Fresno State Athletics
Sunday, March 8
Tulsa, OK
9:00 AM PT
Fresno State
vs
Big 12 Championship (Session III)
Photo by: Brett Rojo/For The Big 12 Confer
Five 'Dogs finish on the podium at 2020 Big 12 Championship
3/8/2020 9:30:00 PM | Wrestling
TULSA, Okla. -Â Highlighted by five Bulldogs with top-six place finishes, the Fresno State wrestling team finished ninth as a team at the 2020 Big 12 Championship hosted the BOK Center.
A pair of Bulldogs punched their tickets to the 2020 NCAA Championships on Sunday earning automatic berths as redshirt junior 149-pounder Greg Gaxiola and redshirt sophomore 157-pounder Jacob Wright will join senior heavyweight Josh Hokit and redshirt freshman 133-pounder Lawrence Saenz in Minneapolis on March 19-21.
"The biggest thing about this tournament is to qualify for the next level and the thing about these four guys that did qualify are the ones I see putting in the extra work and sacrificing," said head coach Troy Steiner. "They have put a lot into this and it is great to see them get rewarded for it. We have to continue to develop and I am happy for these guys and we will get them ready to go."
With five Bulldogs competing on Sunday morning, Hokit was the lone 'Dog to win his consolation semifinal match defeating top-seeded Tate Orndorff of Utah Valley, 3-1 in sudden victory.
Hokit moved on to the third-place match where he came up with fifth win of the tournament defeating fourth-seeded Carter Isley of Northern Iowa as the Clovis native was able to ride Isley for the entire second period and quickly escaped in the third period for a 2-0 win. With the win, Hokit secured his third top-five finish at the Big 12 Championship after placing fifth in 2018 and fourth in 2019 at 197 pounds.
With the other four 'Dogs competing in the fifth-place match, three came through on the winning side as Gaxiola won by forfeit over third-seeded Max Thomsen of Northern Iowa to secure his berth to the NCAA Championships as 149 pounds was granted five automatic berths.
Wright defeated unseeded Paden Moore of Northern Iowa, 7-1 to place fifth and lock up his berth as 157 pounds was also granted five automatic berths.
Redshirt freshman 165-pounder Adam Kemp defeated No. 5 seed Cole Moody of Wyoming, 9-7 to place fifth and after Iowa State's Chase Straw finished fourth, a true fourth-place match was set between the two as the Big 12 was given four automatic berths.
With Kemp tallying three takedowns in the first period, the Illinois native took a 6-3 lead after the first period, but Straw tied it up at 6-6 heading to the third. With Kemp notching two escapes and Straw countering with a takedown, the match went to sudden victory locked at 8-8. Unfortunately for Kemp, Straw was able to take him down in the extra session for a 10-8 win.
Finally, Saenz fell in both of his matches on Sunday to finish sixth, but was assured of a top eight finish on Saturday.
The 'Dogs will now await word on Tuesday afternoon of NCAA Championship wild cards to see if anymore Bulldogs will join the four who qualified in Tulsa. Complete brackets for the 2020 NCAA Championships will be released on Wednesday at 3 p.m. PT on NCAA.com.
Notables
1. Oklahoma State - 147.5 pts.
2. Iowa State - 116.5 pts.
3. Northern Iowa - 111.5 pts.
4. South Dakota State - 94 pts.
5. North Dakota State - 90.5 pts.
6. Oklahoma - 83 pts.
7. Wyoming - 75.5 pts.
8. Northern Colorado - 72.5 pts.
9. Fresno State - 57 pts.
10. West Virginia - 41 pts.
11. Utah Valley - 33 pts.
12. Air Force - 25.5 pts.
2020 Big 12 Wrestling Championship Day Two Results (NCAA Championship automatic qualifiers)*bolded matches wrestled on Sunday
133 lbs. (8):Â Lawrence Saenz, RFr. (2-3 in the tournament; 17-14 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: No. 2 seed Montorie Bridges (Wyoming) dec. Saenz (FS), 8-5
Fifth Place:Â No. 7 Jack Skudlarczyk (Northern Iowa) maj. dec. Saenz (FS), 12-0
*Saenz finishes in sixth place and earns an automatic berth to the NCAA Championships.
149 lbs. (5): No. 6 seed Greg Gaxiola, RJr. (4-2 in the tournament; 20-11 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: No. 4 seed Jarrett Degen (Iowa State) won by fall over Gaxiola (FS), 4:20
Fifth Place: Gaxiola (FS) won by forfeit over No. 3 seed Max Thomsen (Northern Iowa)
*Gaxiola finishes in fifth place and earns an automatic berth to the NCAA Championships.
