Bulldog Wrestling ventures to Tulsa for 2019 Big 12 Championship [March 9-10]

Saturday, March 9

Tulsa, OK

9 A.M. PT/3 P.M. PT

Fresno State

Big 12 Championships

Tickets

Bulldog Wrestling ventures to Tulsa for 2019 Big 12 Championship [March 9-10]

3/7/2019 11:00:00 AM | Wrestling

Fresno State Wrestling Notes (PDF)2019 Big 12 Championship Brackets (PDF)2019 Big 12 Wrestling Championships Record Book (PDF)Putchase Big 12 Championship Tickets Here

A year after making its debut, Fresno State Wrestling makes its second trip to the Big 12 Championship this weekend in Tulsa, Oklahoma competing on Saturday and Sunday at the BOK Center.

By: Travis Blanshan / Assistant Director of Communications

FRESNO, Calif. - A year after making its debut, Fresno State Wrestling is set for its second trip to the Big 12 Championship this weekend in Tulsa, Oklahoma competing on Saturday and Sunday at the BOK Center.

2019 Big 12 Championship
March 9-10, 2019 • BOK Center • Tulsa, Okla.
Video: FloWrestling (first three sessions); Finals on Fox Sports West (Direct TV: Ch. 692; Dish: Ch. 417; AT&T U-Verse: Ch. 1772; Cox: Ch.1064)
Results: FloArena
Twitter: @FresnoStateWRES
Tickets: Purchase Big 12 Championship session tickets

Event Schedule (All times Pacific)
Saturday, March 9
SESSION I
9:00 AM - Noon: Preliminary Matches (40 matches - 4 mats)
Quarterfinals (40 matches - 4 mats)
SESSION II
3:00 PM - 7:00 PM: Semifinals (20 matches - 2 mats)
1st Round Consolations (40 matches - 2 mats)
2nd Round Consolations (20 matches - 4 mats)

Sunday, March 10
SESSION III
10:00 AM - Noon: Consolation Semifinals (20 matches - 4 mats)
3rd & 5th place matches (20 matches - 4 mats)
True Place matches (if necessary)
SESSION IV
5:00 PM: Finals (10 matches - 1 mat)
7:15 PM: Championship Team and MOW Awards presentation

Big 12 Wrestling Programs

Air Force - defeated Fresno State in a dual in Colorado Springs, 19-15 (11/11/18)
Fresno State
Iowa State - defeated Fresno State in a dual in Ames, 31-6 (1/13/19)
North Dakota State - defeated Fresno State in a dual in Fresno, 21-20 (11/16/18)
Northern Colorado - Fresno State defeated Bears in a dual in Greely, 34-4 (11/11/18)
Northern Iowa - dd not wrestle this season
Oklahoma - defeated Fresno State in a dual in Fresno, 25-16 (2/17/19)
Oklahoma State - did not wrestle this season
South Dakota State - Fresno State defeated Jackrabbits in a dual, 38-3 in Fresno, 38-3 (1/20/19)
Utah Valley - Fresno State defeated Wolverines in a dual, 26-10 in Orem (1/18/19)
West Virginia - did not wrestle this season
Wyoming - Fresno State defeated Cowboys in a dual, 21-12 in Fresno (2/3/19)

Fresno State Lineup for 2019 Big 12 Wrestling Championship (NCAA Championship automatic qualifiers)
125 lbs. (5): Robert Garcia IV, RFr. (6-12 overall)
Preliminary: vs. No. 3 seed Jay Schwarm, Northern Iowa

133 lbs. (5): No. 8 seed Gary Joint, RFr. (14-11)
Preliminary: Bye
Quarterfinals: vs. winner of No. 1 seed Daton Fix, Oklahoma State vs. Rylee Molitor, South Dakota State (Joint maj. dec. Molitor, 9-0, 1/20/19)

141 lbs. (6): No. 8 seed Chris Deloza, So. (12-11)
Preliminary: Bye
Quarterfinals: vs. winner of No. 1 seed Josh Alber, Northern Iowa vs. Chris Sandoval, Northern Colorado

149 (7): No. 5 seed Khristian Olivas, RJr. (19-9)
Preliminary: vs. Dante Rodriguez, Northern Colorado

157 (1): No. 2 seed Jacob Wright, RFr. (16-4 at 157 lbs., 21-9 overall)
Preliminary: Bye
Quarterfinals: vs. winner of No. 7 seed Alex Mossing, Air Force vs. Jordan Robinson, Northern Colorado

