California Baptist University Men's Wrestling

Zalesky was hired as California Baptist University's second wrestling coach on June 17, 2011. He oversaw the Lancers transition to full NCAA Division II and Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference membership, and has continued the program's national success at the next level. In five seasons, Zalesky led CBU to a 46-27-1, 12-4 in RMAC record and a pair of top-two national finishes. He has coached his wrestlers to a total of 23 All-American awards and five individual national championships. The Lancers also won a program-best 13 duals in the 2014-15 season. The Lancers have had an impressive debut in the NCAA since joining fully in 2013-14 with Zalesky at the helm. Twelve CBU wrestlers have qualified for the NCAA Division II Championships, with eight of them earning All-American awards and six Super Region IV and seven RMAC titles in three seasons. In all, CBU has gone 31-12-1, 12-4 in the RMAC and defeated Division I opponents four times since joining the NCAA. More than athletics, the program has also finished in the top 10 of the Division II All-Academic team standings the past three years.  This past season, CBU put together a banner year, taking sixth in Division II, winning the RMAC championship and taking second at the Super Regional. The Lancers went 7-3, with a 23-18 win over fourth-ranked Mercyhurst that made them a top-10 team in the rankings most of the year. Five of Zalesky's wrestlers advanced to nationals and four earned All-American awards, with heavyweight Joe Fagiano winning the program's first NCAA title. The Lancers sent two to the national championships, with one picking up All-American honors after winning a Super Regional crown, in 2016. Collectively, CBU finished seventh in a revamped Super Region IV and 30th in Division II overall. In 2013-14, CBU placed second at its first-ever Division II Super Region IV and Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Championships, with half of its lineup advancing to the NCAA Championships. Three Lancers won regional/conference titles, with three wrestlers going on to earn NCAA All-American status. CBU took 12th place overall nationally in its inaugural campaign in the NCAA. In the 2012-13 season, Zalesky led the Lancers to a first place finish at the NCWA National Championship, grabbing the second title in program history. CBU had two individual champions at the meet and nine All-Americans. It was CBU's third tournament victory of the season. In his first season at the helm, Zalesky led the Lancers to a runner-up finish at the 2012 NCWA National Championship, with six Lancers earning All-American honors and two winning individual titles. The Lancers also got dual meet wins over four NCAA Division II ranked opponents in 2012. Zalesky came to Riverside after nine years as the head coach at NCAA Division I UC Davis. He was a three-time NCAA All-American and a former assistant coach at powerhouse Iowa and has extensive coaching experience at both the prep and collegiate levels as well as international experience as an athlete. Zalesky coached nine seasons at UC Davis before the program was dropped prior to the 2010-11 season. In those nine seasons, he coached numerous Pac-10 placers, four conference champions and had 27 athletes qualify for the NCAA Championships. Perhaps his best season came in 2007 when he was named Pac-10 Coach of the Year and also coached the Aggies' first-ever NCAA Division I National Champion in any sport in Derek Moore (141 pounds), which helped UC Davis finish 22nd at the NCAA National Championships, its best showing ever. Moore was also named Outstanding Wrestler. In 2009 and 2010, his teams earned a perfect Academic Progress Rate score, ranking as one of the top teams in the nation. Prior to beginning his coaching career in 1986, Zalesky was a three-time All-American wrestler at Iowa. During his time there, he helped the Hawkeyes to four straight national championships, and he notched a record of 73-2-1 in his last two seasons. He was twice the national runner-up at 142 pounds and won three Big Ten titles. His first coaching job came at his alma mater where he served under the legendary Dan Gable from 1986-90. He then spent eight seasons as the head wrestling coach at Palmer High School in Palmer, Alaska. In 2010, he was inducted into the Alaska Wrestling Hall of Fame. He also spent two seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Indiana and then was the dean of students and wrestling coach at Culver Military Academy in Culver, Ind., for two years prior to taking the UC Davis job in the summer of 2001. After his collegiate wrestling career concluded, Zalesky began competing internationally, winning a handful of tournaments from 1983-86. He won a silver medal in the 1983 Pan American Games, the 1984 World Cup, 1984 Tblisi Tournament in the former Soviet Union and the 1983 Canadian Cup. He also won the Henry Deglane Tournament in Nice, France in 1983 and the Cerro Pelado International Tournament in Cuba in 1986.  