Fresno State Athletics
Jim Bartko: 'Keep The Momentum Rolling'
4/6/2016 12:00:00 AM | General
April 6, 2016
Red Wave,
It has been an exciting past three months for the Bulldogs and we've had a huge momentum swing that has put us in a prime position to have a great spring and beyond.
We are very proud and encouraged by our basketball programs that both made postseason play - just the second time in school history that both programs have done so in the same season. The run that our men's basketball team made, culminating in winning the Mountain West Tournament championship and NCAA berth, was thrilling and rewarding. We are already looking forward to next year and what coach Rodney Terry and squad can do. Our women's team followed that up with a strong run of its own, making the postseason for a second-straight season under Jaime White and for the ninth-year in a row overall. That program has created a remarkable run of success this decade and we are pleased that coach White will continue to lead the program long into the future.
Along with our basketball teams, our other programs and student-athletes throughout the department have done a marvelous job this semester.
A few Bulldog highlights:
• Since Jan. 1, Fresno State has had 23 Mountain West Player/Athlete of the Week selections, the most from any school. In fact, that is seven more selections than any other school in the MW.
• Baseball and head coach Mike Batesole set a new Mountain West record for hottest start by opening the year with 11-straight wins. Then, how about their 12-run third inning last Friday! Wow.
• Trisha Ford's softball program has been in top 25 for eight-straight weeks and its 10-0 start to the year is also the best start in Mountain West history. They remain hot and currently are 6-0 in Mountain West play, sitting atop the league standings.
• Equestrian had three members earn United Equestrian Conference Rider of the Year honors along with a Freshman of the Year honoree. We wish them all the best as they head to the NCEA National Championships next week.
• Congratulations to Annemarie Schwanz (5000-meter) and Je'Nia Sears (long jump), who this past weekend set new school records in their events at the Stanford Invitational.
• Women's golf is on pace to set a new program record for the lowest team scoring average. Their championships are coming up soon (April 18-20) and are excited about their momentum heading in to that.
April has arrived and we now are on the home stretch of the spring semester and sports season.
At the May 7 baseball game we will rename our facility Pete Beiden Field at Bob Bennett Stadium in honor of the school's all-time winningest coach Bob Bennett. We are proud to honor his legacy and hope to see a sold-out stadium that evening when the Bulldogs host San Diego State. We set a goal to raise $250,000 towards the Bob Bennett Stadium Fund to rebrand the facility to honor coach Bennett and fund future enhancement projects exclusively for the baseball program. To learn more or to donate, please contact the Bulldog Foundation at 559-278-7160.
Track & Field Championships
We are delighted to welcome in our league brethren and host the 2016 Mountain West Track & Field Championships, May 11-14 at Veterans Memorial Stadium. This is an opportunity for us to be gracious hosts and put on a major event, but also not to be forgotten is our Bulldog Invitational on April 23. We have such a strong track & field presence in our community and it is rewarding to be able to bring the high level of competition to the Valley.
Warmerdam Field Update
The track is on schedule to be completed this year. Currently, the underground work is nearing its completion as the track's foundation is starting to take shape. You will notice some big changes in the overall aesthetics of the track, the berm on the west side will be lowered and the addition of cypress trees will be added to complement the facility and tie-in with Margie Wright Diamond to the north of Warmerdam Field.
Fresno State is seeking to raise $500,000 in private support for this critical next step for Bulldog track & field. For more information on how you can be part of this exciting project, please call the Bulldog Foundation offices at (559) 278-7160 or contact Assistant Director of Development James Sewell at (559) 278-1564.
Football Season Tickets
Thank you to all who renewed their football season tickets and Bulldog Scholarship Fund donations for 2016. That revenue is vital to continuing the success of our student-athletes and we need the Valley to continue its strong support to keep the momentum going. We will begin the reseating process for new football season tickets on Monday, April 11. For more information on football season tickets call 559-278-DOGS. Join us for fun, family and Fresno State football at Bulldog Stadium this fall.
Bulldog Yard Sale
We enjoyed seeing the strong turnout last Saturday at the Bulldog Yard Sale. We had over 8,000 items available, sold around 6,700 of them in our half-day sale that actually ran longer than we advertised because so many people were still in line. We've already started discussion on future Bulldog Yard Sales as its return was very popular among Red Wavers.
The future looks great and we appreciate all of your support of Fresno State.
Go `Dogs!
Jim Bartko
Director of Athletics
Players Mentioned
