Fresno State Athletics
Saturday, March 7
Tulsa, OK
9:00 AM PT
Fresno State
vs
Big 12 Championship (Session I)
Photo by: Brett Rojo/For The Big 12 Confer
Five 'Dogs advance to Sunday at Big 12 Championship
3/7/2020 8:00:00 PM | Wrestling
TULSA, Okla. -Â The Fresno State wrestling team had five student-athletes advance to day two of the 2020 Big 12 Championship on Sunday at the BOK Center as two 'Dogs have earned berths to the 2020 NCAA Championships.
For a third straight season, Fresno State will have a representative at the NCAA Championships at heavyweight after senior Josh Hokit went 3-1 on the day as he assured himself of a top-six finish as there are seven automatic qualifying spots at heavyweight from the Big 12. Hokit joins junior AJ Nevills who made the NCAA Championships at heavyweight in both 2018 & 2019 and is redshirting this season.
Hokit, the number three seed in the field, won his opening round match over Brandon Ngati of West Virginia, 5-1 before running up against No. 6 seed Dalton Robertson of Northern Colorado in the quarterfinals. Jumping out to a 6-2 lead, Hokit suddenly found himself trailing after Robertson was able to secure a takedown and a four-point near fall to take a 8-6 lead. Looking to tie the score with a takedown in the final seconds, Hokit was unable to come through before time expired to move down to the consolation bracket.
In the evening session, Hokit made quick work of No. 8 seed Kayne Hutchison of Air Force with a 13-5 major decision before meeting up with No. 7 seed Brandon Metz of North Dakota State. Metz jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the second period with an escape and takedown, but the 2019 All-American responded with an escape and takedown to knot the match at 3-3 heading to the third period. Choosing bottom, Hokit was able to escape and hold on for a narrow 4-3 win.
Hokit will battle top-seeded Tate Orndorff of Utah Valley on Sunday morning in the consolation semifinals.
The other Bulldog to punch his ticket to the NCAA Championships in Minneapolis on Saturday was 133-pound redshirt freshman Lawrence Saenz. With eight automatic qualifiers from the Big 12 at the weight, Saenz needed only one win in Saturday's evening session to ensure himself of a top-eight finish. The Vacaville, Calif. native did one better winning both of matches on Saturday evening defeating unseeded Zach Price of South Dakota State, 8-3 and bested No. 6 seed Reece Witcraft of Oklahoma State with a 16-7 major decision.
Saenz will get a rematch with second-seeded Montorie Bridges of Wyoming on Sunday morning in the consolation semifinals after falling to him in the first round on Saturday morning, 5-3.
Thee other Bulldogs remain alive for the second day of the Big 12 Championship on Sunday as redshirt junior 149-pounder Greg Gaxiola won both of his consolation matches on Saturday evening defeating No. 8 seed Jaron Jensen of Wyoming, 3-2 as a takedown in the third period proved to the deciding factor. Gaxiola followed it up with a 7-3 win over No. 7 seed Jaden VanMaanen of North Dakota State as he recorded three takedowns and a riding time point in the match.
At 157 pounds, redshirt sophomore Jacob Wright rebounded from a 1-1 morning session to also win both of his consolation brackets matches on Saturday evening. Wright secure a 10-1 major decision over unseeded Jimmy Fate of Northern Colorado. He advanced to face eighth-seeded Dewey Krueger of Wyoming. Tied at 7-7 after regulation, the match went to sudden victory where Wright came through in a big way as he not only took down Krueger, but was able to turn him to his back for a fall.
Finally, redshirt freshman 165-pounder Adam Kemp, the seventh-seeded wrestler at the weight, rebounded from a 10-0 loss to No. 2 seed Andrew Fogarty of North Dakota State in the quarterfinals to win both of his consolation matches on Saturday evening.
Kemp defeated a pair of unseeded foes in Elijah Joseph of Oklahoma, 4-1 and Jordan Robison of Northern Colorado, 11-4. Kemp will take on fourth-seeded Tanner Cook in the consolation semifinals with a berth to the NCAA Championships on the line as a top-four finish will assure him of an automatic qualifying spot.
Gaxiola and Wright are also only one win shy of assuring themselves of automatically qualifying spots as both 149 and 157 pounds get five spots apiece in the Big 12.
Five other 'Dogs saw their Big 12 Championship runs come to an end as 125-pounder Jeremy Trinh was unable to compete due to injury, 141-pounder DJ Lloren went 1-2 with a 16-1 technical fall win over Kainalu Estrella of Utah Valley before falling to No. 4 seed Dusty Hone of Oklahoma State, 11-3 in the quarterfinals and Dylan Droegemueller of North Dakota State in the consolation round.
