WRESTLING GETS NATIONALLY RANKED
Demi Wack
Fresno State’s Award-Winning Newspaper Wednesday, February 6, 2019
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Reflects on year as ASI president Page 2
Jose Romo Jr. • The Collegian
ASI President Demi Wack sits down with The Collegian for a Q&A about her one-year term.
INSIDE
Music professor releases second album to critical acclaim
NEWS
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2019
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COVER STORY
Q&A with ASI President Demi Wack By Larry Valenzuela | News Editor After her one-year term as president of Associated Student, Inc. (ASI), Demi Wack sat down with The Collegian to discuss her term. Wack discussed topics about campus safety, what she hopes to accomplish going forward and what issues she would like to address in the upcoming months. This story has been edited for brevity. What strides have been made regarding campus safety during your tenure? What more do you think needs to be done? I think one of the best things that we’ve done is work with administration and our local community members. Another thing that we’re doing is [putting] lighting around campus. We went on a night walk with the police department and identified areas of campus that were unsafe or that we felt like students always walk and there’s not good lighting. So we’ve been really strategic on where those lights are going to go. I’ve worked with the police department, I’m trying to coordinate sexual assault trainings and things like that. So I feel like that’s something that our ASI hopefully has embodied just being an open, welcome environment. What has been the most challenging parts of your time as president?
I’m really excited about working on a mural project on campus that’ll hopefully kind of highlight our core values, discovery, diversity and distinction, we’ll be working with the art department. I feel like we’ve been able to connect with a lot of different groups on campus, which is something that I think is like one of the most important aspects of ASI.
I don’t know what I’m going to do, but I love this university, and I’ll be around in some capacity. There’s a lot of great opportunities on this campus. I’m not sure if next year I will be in ASI or not, but I’ll continue to do things for this university in some capacity or another.
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Probably just to surround yourself with a good team. I feel so, so lucky that everyone that we work with is really motivated to help students. They totally get what the purpose of the organization is, which I think is the most important part about this organization is
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thing you’ve learned during your time as president?
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The thing that we were trying to do is get more student engagement within ASI because every single student is actually a member of ASI. So we wanted to kind of spread that word a little bit more and let people use us and know about us more. I’m a psychology major and I would recruit someone from the psychology department, someone from the biology, the chemistry, all of that together just to get more student input. It’s been really successful in some colleges but not so successful in other colleges. So I think finding more ways to connect with students is something that we’re going to be working on forever as ASI.
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I really feel like we’ve accomplished creating a team environment where everyone is motivated to do things and get things done for students and everyone’s excited about it. There’s a lot of small projects that I feel like
Have you made a decision about running again?
What do you think ASI needs to do to continue helping students? What has worked, what hasn’t?
What was the biggest and most valuable What are your most proud accomplishments as ASI president or in ASI altogether?
knowing why you’re here and what you’re doing things for. Learning how to take constructive criticism is huge. Inviting that criticism is another thing that I’ve learned that’s been really helpful. It’s definitely not as slow as a real government, but things work at a slower pace because there’s different lines that you have to cross, there’s a lot of different organizations on campus, there’s a bunch of people you have to talk to to get things done. Luckily our university does a good job working with us and knowing what our time constraints are and making sure that they know our priorities.
m Ra
I think the hardest part is just kind of realizing that everything takes time and you have a year to get as much done as possible and so you really have to concentrate on those core goals and not get too scattered. Learning everything as quickly as possible and trying to implement things as quickly as you can is definitely the most difficult part.
