every week at The RTC. While growing up in a wrestling family set him on a path early in life, Kistler knows the value of Riverside’s own training space for others coming to the sport from disparate places. “There’s about 120 young athletes every week that get mentored and get Division 1-level coaching in this program,” Harlan Kistler said. “If it went away, it would just hurt the greater community.” Kistler wrestled for five years at CBU and was ranked as high as No. 12 in the nation, enduring a knee surgery and a bout with the MRSA virus during his collegiate career. He’s now Merrill’s coach at North High. “I never had partners in high school to wrestle against but having The RTC, (Merrill) has been able to train with college heavyweights like Tristan Kemp, Cal Baptist’s current starting heavyweight, which has really been a benefit,” Kistler said. He continued: “Having The RTC allows wrestlers to come to a neutral ground, learn from collegiate wrestlers and coaches who are Division I-caliber, and so not having that handicaps the area’s development and growth. Plus, you want those wrestlers to stay here on the West Coast, represent California and go to the NCAA Tournament. This just hurts the future local talent that wants to stay home and represent their local communities.” REMY IS RESOLVED Richard ‘Remy’ Murillo is a student-athlete at CBU largely because he saw the potential of The RTC. Among the NCAA’s best at 141 pounds, the Moreno Valley native was a three-time CIF state finalist at Canyon Springs High from 2022-24. He got hooked on The RTC during his senior year, and so matriculating to CBU was a natural progression. “This place has become a fixture and now they’re messing with it?” Murillo said. “It’s a gateway opportunity to open up a lot of doors in life and I think that’s something that everybody needs, including myself, and being here is just different.” Ranked as high as No. 28 this season, Murillo was traveling to a competition when he got the news about CBU’s decision to drop its wrestling program, along with its men’s golf and swimming teams. “It’s pretty heartbreaking. It’s been very difficult on the team, definitely,” he said. “This is really going to impact the community, especially because this is the only RTC in California.” Murillo said he refuses to look at transferring to other schools until after the NCAA championships in Cleveland in March, holding out hope that the “Keep CBU Wrestling” campaign can find the funding to save the program, and with it The RTC. “My main focus is on finishing the season,” he said. “This whole thing is just going to make us go harder. Maybe we can show them that this decision was the wrong decision, forever.” Related Articles Robots do battle at California Baptist University in Riverside ...read more read less