Tobin family donating $125,000 to CSUB wrestling

Gift will establish Tobin Wrestling Scholarship for student-athletes

By California State University, Bakersfield

October 14^th, 2021

In the 1970s, Craig Tobin represented CSUB on a national stage — he was a student-athlete on the wrestling team when the university earned its first-ever national titles in wrestling.

Now, the 1979 alumnus is giving back to current CSUB wrestlers.

The Tobin family has committed to donating $125,000 to Athletics over the course of five years. The gift establishes the Tobin Wrestling Scholarship at CSUB and will transform the lives of student-athletes. The first $25,000 installment has already been provided to the university.

“The Tobin family has been supporting our CSUB wrestling scholar-athletes for many years,” said Kenneth “Ziggy” Siegfried, director of Athletics and associate vice president for Student Affairs. “Craig and Hayley are difference-makers in our community, and their generous commitment to form the Tobin Wrestling Scholarship is another example of that. I want to thank the entire Tobin family for all they have done and are doing for our CSUB wrestling program. They not only give generously — they also have inspired others to invest in the program.”

The gift will help fulfill one of the priorities that CSUB has established with its first-ever comprehensive fundraising campaign, which was publicly announced on Oct. 1. It will support future leaders by providing scholarships to student-athletes.

The goal of the campaign is to raise $55 million by July 2024 to transform the university.

Craig Tobin said the focus of the new scholarship is to bring more students into CSUB’s wrestling program and support them in their academic and athletic pursuits. There are currently 30 student-athletes in the program, according to the university.

“We want to give back a little bit,” he said. “This is a strong program that CSUB has. There’s a lot of good, hard-working kids out there. All they need is a chance.”

Tobin said a lot of students who participate in the wresting program go on to have great careers and do wonderful things for the community.

“There’s a tremendous amount of great people who have come from that program,” he said. “A lot of them go on to become coaches, teachers, law enforcement. It’s astounding to see the type of kids it has produced.”

One such student is Albert Urias, who came to CSUB in 2018 on a partial wrestling scholarship and has since gotten a full ride. Urias said scholarships such as the ones he received help student-athletes stay focused on athletics and academics instead of having to worry about how to pay for school.

“By taking away financial burdens, scholarships help the student-athlete focus solely on the task at hand,” he said. “It also brings an aspect of understanding that there are people out there supporting you in what you are doing. As a wrestler, whenever I step onto the mat, I not only wrestle for myself but for those around me who have given me support. Those who have donated are also included in that family pride.”

Albert Urias wrestling for CSUB. Courtesy of California State University.

Tobin said being a CSUB wrestler and getting the opportunity to play at a national level was a great experience.

“It was pretty exciting at the time,” he said. “When you’re in the moment, you’re not counting points. You’re just doing the best you can.”

Being in the wrestling program instilled discipline and an understanding of the benefits of hard work, Tobin said.

“What you put in is what you get out of it. If you’re successful at it, you understand the importance of discipline and having a goal in life,” he said. “It shows how if you work hard, you can do well at anything. You’re not always going to be a champion, but it’s worth going out there and fighting every day to achieve your goals.”

Besides the Tobin family, other donors are giving to CSUB in support of wrestling scholarships. Just earlier this year, Bakersfield residents Vernon and Janis Varner also committed $125,000 to the university to establish the Vernon & Janis Varner Wrestling Scholarship.

“There’s a strong support system in Kern County for wrestlers. It’s part of the Bakersfield culture,” Tobin said. “I would like to see that legacy continued on.”

Tobin said he feels very fortunate to be in a position in which he can give back to CSUB’s wrestling program.

“It’s been a nice journey. It feels good to have done well enough to be able to give back to the community and help kids further their dreams,” he said. “Wrestling is not the end all, be all — it’s a stepping stone to even greater things.”

The 1977-78 CSUB wrestling team. Craig Tobin is second from right in the second row.

ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN

` Runners on the Rise is the first-ever comprehensive fundraising campaign at California State University, Bakersfield. The campaign is centrally focused on what is most important at CSUB: students. This ambitious effort aims to raise $55 million by July 2024, helping our students — and in turn the entire region — reach new heights of success. Join us on this upward trajectory at csub.edu/rise.