Bulldogs Place Runner-Up at Oaks Open
ATHERTON, Calif. — February 7, 2026
The Fresno State NCWA team traveled to Atherton on Saturday to compete at the 2026 Oaks Open, hosted by Menlo College. The tournament provided the Bulldogs with one final opportunity to compete before returning home to host the NCWA California State Championships.
Leading the way for Fresno State was team captain Emmanuel Plascencia (141), who advanced to the championship finals and finished as tournament runner-up. Plascencia recorded two victories on the day, including a semifinal win over San Francisco State's Khaisen Chen, before placing second in a competitive 141-pound bracket.
Also representing the Bulldogs were Michael Villa (157), John Pegorari (285), and Josue Flores (285). Pegorari earned a consolation victory during the tournament, while Villa and Flores gained additional experience against a field that included wrestlers from NCAA, NCWA, and unattached programs throughout California.
The Oaks Open marked the final tune-up for Fresno State as the Bulldogs prepared to host one of the largest events on their schedule the following weekend.
TOURNAMENT RECAP
141 lbs – Emmanuel Plascencia (2nd Place)
Plascencia opened his tournament with a first-period fall over Eli Magaan of Sacramento State before earning a 4-3 decision over San Francisco State's Khaisen Chen in the semifinals. In the championship match, Plascencia fell to Tallon Chambers of Cal Poly Humboldt to finish second at 141 pounds.
157 lbs – Michael Villa
Villa was defeated in his opening-round match against Ethan Staib of Sacramento State. After receiving a bye in the consolation bracket, Villa's tournament came to an end against Anthony Vargas.
285 lbs – John Pegorari
After dropping his opening-round match to Liam Clark of Cal Poly Humboldt, Pegorari rebounded with a fall over San Jose State's Belal Burhani in the consolation bracket. His tournament concluded in the following round against Kendrick Salcido.
285 lbs – Josue Flores
Flores was defeated in his opening-round match against Dominic Debo. After receiving a bye in the consolation bracket, Flores was eliminated by UCLA's Logan Nguyen.
NEXT UP
The Fresno State NCWA team will host the 2026 NCWA California State Championships on February 14 at Fresno State. The event will bring together NCWA programs from across California as wrestlers compete for state titles and position themselves for the upcoming West Coast Conference Championship