we’ve been able to accomplish this year. One thing that I’m really excited about is redoing the Fresno State app. That’s a project that myself and our vice president have taken the lead on working with our IT department to let students know what kind of resources we have on campus, both ASI and campus resources and I just feel like if we could create like a central hub for students that’s mobile, that they can be with them all the time, which will help them navigate their way through Fresno state.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2019
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THE COLLEGIAN • NEWS
ASI discusses semester resolutions By Jacob Mulick Reporter
Associated Students, Inc. (ASI) senators discussed the value of two new Senator positions at their meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 30. The prospective positions, Senator of Sustainability and Senator of Graduate Affairs, will be up for vote at the next meeting. Support for the Sustainability senator was led primarily by Elizabeth Rocha Zuñiga, senator for resident affairs. Zuñiga claimed that, according to a survey that was sent out by ASI President Demi Wack, Fresno State is the only CSU in California not to have a sustainability position in student government. Senator for the College of Arts and Humanities Hunter Sansom was the main opposition, claiming that a task force would be a more effective measure for sustainability issues in general. Concerns were also raised about the pro-
posed job description and whether the senator will be mandated to be part of a club. Senator for Greek Affairs Bryce Johnson supported Sansom’s position, suggesting that the issue be assigned to a current senator or task force rather than creating an entirely new position. The Graduate Affairs Senator position, also proposed by Zuñiga, was debated as well. Senator for the Kremen School of Education Alexandra Chavez, the only ASI graduate student, was the main proponent of the position. Chavez claimed that graduates are a generally overlooked portion of the student population. “We feel disenfranchised – we feel invisible,” Chavez said. Executive Vice President Elias Karam cited the possibility of the new Graduate Student school, claiming the position would be beneficial as a representation of that school when or if it comes into existence. Senator for Undergraduate and Graduate
Professor proposes tutor program for inmates
Affairs Claire Copher agreed with Chavez, stating that it is difficult for an undergraduate student to faithfully represent a demographic that they are not a part of. Some of the concerns expressed were for the future of the position involving the graduate school, and whether the Graduate Affairs position would have to be restructured once that comes into effect, along with what the position would look like if graduate students did not run for the office. Both positions will be discussed further at the next ASI meeting. Full-year senior registration was also discussed, which Fresno State will be piloting. Once the program starts, seniors will be able to enroll for the entire school year at one time, rather than by semester. This will allow seniors to more easily get the classes they need and will allow the school to better plan for them. The program will be optional, and as of now, it is in the development stage. Most of the concerns surrounding the program are logistical details, such as how the current registration system will handle it and whether it will effect add/drop dates.
The Project Rebound Resolution, the initiative that allows former inmates to return to school, was also passed through in a unanimous vote, meaning Fresno State will officially support and expand on the project.
On the ASI agenda
Full-year registration for seniors Graduate student college Project Rebound Resolution Two new ASI senator positions
By Andrea Marin Contreras Reporter
In a forum hosted by the College of Social Sciences, Dr. Monica Summers, an assistant professor in the Department of Criminology at Fresno State, proposed a program that would allow criminology students and faculty to tutor inmates in the Central California Women’s Facility (CCWF) on Jan. 30. Summers said the program would help inmates and students alike. The program would accelerate students “by more than one full grade level in a single semester,” according to Summers. There are also “non-academic benefits, such as reduction of prison violence, higher self-esteem and greater optimism for the future,” Summers said. Summers shared research which indicated that women “who complete their education while they’re in prison” get a “sense of self-efficacy and self-accountability.” The project will take some time to develop, as any volunteer tutors will need to be cleared by prison security.
Andrea Marin Contreras • The Collegian
Dr. Monica Summers speaks about a proposed program that would allow criminology faculty and students to tutor inmates on Jan. 30. Summers also proposed a grant to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation which would help fund the program. If the grant is approved, Fresno State students could expect this opportunity to become an internship in fall 2019. Summers expects this program to change the lives of many women. As an inmate has told her before, “education opens people’s eyes to a whole new world.”
“San Joaquin College of Law is a bridge between theory and application. Students have the ability to sharpen their analytical skills to prepare for the real world.”
Law SchooL 101
Wed., February 27, 7-9p
Brian chin Philosphy Major, Fresno State Juris Doctor Candidate
you’re invited to this free program to learn more about the legal profession and what a law degree can do for you! register now at www.sjcl.edu or 559/323-2100
SJCL admitS StudentS of any raCe/ CoLor, reLigiouS Creed, nationaL origin/anCeStry, age, gender, mentaL or phySiCaL diSabiLity, mediCaL Condition, maritaL StatuS, or SexuaL orientation.