Zalesky graduated from Iowa in 1983 with a degree in finance and later earned another bachelor's in education and Russian language in 1990, also from Iowa. He earned a master's from Indiana in Slavic linguistics and literature in 2000. He was recognized five times in the 1990s for outstanding achievement by the American Council of Teachers of Russian. Zalesky and his wife, Maria, have two children (Alie and Jake). Both earned degrees at CBU, with Alie and Jake graduating from the school's nursing and public relations programs. Lennie Zalesky Head Wrestling Coach Lennie Zalesky was hired as California Baptist University's second wrestling coach on June 17, 2011. He oversaw the Lancers transition to full NCAA Division II and Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference membership, and has continued the program's national success at the next level. In five seasons, Zalesky led CBU to a 46-27-1, 12-4 in RMAC record and a pair of top-two national finishes. He has coached his wrestlers to a total of 23 All-American awards and five individual national championships. The Lancers also won a program-best 13 duals in the 2014-15 season. The Lancers have had an impressive debut in the NCAA since joining fully in 2013-14 with Zalesky at the helm. Twelve CBU wrestlers have qualified for the NCAA Division II Championships, with eight of them earning All-American awards and six Super Region IV and seven RMAC titles in three seasons. In all, CBU has gone 31-12-1, 12-4 in the RMAC and defeated Division I opponents four times since joining the NCAA. More than athletics, the program has also finished in the top 10 of the Division II All-Academic team standings the past three years.  This past season, CBU put together a banner year, taking sixth in Division II, winning the RMAC championship and taking second at the Super Regional. The Lancers went 7-3, with a 23-18 win over fourth-ranked Mercyhurst that made them a top-10 team in the rankings most of the year. Five of Zalesky's wrestlers advanced to nationals and four earned All-American awards, with heavyweight Joe Fagiano winning the program's first NCAA title. The Lancers sent two to the national championships, with one picking up All-American honors after winning a Super Regional crown, in 2016. Collectively, CBU finished seventh in a revamped Super Region IV and 30th in Division II overall. In 2013-14, CBU placed second at its first-ever Division II Super Region IV and Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Championships, with half of its lineup advancing to the NCAA Championships. Three Lancers won regional/conference titles, with three wrestlers going on to earn NCAA All-American status. CBU took 12th place overall nationally in its inaugural campaign in the NCAA. In the 2012-13 season, Zalesky led the Lancers to a first place finish at the NCWA National Championship, grabbing the second title in program history. CBU had two individual champions at the meet and nine All-Americans. It was CBU's third tournament victory of the season. In his first season at the helm, Zalesky led the Lancers to a runner-up finish at the 2012 NCWA National Championship, with six Lancers earning All-American honors and two winning individual titles. The Lancers also got dual meet wins over four NCAA Division II ranked opponents in 2012. Zalesky came to Riverside after nine years as the head coach at NCAA Division I UC Davis. He was a three-time NCAA All-American and a former assistant coach at powerhouse Iowa and has extensive coaching experience at both the prep and collegiate levels as well as international experience as an athlete. Zalesky coached nine seasons at UC Davis before the program was dropped prior to the 2010-11 season. In those nine seasons, he coached numerous Pac-10 placers, four conference champions and had 27 athletes qualify for the NCAA Championships. Perhaps his best season came in 2007 when he was named Pac-10 Coach of the Year and also coached the Aggies' first-ever NCAA Division I National Champion in any sport in Derek Moore (141 pounds), which helped UC Davis finish 22nd at the NCAA National Championships, its best showing ever. Moore was also named Outstanding Wrestler. In 2009 and 2010, his teams earned a perfect Academic Progress Rate score, ranking as one of the top teams in the nation. Prior to beginning his coaching career in 1986, Zalesky was a three-time All-American wrestler at Iowa. During his