Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State Wrestling Outlook
11/17/1999 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Nov. 17, 1999
The Fresno State wrestling team ended the past season with their seventh consecutive Western Athletic Conference title and finished 16th at the NCAA Championships, but the Bulldogs are not resting on their laurels.
It?s a whole new look for the ?Dogs this year as 19-year veteran head coach Dennis DeLiddo has some tough ?Dogs ready to scrap.
"We have some impressive wrestlers returning and we should be right in the hunt again," DeLiddo said.
The heart of the 1998-99 wrestling lineup, NCAA champion Stephen Abas (125 lbs.) will be redshirting this year to train for the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia. The leadership of Stan Greene, Donny Rider, Demetrist Huff and David Wheeler as they were part of the 1999 graduation class. This season?s ?Dogs do have some young pups to watch the house.
"The key this year is to stay healthy because we have a small number of wrestlers in the lighter weight classes, but returning starters (Paris) Ruiz, (Tim) Cornish, (Matt) Demers and (Dan) Jackson will carry the load," DeLiddo said.
The ?Dogs also have some impressive junior college transfers to plug into the mix, juniors Tom Ghode (J.C. California State Champ), Jason Rossotti (J.C. California State Champ) and Jason Bedsole (J.C. California State Runner-up) are ready to help carry the Bulldogs to another successful season.
Ruiz had an impressive junior year at 133 pounds, finishing with a 30-13 record (second only to Abas) and was one of five 1999 NCAA qualifiers.
"We have a really small starting lineup this year and Paris is one of the guys I?m counting on to help carry the squad to another successful season," DeLiddo said.
Senior Tim Cornish returns at 157 pounds. Like Ruiz, he put up some eye opening numbers by finishing 26-9 (fourth best on the team) and had a 10-2 dual match record.
Slated for 125 pounds are both Derrick Hayes and Jason Bedsole. Hayes was on the WAC Championship team last year and saw little action sitting behide Abas, He finished 6-6 with one pin.
Ralph Lopez and Jonte Davis will both share duties at 141 pounds. Lopez was redshirted last year and is hoping to do some damage this year. Davis is returning to the lineup after a successful third place finish in the WAC.
At 149 pounds, sophomore Derrick Duran hopes to improve on his 10-16 season for the Bulldogs.
Returning this year at 165 pounds is Matt Demers. He is hoping for another trip to the NCAA Championships.
Dan Jackson is a lock at a 174 pounds, after going 19-14 in his freshman campaign.
Junior?s Mike Mellor and Jason Rossotti will be vying for the 184 pound spot. Returning starter Mellor looked very impressive late in the season by finishing in fourth at the WAC Championships.
Rounding out the weight classes are Tom Ghode at 197 pounds and at heavyweight will be Fresno State football standout Grant Harrington, who redshirted last year in both wrestling and football.