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A&E
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2019
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‘The Poetry of Jazz’ with Fresno State professor Benjamin Boone By Marilyn Castaneda | A&E Editor
Marilyn Castaneda • The Collegian
Jose Romo Jr. • The Collegian
When his first volume of “The Poetry of Jazz” released last year, nobody knew it would garner attention across the world with numerous accolades, spurring the release of his second volume this year. Saxophonist and composer Benjamin Boone, a music theory professor at Fresno State, has had his music performed in 29 countries and is heard on more than 25 recordings. He recently released “The Poetry of Jazz Volume Two,” the second installment of his collaborative project that featured U.S. Poet Laureate Philip Levine. As a child, the jazz saxophonist’s parents were not musicians themselves. However, it was his mother’s creativity that prompted him to create puppet shows and perform them for others. It was then that he composed his first songs -- for his puppet shows. But listening to a member from a jazz band play in elementary school changed everything. “I remember hearing the person do a solo with the saxophone and I said, ‘I want to do that,’” Boone recalls. “And when I was a sophomore in high school, I played it.” The aspiring artist grew up in North Carolina and moved around the country from Colorado, Washington, D.C., New York, Tennessee and ended up in California in 2000 after accepting a teaching position at Fresno State.
“A friend had told me about Philip [Levine] at Fresno State and said, ‘If that university can keep him, it has to be a good place and you have to apply,’” said Boone. “And so the reason that I applied for this job was because of Philip Levine.” Pulitzer Prize winner Levine was known to be one of America’s most celebrated poets. He won two National Book awards, along with being a professor emeritus for the English department at Fresno State, where he would then be part of establishing the creative writing program. The jazz fan would soon collaborate with Boone in 2012 for a fundraiser in Fresno. That’s when the blend of poetry and jazz was born. “I played saxophone and had my jazz group, and he was reading his poetry and people seemed to like it,” Boone said. “It got good reviews, and so we experimented more to see what else we could do.” But there were challenges to be faced before the two continued to collaborate. Boone explained how the mix of spoken words with the sound of music is a compositional challenge. His method for combining the two is to add depth to the poetry that was already there so one can enjoy the experience of both music and words.
(Right) Musician and professor at Fresno State, Benjamin Boone sits near his piano located in in his off ice on Wednesday Jan. 30. (Left) Benjamin Boone performs in front of a sold out crowd at the California Arts Academy on Friday Feb. 1st, 2019. Although there might be difficulties to overcome, Boone advises that students be able to face fear and be willing to embrace failure in order to succeed. Over the next three years after their first collaboration, a total of 29 tracks were recorded. The project ended up being Levine’s last and only large project before he died on Feb. 14, 2015, at the age of 87. “The whole project took on even more meaning for us,” Boone said. “It was like a tribute to him because it was one of the last things he did.” Famous jazz players like Chris Potter and Branford Marsalis were brought out as guest performers to be featured on the first volume, which was released in March 2018. It was featured as the number 3 “Jazz Album of 2018” in DownBeat’s annual Readers Poll, as well as NPR’s All Things Considered, listed as the number seven album of 2018 by a writer with UK VIBE, and reviewed on The Paris Review. The great success of the first volume led the musicians to release the second volume on Jan. 18, which centers around Levine’s poems that explore humanist themes of the working class, the aftermath of war and the immigrant experience, according to a Fresno State news release.