157 lbs. (5): No. 5 seed Jacob Wright, RSo. (4-2 in the tournament; 24-9 overall)
Preliminary:Â Wright (FS) maj. dec. Paden Moore (Northern Iowa), 10-2
Quarterfinals:Â No. 4 seed Justin Thomas (Oklahoma) dec. Wright (FS), 4-2
Consolation: Wright (FS) maj. dec. Jimmy Fate (Northern Colorado), 10-1
Consolation:Â Wright (FS) won by fall over No. 8 Dewey Krueger (Wyoming), 7:26
Consolation: No. 2 seed Jared Franek (North Dakota State) dec. Wright (FS), 7-4
Fifth Place: Wright (FS) dec. Paden Moore (Northern Iowa), 7-1
*Wright finishes in fifth place and earns an automatic berth to the NCAA Championships.
165 lbs. (4): No. 7 seed Adam Kemp, RFr. (4-3 in tournament; 17-14 overall)
Preliminary: Kemp (FS) dec. Nick Kiussis (West Virginia), 8-3
Quarterfinals:Â No. 2 seed Andrew Fogarty (North Dakota State) maj. dec. Kemp (FS), 10-0
Consolation: Kemp (FS) dec. Elijah Joseph (Oklahoma), 4-1
Consolation:Â Kemp (FS) dec. Jordan Robison (Northern Colorado), 11-4
Consolation: No. 4 seed Tanner Cook (South Dakota State) won by fall over Kemp (FS), 1:03
Fifth Place: Kemp (FS) dec. No. 5 seed Cole Moody (Wyoming), 9-7
True Fourth Match: No. 6 seed Chase Straw dec. Kemp (FS), 10-8 SV1
*Kemp finished in fifth place.
Hwt. (7): No. 3 seed Josh Hokit, Sr. (5-1 in tournament; 24-4 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:Â Hokit (FS) dec. No. 7 seed Brandon Metz (North Dakota State), 4-3
Consolation: Hokit (FS) dec. No. 1 seed Tate Orndorff (Utah Valley), 3-1 SV1
Third Place: Hokit (FS) dec. No. 4 seed Carter Isley (Northern Iowa), 2-0
*Hokit finishes in third place and earns an automatic berth to the NCAA Championships.
"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
A pair of Bulldogs punched their tickets to the 2020 NCAA Championships on Sunday earning automatic berths as redshirt junior 149-pounder Greg Gaxiola and redshirt sophomore 157-pounder Jacob Wright will join senior heavyweight Josh Hokit and redshirt freshman 133-pounder Lawrence Saenz in Minneapolis on March 19-21.
"The biggest thing about this tournament is to qualify for the next level and the thing about these four guys that did qualify are the ones I see putting in the extra work and sacrificing," said head coach Troy Steiner. "They have put a lot into this and it is great to see them get rewarded for it. We have to continue to develop and I am happy for these guys and we will get them ready to go."
With five Bulldogs competing on Sunday morning, Hokit was the lone 'Dog to win his consolation semifinal match defeating top-seeded Tate Orndorff of Utah Valley, 3-1 in sudden victory.
Hokit moved on to the third-place match where he came up with fifth win of the tournament defeating fourth-seeded Carter Isley of Northern Iowa as the Clovis native was able to ride Isley for the entire second period and quickly escaped in the third period for a 2-0 win. With the win, Hokit secured his third top-five finish at the Big 12 Championship after placing fifth in 2018 and fourth in 2019 at 197 pounds.
With the other four 'Dogs competing in the fifth-place match, three came through on the winning side as Gaxiola won by forfeit over third-seeded Max Thomsen of Northern Iowa to secure his berth to the NCAA Championships as 149 pounds was granted five automatic berths.
Wright defeated unseeded Paden Moore of Northern Iowa, 7-1 to place fifth and lock up his berth as 157 pounds was also granted five automatic berths.
Redshirt freshman 165-pounder Adam Kemp defeated No. 5 seed Cole Moody of Wyoming, 9-7 to place fifth and after Iowa State's Chase Straw finished fourth, a true fourth-place match was set between the two as the Big 12 was given four automatic berths.
With Kemp tallying three takedowns in the first period, the Illinois native took a 6-3 lead after the first period, but Straw tied it up at 6-6 heading to the third. With Kemp notching two escapes and Straw countering with a takedown, the match went to sudden victory locked at 8-8. Unfortunately for Kemp, Straw was able to take him down in the extra session for a 10-8 win.
Finally, Saenz fell in both of his matches on Sunday to finish sixth, but was assured of a top eight finish on Saturday.
