Fresno State Athletics
Sunday, March 4
Tulsa, OK
10 AM PT
Fresno State
vs
Big 12 Championships
Nevills finishes second; Hokit fifth at the Big 12 Championships
3/4/2018 7:00:00 PM | Wrestling
The Fresno State Wrestling team wrapped up its first-ever Big 12 Championships on Sunday evening at the BOK Center with freshman AJ Nevills finishing runner-up at heavyweight and sophomore Josh Hokit placing fifth at 197 pounds.
TULSA, Okla. - The Fresno State Wrestling team wrapped up its first-ever Big 12 Championships on Sunday evening at the BOK Center with freshman AJ Nevills finishing runner-up at heavyweight and sophomore Josh Hokit placing fifth at 197 pounds.
"What a great experience to get this opportunity to compete in a championship-level environment," said head coach Troy Steiner. "It will be a great learning experience for the future and will be something we can build off of."
Wrestling in the final match of the evening session finals, Nevills squared off with top-seed and No. 11 ranked Derek White of Oklahoma State. With White able to secure a pair of takedowns in the first, Nevills was only able to garner an escape falling behind 4-1 after the first period. White added a reversal and takedown in the second period while Nevills added a pair of escapes to take a 8-3 lead into the final period. Starting out on bottom, Nevills was able to get out to make it a 8-4 match, but that was as close as the Bulldog got falling by a final scored of 13-6.
With the Big 12 having three automatic bids to the NCAA Championships at heavyweight, Nevills' season will continue as he will represent Fresno State at the national tournament in Cleveland on March 15-17.
The 'Dogs will wait to hear on Wild Card bids released on March 6 as 149-pound redshirt sophomore Khristian Olivas has a great opportunity to get one after finishing the season with a 26-7 overall record and a top 25 ranking in both the NCAA Coaches Panel and RPI rankings.
SESSION III
The 'Dogs also had a pair of wrestlers compete in the morning session wrestling a total of three matches. 125-pound redshirt senior Sean Williams led things off wrestling No. 7 seed Paul Bianchi of North Dakota State in a seventh-place match with the winner automatically qualifying for the 2018 NCAA Championships.
Having already defeated Bianchi 10-6 earlier in the tournament, Williams jumped out to a 2-0 lead with a quick takedown before an escape and a takedown by the NDSU wrestler put him up a point. A late reversal in the first period gave Williams a 4-3 lead heading into the second period. With Bianchi able to tie the match at 4-4 after starting the second on bottom, a takedown gave him a 6-4 lead with an escape by Williams making it a one-point match entering the third period.
Starting on bottom, Williams was unable to escape Bianchi for much of the third period as the NDSU grappler gained over two minutes of riding time in the match. A escape by Williams with 15 seconds remaining in the third period momentarily tied the match at 6-6, but a late takedown and point for riding time gave Bianchi a 9-6 win and dashed Williams' NCAA Championships hopes as he finished eighth.
At 197 pounds, sophomore Josh Hokit had a pair of matches on the day going 1-1 to finish the tournament 3-2 in his five matches. Starting off wrestling in the consolation semifinals a win away from an automatic bid to the NCAA Championships, Hokit faced No. 3 seed Jacob Holschlag of Northern Iowa. After a scoreless first period, the lone score in the match came on an escape by Holschlag in the second period. Starting the third period neutral, Hokit was close to a takedown near the end of the third period that would have given him the win, but after a video review, it was determined there was no takedown.
Falling to the fifth-place match, Hokit took on No. 9 seed Andrew Dixon of Oklahoma and after a scoreless first period, Hokit started the second period on top getting a turn for a two-point near fall. After Dixon was able to escape, Hokit started the third period on bottom picking up a point for an escape and held off a late takedown attempt from Dixon for a 3-1 win to finish fifth.