The recordings of the second album took place during the same time as the first. A total of 18 tracks are presented on the CD, with four instrumental versions that Levine either did on the first volume or on the most recent. Track number 10 on the second volume, ‘Godspell,’ is a version that’s never been published before with Levine speaking, and track 18 is the instrumental version. A celebratory CD release concert took place on Friday in Downtown Fresno. “One thing to say is that this really is a Valley project. But it’s also a Fresno State project of the people that are on this CD,” Boone said. For example, Levine was a professor at Fresno State for the English department, Craig Von Berg teaches in the music department, and Brian Hamada, who recently died last year, was a drum instructor. The College of Arts and Humanities helped to partially fund the project through research grants and the dean’s council. Boone describes his collaboration with Levine and the guest musicians as one of the coolest things that he has ever done. “You know you might think you need to go somewhere else to get the utopia, but sometimes the utopia is right there,” Boone said.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2019
THE COLLEGIAN • A&E
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90 groups at Fresno State’s Club Fair By Jacob Mulick Reporter
Nearly 90 of the more than 400 registered clubs and organizations on campus circled the University Student Union (USU) balcony on Wednesday, Jan. 30, for the Spring 2019 Clubs and Organizations Fair hosted by Student Involvement. Clubs and organizations of all kinds were in attendance, including special interest groups, religious and cultural clubs, volunteer organizations, sports clubs and even some on-campus services. Some of the clubs and organizations in attendance were the Sustainability Club, fraternities Kappa Sigma and Delta Sigma Phi, the CRU Christian club, USU Productions and FresCon, the student-run, on-campus comic convention. Ramiro Merino, graduate assistant for clubs and organizations and major campus events, was excited for the event, saying that students who get involved are more likely to do better in school, be happier and make friends. “This is such a great opportunity for students to figure out where they belong,” Merino said. “We’re just hoping for students to make meaningful relationships.” Students were very responsive to both the event in general and the specific clubs and organizations themselves.
Jacob Mulick • The Collegian
Jose Jimenez and Keelia Lancaster pose at the Fasion Inc. booth at the University Student Union balcony on Jan. 30, 2019. “We’ve had a lot of people show up. It’s been very interactive,” said Tram Le of Student Nutrition Dietetic Association (SNDA), the campus nutrition club. “A lot of people are asking us questions and have shown an interest in joining.” Keelia Lancaster from the Fashion Inc. club echoed the sentiment, despite being on the
less-visited side of the USU. “We did get more people signing up – that was our goal for today and we pretty much met it,” Lancaster said. Students attending the event said they were excited to see all the clubs and organizations in one place and added that events like this one should be more common in the future.
Thai Xiong, president of the Anime Club, advocated for more events like this, hopefully even another one this semester for students who missed or couldn’t attend this one. Seniors Omar Flores and Raj Sekhon found a lot of clubs that interested them, specifically citing Hack Fresno, the Anime Club, The Lao Club and the Entrepreneurship Club as groups they would be checking out in the future. “I didn’t even know this many clubs were on campus,” Sekhon said. “I kind of wish there were more.” Student club seekers and club organizers weren’t the only ones attending the event. Associated Students, Inc. Senator for Clubs and Organizations Andy Morales attended the event as well in order to talk with her constituents. She said she was interested in seeing all the different clubs and organizations, and that she was happy to see that the number of students seemed to be increased from last semester’s event. Morales also said she was especially pleased to see that everyone appeared to be welcomed and included. “It makes me happy to see the different diverse clubs and organizations that we have here,” Morales said. “It’s really great that even though they are geared toward representing a specific ethnicity or something like that, they always accept everyone else, and I think that’s really awesome.”
Artist Malaquias Montoya at ArtHop By Marilyn Castaneda | A&E Editor Fresno’s monthly event which gives the public an opportunity to meet different artists and check out galleries and studios, is coming up this week. You guessed it ArtHop will be this Thursday in Downtown Fresno and will feature various artists and their work. In addition to the creative work, ArtHop will be presenting artist Malaquias Montoya’s “A Voice for the Voiceless” exhibition. Raised in the San Joaquin Valley, Montoya is a Chicano artist whose art reflects his political beliefs. Through paintings, charcoals,
oil pastels and silkscreens, three prominent themes are present: justice, empowerment and international struggle. He is also one of the founders of the social serigraphy movement in the San Francisco Bay Area in the mid-1960s, according to a Fresno State news release. This event begins at 5 p.m. and is free to attend. The exhibition is sponsored by the Center for Creativity and the Arts and the Department of Art and Design.
Courtesy Malaquias Montaya
ArtHop in Downtown Fresno presents artist Malaquias Montoya’s exhibition of art that features charcoals, oil pastels and silkscreens with themes of justice, empowerment and international struggle on Thursday, Feb. 7.