At 174 pounds, redshirt sophomore Jackson Hemauer went 0-2 falling to second-seeded Anthony Mantanona of Oklahoma in the quarterfinals and Luke Weber of North Dakota State in the consolation round. Redshirt freshman Hunter Cruz and Isaiah Perez at 184 & 197 pounds, respecitively, rounded out the Bulldog competitors as each went 0-2.
Fresno State is back in action for the final day of the Big 12 Championship on Sunday starting at 9 a.m. PT with the consolation and third, fifth and seventh place matches.
2020 Big 12 Championship Team Scores after Session II
1. Oklahoma State - 111.5 pts.
2. Iowa State - 92 pts.
3. Northern Iowa - 90.5 pts.
4. South Dakota State - 83. 5 pts.
5. North Dakota State - 74.5 pts.
6. Oklahoma - 65.5 pts.
7. Wyoming - 65 pts.
8. Northern Colorado - 60.0 pts.
9. Fresno State - 47.5 pts.
10. West Virginia - 35.0 pts.
11. Utah Valley - 29 pts.
12. Air Force - 21.5 pts.
2020 Big 12 Wrestling Championship Day One Results (NCAA Championship automatic qualifiers)
125 lbs. (4):Â Jeremy Trinh, RSo. (finished tournament 0-2; 4-10 overall record)
Preliminary: No. 8 seed Joey Thomas (West Virginia) won by forfeit
Consolation: No. 6 seed Daniel Vega (South Dakota State) won by forfeit
133 lbs. (8):Â Lawrence Saenz, RFr. (2-1 in the tournament; 17-12 overall)
Preliminary: No. 2 seed Montorie Bridges (Wyoming) dec. Saenz (FS), 5-3
Consolation: Saenz (FS) dec. Zach Price (South Dakota State), 8-3
Consolation: Saenz (FS) maj. dec. No. 6 seed Reece Witcraft (Oklahoma State), 16-7
Consolation: Saenz vs. No. 2 seed Montorie Bridges (Wyoming) on Sunday at 9 AM PT.
141 lbs. (5): No. 5 seed DJ Lloren, RJr. (finishes tournament 0-2; 22-7 overall)
Preliminary: Lloren (FS) tech. fall Kainalu Estrella (Utah Valley), 16-1 (7:00)
Quarterfinals: No. 4 seed Dusty Hone (Oklahoma State) maj. dec. Lloren (FS), 11-3
Consolation: Dylan Droegemueller (South Dakota State) maj. dec. Lloren (FS), 13-3
149 lbs. (5): No. 6 seed Greg Gaxiola, RJr. (3-1 in the tournament; 19-10 overall)
Preliminary: Gaxiola (FS) dec. Dylan Martinez (Air Force), 4-1
Quarterfinals: No. 3 seed Max Thomsen (Northern Iowa) won by fall over Gaxiola (FS), 2:33
Consolation:Â Gaxiola (FS) dec. No. 8 seed Jaron Jensen (Wyoming), 3-2
Consolation: Gaxiola (FS) dec. No. 7 seed Jaden VanMaanen (North Dakota State), 7-3
Consolation: Gaxiola vs. No. 4 seed Jarrett Degen (Iowa State) on Sunday at 9 AM PT.
157 lbs. (5): No. 5 seed Jacob Wright, RSo. (3-1 in the tournament; 23-8 overall)
Preliminary:Â Wright (FS) maj. dec. Paden Moore (Northern Iowa), 10-2
Quarterfinals: No. 4 seed Justin Thomas (Oklahoma) dec. Wright (FS), 4-2
Consolation: Wright (FS) maj. dec. Jimmy Fate (Northern Colorado), 10-1
Consolation: Wright (FS) won by fall over No. 8 Dewey Krueger (Wyoming), 7:26
Consolation: Wright vs. No. 2 seed Jared Franek (North Dakota State) on Sunday at 9 AM PT.
165 lbs. (4): No. 7 seed Adam Kemp, RFr. (3-1 in tournament; 16-12 overall)
Preliminary: Kemp (FS) dec. Nick Kiussis (West Virginia), 8-3
Quarterfinals: No. 2 seed Andrew Fogarty (North Dakota State) maj. dec. Kemp (FS), 10-0
Consolation: Kemp (FS) dec. Elijah Joseph (Oklahoma), 4-1
Consolation: Kemp (FS) dec. Jordan Robison (Northern Colorado), 11-4
Consolation: Kemp vs. No. 4 seed Tanner Cook (South Dakota State) on Sunday at 9 AM PT.
