Bulldog open season with Gary Ota Memorial Invite

MEDIA COVERAGE
Watch: Mountain West Network
Results: Meet Mobile
Live updates via Twitter (X) : @fresnostateswim

BULLDOG BONES

Fresno State opens the 2025-26 season with the Gary Ota Memorial Invitational, formally known as the Fresno State Invite
The season opening invite is in honor of former assistant coach Gary Ota
The 2025-26 home schedule features five meets
Participating teams this weekend are Air Force, San Jose State, San Diego State and Washington State
Head coach Jeanne Fleck enters her 18th season leading the Bulldogs
Taylor Moore was elevated to Associate head coach over the summer
Diving coach Taryn Patrick also enters her 18th season with the 'Dogs
This seasons roster features eight true freshman and three transfers
17 Bulldogs return from last seasons roster
Fresno State picked up big time transfer in Mackenzie Miller Lung and Clare Luken, Miller Lung in the NCAA runner up in the women's 200 breaststroke and Luken comes from the SEC in South Carolina

BULLDOG DEBUT

11 Bulldogs will make their debut this weekend at the Aquatics Center
Eight true freshman - Kale Burk, Caroline Grimsley, Audrey Hill, Ailani Ika, Presley McPhail, Hayley Oke, Marissa Recio, Ava Schwartbauer, Safiyah Supreme and redshirt freshmen Ella Turner
transfers Mackenzie Miller Lung, Clare Luken and Arianna Pelligra will wear also be making their Bulldog debut

A LOOK BACK
Head coach Jeanne Fleck enters her 18th year leading the Bulldogs and comes off a stellar season. The 2024-25 campaign had a slew of firsts for the 'Dogs, Fleck was named MW Swimming Coach of the Year, 49 swimmers earned a personal best, Bulldogs saw their highest finish at conference championships with 3rd, ten records were broken - the most since 2019 and saw their largest group of NCAA qualifiers in school history.

BEWARE OF THE BREASTSTROKER'S
Bulldogs are packed with breaststroke talent this season. The core of the breaststroke group features Aliz Kalmar, Mackenzie Miller Lung and Jenna Pulkkinen. All three Bulldogs made an appearance at NCAA's in both breaststroke events.

Pulkkinen is the defending Mountain West champion in the 100 breaststroke and is the programs only champion in that event. Pulkkinen holds the program record in the 100 breaststroke and the Aquatic Center record in the 200 breaststroke. Pulkkinen also grabbed her first career conference weekly honor after her record breaking swims (Feb. 4).

Miller Lung, a Clovis East graduate, returns to the Valley with a heavy resume after a three year stint at BYU. At BYU Miller Lung was named Big12 Swimmer of the Year, 2x All-American, NCAA runner-up (200 Br) and national finalist (100 Br), Big 12 200 breast champion and earned 29 points at nationals. The Valley product returns home for her final season of eligibility.

Kalmar, on her final ride, returns as one of the top Bulldogs. The Hungarian holds five program records, two individual (200 breast & 200 IM) and three relays along with an Aquatic Center record in the 400 medley relay, the programs first since 2018. Last season Kalmar saw the programs first top-16 finish at NCAA's in the 200 breast since 1999 (Holly Gravett). Kalmar also saw podium finishes at the conference championship in both breaststroke events.

ORDER OF EVENTS
Session 1 - Friday, Oct. 10 (11 a.m.)
3 Meter
200 Medley Relay
- 5 min break -
500 freestyle
200 IM
50 freestyle
- 10 min break -
200 freestyle relay

Session 2 - Fri. Oct. 10 (6 p.m.)
Team Dive event
100 fly
400 IM
200 free
100 breast
100 back
-10 min break-
800 free relay

Session 3 - Sat. Oct. 11 (10 a.m.)
1 Meter
400 medley relay
- 10 min break -
100 IM
200 back
100 free
200 breast
200 fly
1650 free
400 free relay

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Kale Burk

Caroline Grimsley

Audrey Hill

Ailani Ika

Aliz Kalmar

Clare Luken

Presley McPhail

Mackenzie Miller Lung

Hayley Oke

Arianna Pelligra

Jenna Pulkkinen

Marissa Recio

Safiyah Supreme

Ella Turner