The 'Dogs will now await word on Tuesday afternoon of NCAA Championship wild cards to see if anymore Bulldogs will join the four who qualified in Tulsa. Complete brackets for the 2020 NCAA Championships will be released on Wednesday at 3 p.m. PT on NCAA.com.
Notables
- Fresno State nearly scored as many points in this year's championship as 2019 with its 57 points as the 'Dogs placed fifth a year with 59.5 points.
- Saenz, Gaxiola and Wright will make their NCAA Championships debut while Hokit will make his second appearance after earning All-American honors at 197 pounds in 2019.
- Saenz, Gaxiola & Kemp all finish on the podium at the Big 12 Championship for the first time while Wright finished fifth for a second straight season.
- Hokit enters the NCAA Championships with 60 career wins while Wright has tallied 47 and Gaxiola is at 33.
1. Oklahoma State - 147.5 pts.
2. Iowa State - 116.5 pts.
3. Northern Iowa - 111.5 pts.
4. South Dakota State - 94 pts.
5. North Dakota State - 90.5 pts.
6. Oklahoma - 83 pts.
7. Wyoming - 75.5 pts.
8. Northern Colorado - 72.5 pts.
9. Fresno State - 57 pts.
10. West Virginia - 41 pts.
11. Utah Valley - 33 pts.
12. Air Force - 25.5 pts.
2020 Big 12 Wrestling Championship Day Two Results (NCAA Championship automatic qualifiers)*bolded matches wrestled on Sunday
133 lbs. (8):Â Lawrence Saenz, RFr. (2-3 in the tournament; 17-14 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: No. 2 seed Montorie Bridges (Wyoming) dec. Saenz (FS), 8-5
Fifth Place:Â No. 7 Jack Skudlarczyk (Northern Iowa) maj. dec. Saenz (FS), 12-0
*Saenz finishes in sixth place and earns an automatic berth to the NCAA Championships.
149 lbs. (5): No. 6 seed Greg Gaxiola, RJr. (4-2 in the tournament; 20-11 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: No. 4 seed Jarrett Degen (Iowa State) won by fall over Gaxiola (FS), 4:20
Fifth Place: Gaxiola (FS) won by forfeit over No. 3 seed Max Thomsen (Northern Iowa)
*Gaxiola finishes in fifth place and earns an automatic berth to the NCAA Championships.
157 lbs. (5): No. 5 seed Jacob Wright, RSo. (4-2 in the tournament; 24-9 overall)
Preliminary:Â Wright (FS) maj. dec. Paden Moore (Northern Iowa), 10-2
Quarterfinals:Â No. 4 seed Justin Thomas (Oklahoma) dec. Wright (FS), 4-2
Consolation: Wright (FS) maj. dec. Jimmy Fate (Northern Colorado), 10-1
Consolation:Â Wright (FS) won by fall over No. 8 Dewey Krueger (Wyoming), 7:26
Consolation: No. 2 seed Jared Franek (North Dakota State) dec. Wright (FS), 7-4
Fifth Place: Wright (FS) dec. Paden Moore (Northern Iowa), 7-1
*Wright finishes in fifth place and earns an automatic berth to the NCAA Championships.
165 lbs. (4): No. 7 seed Adam Kemp, RFr. (4-3 in tournament; 17-14 overall)
Preliminary: Kemp (FS) dec. Nick Kiussis (West Virginia), 8-3
Quarterfinals:Â No. 2 seed Andrew Fogarty (North Dakota State) maj. dec. Kemp (FS), 10-0
Consolation: Kemp (FS) dec. Elijah Joseph (Oklahoma), 4-1
Consolation:Â Kemp (FS) dec. Jordan Robison (Northern Colorado), 11-4
Consolation: No. 4 seed Tanner Cook (South Dakota State) won by fall over Kemp (FS), 1:03
Fifth Place: Kemp (FS) dec. No. 5 seed Cole Moody (Wyoming), 9-7
True Fourth Match: No. 6 seed Chase Straw dec. Kemp (FS), 10-8 SV1
*Kemp finished in fifth place.
Hwt. (7): No. 3 seed Josh Hokit, Sr. (5-1 in tournament; 24-4 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:Â Hokit (FS) dec. No. 7 seed Brandon Metz (North Dakota State), 4-3
Consolation: Hokit (FS) dec. No. 1 seed Tate Orndorff (Utah Valley), 3-1 SV1
Third Place: Hokit (FS) dec. No. 4 seed Carter Isley (Northern Iowa), 2-0
*Hokit finishes in third place and earns an automatic berth to the NCAA Championships.
"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
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285
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