OPINION
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2019
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Trump supporters abuse MAGA slogan
Tribune News Service
By Christina Tran Opinion Editor
As Donald Trump’s popularity soared to new heights after his inauguration as the 45th president of the United States in 2017, so has the meaning of his campaign’s infamous slogan, “Make America Great Again (MAGA).” During Trump’s campaign against opposing presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton, the slogan and movement initiated nationwide support for voters to recognize that things needed to change so that America could be reborn once
Trump became president. In spreading this slogan throughout social media and at Trump’s campaign speeches, fans quickly caught onto wearing MAGA apparel and identifying their political opinions through their clothes in order to visibly support their soon-to-be president. The red MAGA hat became a major signifying factor for the public to identify and show support for President Trump wherever they went. Using the slogan as a personal shield, there were many instances of media coverage that caught supporters mistreating people of color and committing violent attacks against
Tribune News Service
Tribune News Service
them. The movement drifted from using the slogan “Make America Great Again” as a unifying, positive message for Trump’s campaign and instead began allowing and accepting that any individual or group wearing MAGA apparel or chanting the slogan could be excused for their poor behavior and aggressive, threatening language. Commonly associated with intolerant behavior and actions that pick on marginalized groups, the MAGA hats and people wearing them have now become a symbol connected with idealistic views of bigotry and racism.
Beginning with negative and accusatory language from President Trump, his supporters and the public swiftly followed suit with the way people converse and treat one another. There remained no more room for civil discourse, only confrontation. That’s not to say that every person wearing MAGA apparel will fall into this negative depiction of aggressive Trump supporters. However, unfortunately it seems the phrase “Make America Great Again” has become unanimous with a negative ideology that uses a political platform to cause civil unrest among the public.
CAMPUS VOICES
Students voice their thoughts about what MAGA apparel means to them By Christina Tran | Opinion Editor
The Collegian is a studentrun publication that serves the Fresno State community. Views expressed in The Collegian do not necessarily reflect the views of the staff or university.
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“I think it’s (MAGA hat) linked more negatively with the movement simply because you can feel that we want to make America great again but to advertise that product on the top of your head seems really, really assertive and aggressive. Very in your face while most people don’t necessarily advertise their political views on their body like that. So I think it usually has a negative [effect] because usually it’s linked to people who are much more extreme in that opinion.” --Colleen O’Brien, English major “I’m not a Trump guy myself so I shouldn’t judge a whole group based on the actions of a couple bad people who wear the MAGA hat themselves. Honestly, in my opinion, you can wear whatever you want on campus. Whether it be a MAGA hat or a shirt with whatever statement, like prolife, pro-choice, black lives matter, all that different viewpoints across the spectrum.” --Bradly Gonzalez, history major
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THE COLLEGIAN • SPORTS
Equestrian split vs. Delaware, Auburn Jorge Rodriguez Reporter
Ranked No. 10 in the nation, the Fresno State equestrian team held its spring opener on Feb. 1-2, splitting its matchups against No. 9 Delaware State and No.1 ranked Auburn. The Bulldogs won their first matchup against Delaware State 13-5 and fell to Auburn in the second matchup 16-3, bringing its home record to 3-6 on the season. The standout rider on Friday was senior Alexandra Dirickson, as she earned a perfect 3-0 record facing two Delaware State opponents and one Auburn opponent. Dirickson, along with freshmen Alivia Hart and Alexis Steele, were awarded Most Outstanding Player (MOP) awards in their matchup with No. 9 Delaware State. Dirickson was named the Flat MOP for her first award in the event this season. Hart was named Fences MOP and Steele was the Horsemanship MOP. Fresno State had its best performances in the Horsemanship event, where it swept Delaware State 5-0. Steele led the Bulldogs in her first career ride with a 75, beating her previous record of 73.5. Fresno State led 11-3 through the first three events. Freshman Hana Beiling earned her first Flat win of the season 62-41, clinching the victory for the Bulldogs. Dirickson managed to score the final points for the ‘Dogs with a 69-62 ride over her Delaware State opponent. Head coach Eric Hubbard spoke highly of both Dirickson and Steele’s performances on Friday. “Alexis Steele was great in her first ride in our Horsemanship lineup,” Hubbard said. “We leaned on Alexandra Dirickson, and she showed