174 lbs. (5): No. 7 seed Jackson Hemauer, RSo. (finishes tournament 0-2; 10-8 overall)
Preliminary: Bye
Quarterfinals: vs. No. 2 seed Anthony Mantanona (Oklahoma) dec. Hemauer (FS), 7-1
Consolation: Luke Weber (North Dakota State) dec. Hemauer (FS), 2-1
184 lbs. (5):Â Hunter Cruz, RFr. (finishes tournament 0-2; 20-14 overall)
Preliminary: No. 2 seed Anthony Montalvo (Oklahoma State) won by fall over Cruz (FS), 1:21
Consolation: No. 4 seed Alan Clothier (Northern Colorado) dec. Cruz (FS), 8-3
197 lbs. (6):Â Isaiah Perez, RFr. (finishes tournament 0-2; 9-12 overall)
Preliminary: No. 5 seed Dakota Greer (Oklahoma State)Â won by fall over Perez (FS), 3:19
Consolation: No. 7 seed Jacob Seely (Northern Colorado) tech. fall Perez (FS), 16-0 (2:47)
Hwt. (7): No. 3 seed Josh Hokit, Sr. (3-1 in tournament; 22-4 overall)
Preliminary:Â Hokit (FS) dec. Brandon Ngati (West Virginia), 5-1
Quarterfinals: No. 6 seed Dalton Robertson (Northern Colorado) dec. Hokit (FS), 8-6
Consolation: Hokit (FS) maj. dec. No. 8 seed Kayne Hutchison (Air Force), 13-5
Consolation: Hokit (FS) dec. No. 7 seed Brandon Metz (North Dakota State), 4-3
Consolation: Hokit vs. No. 1 seed Tate Orndorff (Utah Valley) on Sunday at 9 AM PT.
"Fresno State Athletics: The Pride of the Valley" – The Bulldog Foundation creates championship experiences for Fresno State student-athletes as they strive for excellence in the classroom, in competition and in life. To become a BDF member, please visit bulldogfoundation.org.
Follow us on:Â
Twitter: @Fresno StateWRES
Instagram:Â fresnostatewrestling
Facebook:Â FresnoStateAthletics
For a third straight season, Fresno State will have a representative at the NCAA Championships at heavyweight after senior Josh Hokit went 3-1 on the day as he assured himself of a top-six finish as there are seven automatic qualifying spots at heavyweight from the Big 12. Hokit joins junior AJ Nevills who made the NCAA Championships at heavyweight in both 2018 & 2019 and is redshirting this season.
Hokit, the number three seed in the field, won his opening round match over Brandon Ngati of West Virginia, 5-1 before running up against No. 6 seed Dalton Robertson of Northern Colorado in the quarterfinals. Jumping out to a 6-2 lead, Hokit suddenly found himself trailing after Robertson was able to secure a takedown and a four-point near fall to take a 8-6 lead. Looking to tie the score with a takedown in the final seconds, Hokit was unable to come through before time expired to move down to the consolation bracket.
In the evening session, Hokit made quick work of No. 8 seed Kayne Hutchison of Air Force with a 13-5 major decision before meeting up with No. 7 seed Brandon Metz of North Dakota State. Metz jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the second period with an escape and takedown, but the 2019 All-American responded with an escape and takedown to knot the match at 3-3 heading to the third period. Choosing bottom, Hokit was able to escape and hold on for a narrow 4-3 win.
Hokit will battle top-seeded Tate Orndorff of Utah Valley on Sunday morning in the consolation semifinals.
The other Bulldog to punch his ticket to the NCAA Championships in Minneapolis on Saturday was 133-pound redshirt freshman Lawrence Saenz. With eight automatic qualifiers from the Big 12 at the weight, Saenz needed only one win in Saturday's evening session to ensure himself of a top-eight finish. The Vacaville, Calif. native did one better winning both of matches on Saturday evening defeating unseeded Zach Price of South Dakota State, 8-3 and bested No. 6 seed Reece Witcraft of Oklahoma State with a 16-7 major decision.
Saenz will get a rematch with second-seeded Montorie Bridges of Wyoming on Sunday morning in the consolation semifinals after falling to him in the first round on Saturday morning, 5-3.
Thee other Bulldogs remain alive for the second day of the Big 12 Championship on Sunday as redshirt junior 149-pounder Greg Gaxiola won both of his consolation matches on Saturday evening defeating No. 8 seed Jaron Jensen of Wyoming, 3-2 as a takedown in the third period proved to the deciding factor. Gaxiola followed it up with a 7-3 win over No. 7 seed Jaden VanMaanen of North Dakota State as he recorded three takedowns and a riding time point in the match.