2018 Big 12 Wrestling Championships Results Day Two
125 lbs. - No. 10 seed Sean Williams, RSr. (finishes 8th at the Big 12 Championships with a 2-3 record; finishes season 9-19 overall)
Preliminary: Williams (FS) dec. No. 7 seed Paul Bianchi (North Dakota State), 10-6
Quarterfinals: No. 2 seed Taylor La Mont (Utah Valley) dec. Williams (FS), 10-4
First Round Consolation: Williams maj. dec. No. 12 seed Sinjin Briggs (Iowa State), 18-4
Second Round Consolation: No. 6 seed Jay Schwarm (Northern Iowa) dec. Williams (FS), 15-10
Seventh-Place Match: No. 10 seed Paul Bianchi (NDSU) dec. Williams (FS), 9-6
197 lbs. - No. 11 seed Josh Hokit, So. (finishes 5th at the Big 12 Championships with a 3-2 record; finishes season 9-8 overall)
Preliminary: No. 6 seed Tanner Orndorff (Utah Valley) dec. Hokit (FS), 11-4
First Round Consolation: Hokit (FS) dec. No. 5 seed Sam Colbray (Iowa State), 3-1 SV1
Second Round Consolation: Hokit (FS) dec. No. 10 seed Cordell Eaton (North Dakota State), 4-3
Consolation Semifinal: No. 3 seed Jacob Holschlag (Northern Iowa) dec. Hokit (FS), 1-0
Fifth-Place Match: Hokit (FS) dec. No. 9 seed Andrew Dixon (Oklahoma), 3-1
285 lbs. - No. 3 seed AJ Nevills, Fr. (finishes 2nd at the Big 12 Championships with a 2-1 record; 28-8 overall record entering the NCAA Championships)
Preliminary:Â Bye
Quarterfinals: Nevills (FS) dec. No. 6 seed Alex Macki (South Dakota State), 6-3
Semifinals: Nevills win by fall over No. 2 seed Marcus Harrington (Iowa State), 7:27
Finals: No. 1 seed Derek White (Oklahoma State) dec. Nevills (FS), 13-6
* matches wrestled on Sunday
2018 Big 12 Championships Team Scores
1. Oklahoma State - 137 points
2. Northern Iowa - 96.5 points
3. South Dakota State - 94 points
4. Wyoming - 82.5 points
5. North Dakota State - 57 points
6. Oklahoma - 52 points
7. Iowa State - 51 points
8. Utah Valley - 50.5 points
9. West Virginia - 50 points
10. Northern Colorado - 30.5 points
11. Fresno State - 26.5 points
12. Air Force - 22.5 points
"Just the Ticket to Build Our Community" – The Bulldog Scholarship Fund gives Bulldog alumni, fans and friends the opportunity to support Fresno State Athletics and the student-athletes who inspire them. For information about how you can support the Bulldog Scholarship Fund, please visit www.bulldogscholarshipfund.com or call 559-278-7160.
Follow us on:Â
Twitter: @Fresno StateWRES
Instagram:Â fresnostatewrestling
Facebook:Â FresnoStateAthletics
Snap Chat:Â FSAthletics
"What a great experience to get this opportunity to compete in a championship-level environment," said head coach Troy Steiner. "It will be a great learning experience for the future and will be something we can build off of."
Wrestling in the final match of the evening session finals, Nevills squared off with top-seed and No. 11 ranked Derek White of Oklahoma State. With White able to secure a pair of takedowns in the first, Nevills was only able to garner an escape falling behind 4-1 after the first period. White added a reversal and takedown in the second period while Nevills added a pair of escapes to take a 8-3 lead into the final period. Starting out on bottom, Nevills was able to get out to make it a 8-4 match, but that was as close as the Bulldog got falling by a final scored of 13-6.
With the Big 12 having three automatic bids to the NCAA Championships at heavyweight, Nevills' season will continue as he will represent Fresno State at the national tournament in Cleveland on March 15-17.
The 'Dogs will wait to hear on Wild Card bids released on March 6 as 149-pound redshirt sophomore Khristian Olivas has a great opportunity to get one after finishing the season with a 26-7 overall record and a top 25 ranking in both the NCAA Coaches Panel and RPI rankings.
SESSION III
The 'Dogs also had a pair of wrestlers compete in the morning session wrestling a total of three matches. 125-pound redshirt senior Sean Williams led things off wrestling No. 7 seed Paul Bianchi of North Dakota State in a seventh-place match with the winner automatically qualifying for the 2018 NCAA Championships.
Having already defeated Bianchi 10-6 earlier in the tournament, Williams jumped out to a 2-0 lead with a quick takedown before an escape and a takedown by the NDSU wrestler put him up a point. A late reversal in the first period gave Williams a 4-3 lead heading into the second period. With Bianchi able to tie the match at 4-4 after starting the second on bottom, a takedown gave him a 6-4 lead with an escape by Williams making it a one-point match entering the third period.