time there, he helped the Hawkeyes to four straight national championships, and he notched a record of 73-2-1 in his last two seasons. He was twice the national runner-up at 142 pounds and won three Big Ten titles. His first coaching job came at his alma mater where he served under the legendary Dan Gable from 1986-90. He then spent eight seasons as the head wrestling coach at Palmer High School in Palmer, Alaska. In 2010, he was inducted into the Alaska Wrestling Hall of Fame. He also spent two seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Indiana and then was the dean of students and wrestling coach at Culver Military Academy in Culver, Ind., for two years prior to taking the UC Davis job in the summer of 2001. After his collegiate wrestling career concluded, Zalesky began competing internationally, winning a handful of tournaments from 1983-86. He won a silver medal in the 1983 Pan American Games, the 1984 World Cup, 1984 Tblisi Tournament in the former Soviet Union and the 1983 Canadian Cup. He also won the Henry Deglane Tournament in Nice, France in 1983 and the Cerro Pelado International Tournament in Cuba in 1986.  Zalesky graduated from Iowa in 1983 with a degree in finance and later earned another bachelor's in education and Russian language in 1990, also from Iowa. He earned a master's from Indiana in Slavic linguistics and literature in 2000. He was recognized five times in the 1990s for outstanding achievement by the American Council of Teachers of Russian. Zalesky and his wife, Maria, have two children (Alie and Jake). Both earned degrees at CBU, with Alie and Jake graduating from the school's nursing and public relations programs.

Aleksanyan enters his fourth season as an assistant wrestling coach at California Baptist University. Aleksanyan played a key role in the Lancers' transition to full membership in NCAA Division II and the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. In four seasons, CBU has accumulated a 37-23-1, 12-4 in RMAC record with Aleksanyan. The Lancers also won a program-best 13 duals in the 2014-15 season.  Seventeen All-American performances and three individual national championships have been accomplished by the Lancers while Aleksanyan has been on board. The team also won a NWCA championship in 2013 before completing the move to the NCAA, which started with a 12th-place finish in Division II. CBU took sixth at nationals in 2016.  Since joining the NCAA, the Lancers have impressive on the new national stage. Twelve CBU wrestlers have qualified for the NCAA Division II Championships, with eight of them earning All-American awards, seven Super Region IV and six RMAC crowns in three seasons of eligibility. In all, CBU has gone 31-12-1, 12-4 in the RMAC and defeated Division I opponents four times. More than athletics, the program has also finished in the top 10 of the Division II All-Academic team standings the past two years.  Aleksanyan began his collegiate coaching career at CBU after five years of prep coaching experience at Calvary Chapel-Santa Ana and a respectable amateur career. An alumnus of Calvary Chapel-Santa Ana, Aleksanyan took over head coach duties in December 2006. During his five-year stint, he led the Churchboyz to five consecutive top-10 finishes at the CIF California State Championships and five top-three finishes at the CIF Southern Section Master's championships, with two victories at the Master's tournament. He also led Calvary Chapel to two CIF titles. Along the way, he coached 16 CIF individual champions, eight Master's champions and six state champions. Aleksanyan earned his political science (2002) and human resources (2003) degrees from Michigan State University. He was a two-year starter for Spartans and was voted team captain for the 2003-2004 season. Prior to Michigan State, Aleksanyan also wrestled at Moorpark Junior College where he was a state champion at the California Junior College Championships. He also trained four years at the Olympic Training Center from 2000-2004. As an amateur, he was a 1995 and 1998 World Team Member. Alesanyan currently resides in Riverside. Arsen Aleksanyan Assistant Wrestling Coach Arsen Aleksanyan enters his fourth season as an assistant wrestling coach at California Baptist University. Aleksanyan played a key role in the Lancers' transition to full membership in NCAA Division II and the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. In four seasons, CBU has accumulated a 37-23-1, 12-4 in RMAC record with Aleksanyan. The Lancers also won a program-best 13 duals in the 2014-15 season.  Seventeen All-American performances and three individual national championships have been accomplished by the Lancers while Aleksanyan has been on board. The team also won a NWCA championship in 2013 before completing the move to the NCAA, which started with a 12th-place finish in Division II. CBU took sixth at nationals in 2016.  