At 157 pounds, redshirt sophomore Jacob Wright rebounded from a 1-1 morning session to also win both of his consolation brackets matches on Saturday evening. Wright secure a 10-1 major decision over unseeded Jimmy Fate of Northern Colorado. He advanced to face eighth-seeded Dewey Krueger of Wyoming. Tied at 7-7 after regulation, the match went to sudden victory where Wright came through in a big way as he not only took down Krueger, but was able to turn him to his back for a fall.
Finally, redshirt freshman 165-pounder Adam Kemp, the seventh-seeded wrestler at the weight, rebounded from a 10-0 loss to No. 2 seed Andrew Fogarty of North Dakota State in the quarterfinals to win both of his consolation matches on Saturday evening.
Kemp defeated a pair of unseeded foes in Elijah Joseph of Oklahoma, 4-1 and Jordan Robison of Northern Colorado, 11-4. Kemp will take on fourth-seeded Tanner Cook in the consolation semifinals with a berth to the NCAA Championships on the line as a top-four finish will assure him of an automatic qualifying spot.
Gaxiola and Wright are also only one win shy of assuring themselves of automatically qualifying spots as both 149 and 157 pounds get five spots apiece in the Big 12.
Five other 'Dogs saw their Big 12 Championship runs come to an end as 125-pounder Jeremy Trinh was unable to compete due to injury, 141-pounder DJ Lloren went 1-2 with a 16-1 technical fall win over Kainalu Estrella of Utah Valley before falling to No. 4 seed Dusty Hone of Oklahoma State, 11-3 in the quarterfinals and Dylan Droegemueller of North Dakota State in the consolation round.
At 174 pounds, redshirt sophomore Jackson Hemauer went 0-2 falling to second-seeded Anthony Mantanona of Oklahoma in the quarterfinals and Luke Weber of North Dakota State in the consolation round. Redshirt freshman Hunter Cruz and Isaiah Perez at 184 & 197 pounds, respecitively, rounded out the Bulldog competitors as each went 0-2.
Fresno State is back in action for the final day of the Big 12 Championship on Sunday starting at 9 a.m. PT with the consolation and third, fifth and seventh place matches.
2020 Big 12 Championship Team Scores after Session II
1. Oklahoma State - 111.5 pts.
2. Iowa State - 92 pts.
3. Northern Iowa - 90.5 pts.
4. South Dakota State - 83. 5 pts.
5. North Dakota State - 74.5 pts.
6. Oklahoma - 65.5 pts.
7. Wyoming - 65 pts.
8. Northern Colorado - 60.0 pts.
9. Fresno State - 47.5 pts.
10. West Virginia - 35.0 pts.
11. Utah Valley - 29 pts.
12. Air Force - 21.5 pts.
2020 Big 12 Wrestling Championship Day One Results (NCAA Championship automatic qualifiers)
125 lbs. (4):Â Jeremy Trinh, RSo. (finished tournament 0-2; 4-10 overall record)
Preliminary: No. 8 seed Joey Thomas (West Virginia) won by forfeit
Consolation: No. 6 seed Daniel Vega (South Dakota State) won by forfeit
133 lbs. (8):Â Lawrence Saenz, RFr. (2-1 in the tournament; 17-12 overall)
Preliminary: No. 2 seed Montorie Bridges (Wyoming) dec. Saenz (FS), 5-3
Consolation: Saenz (FS) dec. Zach Price (South Dakota State), 8-3
Consolation: Saenz (FS) maj. dec. No. 6 seed Reece Witcraft (Oklahoma State), 16-7
Consolation: Saenz vs. No. 2 seed Montorie Bridges (Wyoming) on Sunday at 9 AM PT.
141 lbs. (5): No. 5 seed DJ Lloren, RJr. (finishes tournament 0-2; 22-7 overall)
Preliminary: Lloren (FS) tech. fall Kainalu Estrella (Utah Valley), 16-1 (7:00)
Quarterfinals: No. 4 seed Dusty Hone (Oklahoma State) maj. dec. Lloren (FS), 11-3
Consolation: Dylan Droegemueller (South Dakota State) maj. dec. Lloren (FS), 13-3
149 lbs. (5): No. 6 seed Greg Gaxiola, RJr. (3-1 in the tournament; 19-10 overall)
Preliminary: Gaxiola (FS) dec. Dylan Martinez (Air Force), 4-1
Quarterfinals: No. 3 seed Max Thomsen (Northern Iowa) won by fall over Gaxiola (FS), 2:33
Consolation:Â Gaxiola (FS) dec. No. 8 seed Jaron Jensen (Wyoming), 3-2
Consolation: Gaxiola (FS) dec. No. 7 seed Jaden VanMaanen (North Dakota State), 7-3
Consolation: Gaxiola vs. No. 4 seed Jarrett Degen (Iowa State) on Sunday at 9 AM PT.