Starting on bottom, Williams was unable to escape Bianchi for much of the third period as the NDSU grappler gained over two minutes of riding time in the match. A escape by Williams with 15 seconds remaining in the third period momentarily tied the match at 6-6, but a late takedown and point for riding time gave Bianchi a 9-6 win and dashed Williams' NCAA Championships hopes as he finished eighth.
At 197 pounds, sophomore Josh Hokit had a pair of matches on the day going 1-1 to finish the tournament 3-2 in his five matches. Starting off wrestling in the consolation semifinals a win away from an automatic bid to the NCAA Championships, Hokit faced No. 3 seed Jacob Holschlag of Northern Iowa. After a scoreless first period, the lone score in the match came on an escape by Holschlag in the second period. Starting the third period neutral, Hokit was close to a takedown near the end of the third period that would have given him the win, but after a video review, it was determined there was no takedown.
Falling to the fifth-place match, Hokit took on No. 9 seed Andrew Dixon of Oklahoma and after a scoreless first period, Hokit started the second period on top getting a turn for a two-point near fall. After Dixon was able to escape, Hokit started the third period on bottom picking up a point for an escape and held off a late takedown attempt from Dixon for a 3-1 win to finish fifth.
2018 Big 12 Wrestling Championships Results Day Two
125 lbs. - No. 10 seed Sean Williams, RSr. (finishes 8th at the Big 12 Championships with a 2-3 record; finishes season 9-19 overall)
Preliminary: Williams (FS) dec. No. 7 seed Paul Bianchi (North Dakota State), 10-6
Quarterfinals: No. 2 seed Taylor La Mont (Utah Valley) dec. Williams (FS), 10-4
First Round Consolation: Williams maj. dec. No. 12 seed Sinjin Briggs (Iowa State), 18-4
Second Round Consolation: No. 6 seed Jay Schwarm (Northern Iowa) dec. Williams (FS), 15-10
Seventh-Place Match: No. 10 seed Paul Bianchi (NDSU) dec. Williams (FS), 9-6
197 lbs. - No. 11 seed Josh Hokit, So. (finishes 5th at the Big 12 Championships with a 3-2 record; finishes season 9-8 overall)
Preliminary: No. 6 seed Tanner Orndorff (Utah Valley) dec. Hokit (FS), 11-4
First Round Consolation: Hokit (FS) dec. No. 5 seed Sam Colbray (Iowa State), 3-1 SV1
Second Round Consolation: Hokit (FS) dec. No. 10 seed Cordell Eaton (North Dakota State), 4-3
Consolation Semifinal: No. 3 seed Jacob Holschlag (Northern Iowa) dec. Hokit (FS), 1-0
Fifth-Place Match: Hokit (FS) dec. No. 9 seed Andrew Dixon (Oklahoma), 3-1
285 lbs. - No. 3 seed AJ Nevills, Fr. (finishes 2nd at the Big 12 Championships with a 2-1 record; 28-8 overall record entering the NCAA Championships)
Preliminary:Â Bye
Quarterfinals: Nevills (FS) dec. No. 6 seed Alex Macki (South Dakota State), 6-3
Semifinals: Nevills win by fall over No. 2 seed Marcus Harrington (Iowa State), 7:27
Finals: No. 1 seed Derek White (Oklahoma State) dec. Nevills (FS), 13-6
* matches wrestled on Sunday
2018 Big 12 Championships Team Scores
1. Oklahoma State - 137 points
2. Northern Iowa - 96.5 points
3. South Dakota State - 94 points
4. Wyoming - 82.5 points
5. North Dakota State - 57 points
6. Oklahoma - 52 points
7. Iowa State - 51 points
8. Utah Valley - 50.5 points
9. West Virginia - 50 points
10. Northern Colorado - 30.5 points
11. Fresno State - 26.5 points
12. Air Force - 22.5 points
"Just the Ticket to Build Our Community" – The Bulldog Scholarship Fund gives Bulldog alumni, fans and friends the opportunity to support Fresno State Athletics and the student-athletes who inspire them. For information about how you can support the Bulldog Scholarship Fund, please visit www.bulldogscholarshipfund.com or call 559-278-7160.
Follow us on:Â
Twitter: @Fresno StateWRES
Instagram:Â fresnostatewrestling
Facebook:Â FresnoStateAthletics
Snap Chat:Â FSAthletics
Players Mentioned
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125
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