Keith Kountz • Fresno State Athletics
her experience as a senior by going undefeated and getting the MOP.” Saturday was not as successful for the Bulldogs, as the ‘Dogs and the Tigers finished out the meet with equitation on the flat, reining and horsemanship. The Tigers were victorious on Friday during the equitation over fences, taking the event 4-1. Auburn started its day out strong, sweeping the flat event, 5-0. The Bulldogs finally got on the board in the reining competition, thanks to freshman Lexee Padrick earning a point, winning her matchup with a score of 70.5-68.5. Senior Kara Gustafson’s matchup finished with a 71.5 tie, but Auburn once again came out on top, taking the event 3-1. Fresno State couldn’t muster enough throughout the rest of the meet, despite the winning effort of redshirt sophomore Nicole Campbell, who defeated her opponent in a close
74-73.5 victory in the horsemanship event. The Bulldogs ultimately fell to the Tigers, closing out the meet with a 4-1 horsemanship victory. Despite the loss to Auburn, the Bulldogs did manage to move up one spot in the National Collegiate Equestrian Association FARNAM Top 10 rankings for Feb. 5, moving from No. 10 to No. 9. The Bulldogs are back in action on Saturday, March 2, as they meet UC Davis in its inaugural season as a Division I equestrian program. Equestrian team moving to Big 12 Conference next season The Fresno State equestrian team is plan-
ning a move to the Big 12 Conference starting next season, according to the Assistant Director of Communications for the team Travis Blanshan. The move will transfer the Bulldog equestrian team from their conference, the United Equestrian Conference, to the Big 12 Conference. Fresno State’s Athletic Director Terry Tumey also commented about how and when the move will happen. “We have expressed an interest to the Big 12 Conference office for our equestrian program to become an affiliate member of the Big 12 and we anticipate a resolution on the topic later this spring,” Tumey said. “We are thrilled to compete in the conferences we are currently affiliated with and we look forward to continuing to establish competitive rivalries with our peer institutions.” Fresno State, which is currently ranked No. 9 in the nation, will be sharing the conference with teams like Texas Christian University, Baylor University and Oklahoma State University. This will be the second team from Fresno State to join the Big 12 Conference, as the wrestling team joined the conference two years ago when the program was brought back. “At this time there is no indication of Fresno State trying to move from the Mountain West to the Big 12 in all athletic competitions,” Tumey siad. “As for our other sport programs, we have no intention to change conferences at this time.”
Water Polo coach honored Anthony De Leon | Sports Editor USA Water Polo announced Tuesday that Fresno State head coach Natalie Benson would be the recipient of the 2018 Sandy Nitta Distinguished Coaching Award for the Central California Zone. The Sandy Nitta has 11 zones throughout the United States and Benson was one of 11 coaches chosen, making her eligible for the national Sandy Nitta Distinguished Coaching Award later on at the annual USA Water Polo National Awards dinner. Benson spoke with Fresno State athletics about what an honor it is to be chosen by USA Water Polo to represent the Central Valley.
“It is an honor to be recognized by USA Water Polo and members of our Central California Zone,” Benson said. “I am proud to represent the Central Valley, and excited about what can be built in our region. Coach Nitta was an instrumental part of getting women’s water polo recognized on the international stage, and helped lay the ground work for the career that I was able to have and all those that come after.” Benson’s honor marks her second award from USA Water Polo being awarded the Doc Hunkler Distinguished Coaching Award in 2011, presented annually to the top scholastic coach in the nation.
SPORTS
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2019
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Wrestling beats Wyoming to climb polls
Keith Kountz • Fresno State Athletics
25th ranked Jackson Hemauer of Fresno State dominates No. 20 Tate Samuelson of Wyoming, winning the match 5-1 and helping the ‘Dogs upset No. 11 Wyoming on Feb. 3, 2019. The victory secured a No. 24 ranking in the National Wrestling Coaches Association Top 25 poll that was released this week.