157 lbs. (5): No. 5 seed Jacob Wright, RSo. (3-1 in the tournament; 23-8 overall)
Preliminary:Â Wright (FS) maj. dec. Paden Moore (Northern Iowa), 10-2
Quarterfinals: No. 4 seed Justin Thomas (Oklahoma) dec. Wright (FS), 4-2
Consolation: Wright (FS) maj. dec. Jimmy Fate (Northern Colorado), 10-1
Consolation: Wright (FS) won by fall over No. 8 Dewey Krueger (Wyoming), 7:26
Consolation: Wright vs. No. 2 seed Jared Franek (North Dakota State) on Sunday at 9 AM PT.
165 lbs. (4): No. 7 seed Adam Kemp, RFr. (3-1 in tournament; 16-12 overall)
Preliminary: Kemp (FS) dec. Nick Kiussis (West Virginia), 8-3
Quarterfinals: No. 2 seed Andrew Fogarty (North Dakota State) maj. dec. Kemp (FS), 10-0
Consolation: Kemp (FS) dec. Elijah Joseph (Oklahoma), 4-1
Consolation: Kemp (FS) dec. Jordan Robison (Northern Colorado), 11-4
Consolation: Kemp vs. No. 4 seed Tanner Cook (South Dakota State) on Sunday at 9 AM PT.
174 lbs. (5): No. 7 seed Jackson Hemauer, RSo. (finishes tournament 0-2; 10-8 overall)
Preliminary: Bye
Quarterfinals: vs. No. 2 seed Anthony Mantanona (Oklahoma) dec. Hemauer (FS), 7-1
Consolation: Luke Weber (North Dakota State) dec. Hemauer (FS), 2-1
184 lbs. (5):Â Hunter Cruz, RFr. (finishes tournament 0-2; 20-14 overall)
Preliminary: No. 2 seed Anthony Montalvo (Oklahoma State) won by fall over Cruz (FS), 1:21
Consolation: No. 4 seed Alan Clothier (Northern Colorado) dec. Cruz (FS), 8-3
197 lbs. (6):Â Isaiah Perez, RFr. (finishes tournament 0-2; 9-12 overall)
Preliminary: No. 5 seed Dakota Greer (Oklahoma State)Â won by fall over Perez (FS), 3:19
Consolation: No. 7 seed Jacob Seely (Northern Colorado) tech. fall Perez (FS), 16-0 (2:47)
Hwt. (7): No. 3 seed Josh Hokit, Sr. (3-1 in tournament; 22-4 overall)
Preliminary:Â Hokit (FS) dec. Brandon Ngati (West Virginia), 5-1
Quarterfinals: No. 6 seed Dalton Robertson (Northern Colorado) dec. Hokit (FS), 8-6
Consolation: Hokit (FS) maj. dec. No. 8 seed Kayne Hutchison (Air Force), 13-5
Consolation: Hokit (FS) dec. No. 7 seed Brandon Metz (North Dakota State), 4-3
Consolation: Hokit vs. No. 1 seed Tate Orndorff (Utah Valley) on Sunday at 9 AM PT.
"Fresno State Athletics: The Pride of the Valley" – The Bulldog Foundation creates championship experiences for Fresno State student-athletes as they strive for excellence in the classroom, in competition and in life. To become a BDF member, please visit bulldogfoundation.org.
Follow us on:Â
Twitter: @Fresno StateWRES
Instagram:Â fresnostatewrestling
Facebook:Â FresnoStateAthletics
Players Mentioned
174/184
/ Wrestling
157/165
/ Wrestling
174/184
/ Wrestling
285
/ Wrestling
165
/ Wrestling
133/141
/ Wrestling
285
/ Wrestling
133
/ Wrestling
141
/ Wrestling
125/133
/ Wrestling
157
/ WrestlingFB Media Availibility [11/18]: Jadon Pearson, Ryan Wilson, Julian Polendo, Jordan Brown
Tuesday, November 18
FB Weekly Press Conference [11/17]
Monday, November 17
FB highlight vs Wyoming [11/15/25]
Sunday, November 16
Postgame Press Conference [11/16]
Sunday, November 16