Fresno State Athletics
Wrestling Begins 2005-06 Season With Alumni Match This Week
11/1/2005 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Oct. 31, 2005
Fresno, Calif. -
BULLDOG WRESTLERS OLD AND NEW
Fresno State kicks off their public season on Nov. 4 when the Bulldogs have their annual exhibition, the alumni match. The exhibition marks the first chance to see the new Fresno State wrestling squad, as well as many of the former greats that have competed for the Bulldogs in past years. While this year's participants are yet to be announced, past years have included conference champions such as Harold, Nick and DeWayne Zinkin, Tim Cornish, Darin Preisendorf, Paris Ruiz and Olympic silver medalist and three-time National Champion Stephen Abas. Depending on participation, all weight classes should be contested in the first warmup before the Bulldogs take on their first action of the year at the Fullerton Open on Nov. 19.
FIRST MONTH FEATURES
Fresno State kicks off the first month of the season starting with the 2005 California Open hosted by Cal State Fullerton. The Fullerton open is one of the highest attended early-season tournaments, with a format that allows wrestlers to compete representing their college as well as allowing unnattached wrestlers a chance to get early season opportunites to wrestle. Last season, Fresno State had six wrestlers place at the Fullerton Open, including returning 184-pound wrestler Jatinder Singh, who made a long run through the wrestlebacks after an early loss to finish fourth in the open. Afterwards, the Bulldogs take one week off before heading to Las Vegas for the Las Vegas Invitational, one of the largest team tournaments in the country. In 2004-05 the Bulldogs finished 20th out of 45 teams, and will look to improve on that finish this season. The Bulldogs then finish out the first month of the season with their first dual of the season, which will be held at home on Dec. 10. Region rival Wyoming travels to Fresno State to wrestle the Bulldogs beginnning at 7 p.m. in the North Gym. Fresno State was victorious last year in Laramie, taking a 35-11 win behind a pin by Dan Cadwallader at 149 pounds and a technical Fall at 141 pounds by Garrett Spooner. A potential rematch of the 2005 Western Region Championship match at 165 also looms as Gary Dack will look to unseat the Bulldogs' Shane Seibert who defeated Dack twice last season.
SCHEDULE SCOOP
Fresno State begins the 2005-06 campaign with another tough schedule. Fresno State will wrestle four teams that are ranked in the top 10, including three on the road with three-time defending champion Oklahoma State, No. 2 Oklahoma and No. 10 Arizona State. The Bulldogs also welcome No. 4 Illinois to the Save Mart Center on January 13 as part of a three-way dual with San Francisco State. The Fresno State season begins at the Fullerton Open on Nov. 19, one of the first open tournaments of the year. The first home dual for Fresno State will be held on Sat., Dec. 10 at 2 p.m. when Western Region rival Wyoming comes to Fresno.