Jorge Rodriguez Reporter
The No. 11 wrestling team in the nation, the University of Wyoming Cowboys, came into the Save Mart Center this past Sunday ready to add one more win on their record, but the Fresno State Bulldogs wrestling team would not let the Cowboys get in their way. Fresno State defeated Wyoming, 21-12, giving the Bulldogs their fifth win in the last six duals to make their overall record 8-6 and their Big 12 conference record 4-3. The heavyweight class started the dual with the Bulldogs bringing to the mat No. 20 AJ Nevills to face No. 21 Brian Andrews for Wyoming. Nevills defeated Andrews in a very close match that saw him come back from an early deficit to win, 4-2. After getting the initial points in the dual, the Bulldogs sought to jump ahead with Robert Garcia IV matching up against No.16 Cole Verner in the 125-pound weight class. Verner defeated Garcia in a 5-4 decision, giving the
points to Wyoming and tying up the dual. Next up for the ‘Dogs was Gary Joint meeting up against No. 11 Montorie Bridges in the 133-pound weight class. Bridges took the match with a 6-2 decision, giving the Cowboys a lead in the dual. Fresno State’s Chris Deloza looked to add points for the Bulldogs by facing Wyoming’s No. 13 Sam Turner in the 141-pound weight class. Deloza had a hard time during the match and was eventually defeated by Turner 5-2. The Bulldogs’ luck finally began to turn when No. 12 Khristian Olivas defeated Jaron Jensen in the 149-pound weight class by a score of 9-6. After Olivas’ win, the Bulldogs’ Jacob Wright was up next in a matchup against Jed Loveless in the 157-pound weight class. Wright pinned Loveless in the third period to win the match and gave the lead to the Bulldogs. The Cowboys got their last win when Branson Ashworth, the No. 9 at the 165-pound weight class, defeated the Bulldogs’ Isaiah Hokit 8-3 to tie the score at 12. Fresno State regained the lead thanks to
Dominic Kincaid’s defeat of Anthony Lamardo in the 174-pound weight class, 5-3. The Bulldogs’ No. 25 in the 184-pound weight class, Jackson Hemauer, added to the ‘Dogs’ lead by defeating No. 20 Tate Samuelson 5-1 in a tough matchup. In the 197-pound weight class No. 13 Josh Hokit faced No. 20 Vale Davidson in the last match of the dual. Hokit came up on top, defeating Davidson with a 4-2 decision, giving the Bulldogs the dual win. After the dual, head coach Troy Steiner commented about the win in an interview with Fresno State Athletics. “We didn’t want this dual to slip away and the guys came out and wrestled hard and aggressive,” Steiner said. “With only three duals left [in the regular season], we need to enjoy what we are doing and it is great to do it in front of our home fans.”
Bulldogs begin week ranked The win against No. 11 Wyoming vaulted the team into the national spotlight. Once the Feb. 4 rankings came out, the Bulldogs had climbed
up the polls in multiple outlets. The 8-6 Bulldogs were ranked No. 24 in Wrestling Insider Magazine’s dual-team rankings and ranked outside the National Wrestling Coaches Association Top 25 poll at No. 26, receiving 11 votes. In addition to the team being ranked 24th, Bulldogs wrestlers were individually ranked across several media outlets, including FloWrestling (FW), InterMat (IM), TrackWrestling (TW) and the NCAA. Khristian Olivas (17-8) was ranked No. 12 (TW), No. 18 (FW), No. 17 (IM) and No.19 (NCAA) at 149 pounds. Jackson Hemauer (17-8) was ranked No. 19 (FW), No. 23 (TW) and No. 25 (NCAA) at 184 pounds. Josh Hokit (17-3) was ranked highest out of all Bulldogs at No. 13 (IM), No. 13 (FW), No. 13 (NCAA) and No. 14 (TW) at 197 pounds. AJ Nevills (16-6) was also voted No. 19 (TW) and No. 20 (NCAA) in the heavyweight division.