165 (6): No. 6 seed Isaiah Hokit, RJr. (4-2 at 165 lbs., 13-10 overall)
Preliminary: vs. Jacoby Ward, Air Force

174 (5): No. 8 seed Dominic Kincaid, RJr. (10-9)
Preliminary: vs. Seth Bogulski, Northern Colorado (Kincaid dec. Bogulski, 8-2, 11/11/18)

184 (5): No. 5 seed Jackson Hemauer, RFr. (19-9)
Preliminary: vs. Tucker Nadeau, West Virginia

197 (7): No. 3 seed Josh Hokit, Jr. (19-4)
Preliminary: Bye
Quarterfinals: vs. winner of No. 6 seed Noah Adams, West Virginia vs. Cordell Eaton, North Dakota State

285 (6): No. 2 seed AJ Nevills, So. (19-6)
Preliminary: Bye
Quarterfinals: vs. winner of No. 7 seed Brandon Ngati, West Virginia vs. Blake Wolters, South Dakota State (Nevills dec. Wolters, 2-1, 1/20/19)
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Quotes
Head Coach Troy Steiner
On the Big 12 Championship atmosphere....
"For the first time guys, it is the first time they are in the Big 12 Championships, but it is not their first major event. They have been in the California State Championships and wrestled in front of big crowds. They just need to control the things they can control and realize you are taking on one guy and not taking on the whole Big 12. You are out there against one guy for seven minutes and do the things you do."

On importance of seeding coming into the tournament.....
"It helps a little bit, but it doesn't matter if you are the one seed, two seed, three seed or the 12th man here and you have to be ready to wrestle. You have to treat everyone like they are the best guy in the bracket every time out because anyone can take you out. The seeding and the rankings are for the fans and I always tell these guys that to treat every match like it will be your toughest one and you will be ready for it."

Redshirt junior 149-pounder Khristian Olivas
On going back to the Big 12 Championship for a second time....
"I am excited and have been there last year so I kind of know what to expect so visualizing it and preparing myself for the tournament."

On the facing tough competition this season to prepare for the Big 12 Championship.....
"Compared to last year, I had a lot more ranked guys I have faced this year and I feel like that has helped prepare me a lot for this tournament."

On getting ready for postseason.....
"This is the fun part now, getting to the big shows and big crowds. This is what all the hard work we put in is for."

Redshirt freshman 157-pounder Jacob Wright
On feelings heading into the Big 12 Championship....
"I am really excited to compete in this tournament and this is what you train for all season to try to make the national tournament."

On individual expectations at the Big 12 Championship....
"I am expecting to be a Big 12 champion. I am the number two seed and they are only taking one guy at my weight, but I never go into a tournament expecting to be third, fourth, fifth place."

On team expectations at the Big 12 Championship...
"I hoping we get all 10 guys into the national tournament and we are all working to pursue that."
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Five 'Dogs ranked in third NCAA Coaches Panel Rankings/second RPI Rankings
On March 1, the third coaches' rankings and second RPI of the season were released with five 'Dogs in the rankings. Leading the way was junior 197-pounder Josh Hokit who is No. 11 in the RPI and No. 14 in the coaches' rankings. Closely following him is sophomore heavyweight AJ Nevills who is No. 12 in the RPI and No. 24 in the coaches' rankings.

A 2018 NCAA Championships qualifier along with Nevills, redshirt junior Khristian Olivas checks in No. 19 in the RPI and No. 18 in the coaches' rankings. Rounding out the ranked Bulldogs is redshirt freshman Jackson Hemauerat 184 pounds who checks in No. 21 in the RPI and No. 20 in the coaches' rankings and 157-pounder Jacob Wrightwho is No. 33 in the RPI and No. 31 in the coaches' rankings.

Allocations for 2019 NCAA Championships
In addition to the rankings being released last Friday, the NCAA also announced its allocations for the 2019 NCAA Championships based off each qualifying tournament (eight in total) being awarded automatic bids per weight class based on current year data. Each wrestler was measured on the following: Division I winning percentage at the weight class; ratings percentage index (RPI); and coaches' ranking.