Since joining the NCAA, the Lancers have impressive on the new national stage. Twelve CBU wrestlers have qualified for the NCAA Division II Championships, with eight of them earning All-American awards, seven Super Region IV and six RMAC crowns in three seasons of eligibility. In all, CBU has gone 31-12-1, 12-4 in the RMAC and defeated Division I opponents four times. More than athletics, the program has also finished in the top 10 of the Division II All-Academic team standings the past two years.  Aleksanyan began his collegiate coaching career at CBU after five years of prep coaching experience at Calvary Chapel-Santa Ana and a respectable amateur career. An alumnus of Calvary Chapel-Santa Ana, Aleksanyan took over head coach duties in December 2006. During his five-year stint, he led the Churchboyz to five consecutive top-10 finishes at the CIF California State Championships and five top-three finishes at the CIF Southern Section Master's championships, with two victories at the Master's tournament. He also led Calvary Chapel to two CIF titles. Along the way, he coached 16 CIF individual champions, eight Master's champions and six state champions. Aleksanyan earned his political science (2002) and human resources (2003) degrees from Michigan State University. He was a two-year starter for Spartans and was voted team captain for the 2003-2004 season. Prior to Michigan State, Aleksanyan also wrestled at Moorpark Junior College where he was a state champion at the California Junior College Championships. He also trained four years at the Olympic Training Center from 2000-2004. As an amateur, he was a 1995 and 1998 World Team Member. Alesanyan currently resides in Riverside.

Nicola joined California Baptist University wrestling in August 2014, becoming the third coach on the Lancers coaching staff, serving as an assistant coach for Lennie Zalesky and alongside Arsen Aleksanyan. This past season, CBU put together a banner year, taking sixth in Division II, winning the RMAC championship and taking second at the Super Regional. The Lancers went 7-3, with a 23-18 win over fourth-ranked Mercyhurst that made them a top-10 team in the rankings most of the year. Five of Zalesky's wrestlers advanced to nationals and four earned All-American awards, with heavyweight Joe Fagiano winning the program's first NCAA title. In Nicola's first season on board, the Lancers defeated two NCAA Division I opponents (Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and Grand Canyon) and two top-15 ranked teams (#10 Lindenwood and #15 Fort Hays State) in dual competition. Two wrestlers advanced to the NCAA Division II Championships, with one winning a Super Region IV title and going on to claim All-American honors. Collectively, CBU took seventh in the revamped Super Region and 30th in Division II overall. Nicola came to CBU after assistant coaching jobs at Cumberland University and at the University of Central Missouri. He also held coaching jobs at a pair of Indiana high schools Bloomington South and Culver Academies. Cumberland posted a number of program-best performances over the last two years with Nicola on board. He was responsible for running practices, teaching technique and handling recruiting for the Bulldogs, as well as arranging travel and assisting with scheduling. He also handled ordering gear for the squad, monitoring student-athlete grades and class attendance, along with organizing community service and support activities for the team. The Bulldogs enjoyed their highest-ever finishes at the NAIA Championships (sixth), National Wrestling Coaches Association National Duals (third) and NWCA Academic All-American Team standings (fourth) in 2013-14. They also had six wrestlers earn All-American honors after the program had just 11 in its previous 16 seasons, with a NAIA National Champion and runner up. Nicola also holds coaching experience at the international level as a USA Wrestling Silver Certified coach, serving on the Indiana National Team coaching staff over the last 12 years. He was a Team USA Senior World Team Coaching Ambassador in 2013, traveling to Budapest, Hungary for the World Championships. In 2012, Nicola was named the 2012 Indiana Cadet/Junior Coach of the Year Nicola is a Fort Wayne, Ind. native, where his family and two brothers Adam and Daniel still reside. He is completed his second masters degree in education from Cumberland, and earned his first masters degree in athletic and sport business administration in 2012 from Central Missouri. In 2008, he finished his bachelors degree in biology from Indiana.