With the Big 12 allocated 53 automatic qualifiers to the 2019 NCAA Championships, each weight will qualify a different number of wrestlers as 125 and 133 pounds will receive five automatic qualifiers each followed by six at 141 lbs., seven at 149 lbs., one at 157 lbs., six at 165 lbs., five at 174 & 184 lbs., seven at 197 lbs. and six at heavyweight.

After all of the conference tournaments have concluded, the NCAA Division I Wrestling Committee will meet in-person to select the remaining 44 at-large qualifiers, which will be announced on March 12, while brackets and seeding will be announced on NCAA.com at 3 p.m. PT on March 13. All weight classes will consist of 33 wrestlers. The at-large selections will be made based on the following criteria: head-to-head competition; quality wins; coaches' ranking; results against common opponents; RPI; qualifying event placement; and winning percentage.

Trio of Bulldogs named First-Team Academic All-Big 12
Redshirt freshman Brandon Martino, Jeremy Trinh and Jacob Wright were three of 91 total student-athletes honored by the conference with 61 earning first-team honors and 30 were named to the second team. First team members consist of those who have maintained a 3.20 GPA or better while the second team selections hold a 3.00 to 3.19 GPA. To qualify, student-athletes must maintain a 3.00 GPA or higher either cumulative or the two previous semesters and must have participated in 20 percent of their team's scheduled contests.

Colon places fifth at Dan Kolov International
Fresno State Wrestling volunteer assistant coach and Valley Regional Training Center athlete Joe Colon placed fifth at 61 kg./134.5 lbs. at the 2019 Dan Kolov International on March 1. A 2018 World bronze medalist, Colon opened up the meet on Feb. 28 with a 10-0 technical fall over Saleh Eddine Kateb of Algeria and advanced to the semifinals with a 8-2 decision over Recep Topal of Turkey.

Heading into the semifinals to face 2018 World silver medalist Nurislam Sanayev of Kazakhstan, the Iowa native fought hard getting into a number of different scrambles, but in the end fell by a technical fall, 13-2. Colon's tournament closed out on Friday morning in the bronze medal match falling by a tech. fall to Aryian Tiutrin of Russia, 13-3.

'Dogs at 2018 Big 12 Championship
Five Bulldogs will compete for the second time at the Big 12 Championships as Nevills returns after placing second at heavyweight a year ago and Josh Hokit is back after placing fifth at 197 pounds. Chris Deloza, Khristian Olivas and Dominic Kincaid also each competed a year ago at 141, 149 and 174 pounds, respectively with Olivas going 1-2 and Deloza and Kinciad going 0-2.

The other five 'Dogs competing this weekend will all make their Big 12 Championship debut with four redshirt freshman (Robert Garcia IV, Gary Joint, Jacob Wright & Jackson Hemauer) in action along with redshirt junior Isaiah Hokit at 165 pounds.

Bulldogs enjoy a great second season back in the Valley
Fresno State Wrestling enjoyed a great second season back in the Valley with over 17,000 fans at the 'Dogs seven home duals this season. Averaging nearly 2,500 fans per dual, the 'Dogs posted a 4-3 record at the Save Mart Center in 2018-19 and got a season-high 2,971 fans in the home finale against No. 22 Oklahoma on Feb. 17.

'Dogs finish Big 12 dual season .500
The 'Dogs finished their Big 12 dual season against Oklahoma on Feb. 17 posting a 4-4 overall record to finish seventh in the conference. The Bulldogs posted conference wins over Northern Colorado (34-4), No. 23 Utah Valley (26-10), No. 11 Wyoming, 21-12 and South Dakota State (38-3) with losses to Air Force (19-15), No. 20 North Dakota State (21-20), No. 21 Iowa State (31-6) and No. 22 Oklahoma, 25-16.

Pledge for Pins (Current count: 37)
Pledges for pins is designed to help support the Fresno State Wrestling Program. Proceeds will benefit the Fresno State Wrestling Fund for Excellence along with a portion contributing to the Valley Regional Training Center -- a nonprofit organization that supports Fresno State Wrestling.

It works like this, for example, if you pledge $5 per pin and the team accumulates 40 pins during the season, your pledge will be $200. Throughout the season, pins and pledges will be recorded and a letter will be mailed with your pledge amount and payment information.

Levels of Pledges
Cooper - $1-10
Bronze - $11-20
Silver - $21-49
Gold - $50 & Up

Up next
All 10 Bulldogs competing this weekend will look to qualify for the 2019 NCAA Championships which will be held at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa. on March 21-23.

"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.

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