Bulldogs Qualify Full Roster at 2024 NCWA West Coast Conference Championships
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – March 2, 2024
The Fresno State Wrestling Club competed at the 2024 NCWA West Coast Conference Championships, securing national qualification for every registered athlete across both the men’s and women’s divisions in a key postseason qualifying event hosted by UNLV.
A late adjustment to the men’s brackets following a missed weigh-in by one program created a reshuffled field, though Fresno State remained focused on its primary objective: qualifying wrestlers for the NCWA National Championships.
MEN’S RECAP
Fresno State’s men’s team produced a strong showing highlighted by a conference championship performance from 184lbs – Justin Nieves, who returned to competition after a lengthy hiatus that included military service and a transition into coaching following his junior college career.
In his senior and final year, Nieves made the decision to return to the mat with the goal of earning All-American honors. That pursuit began in emphatic fashion, as Nieves captured the 184-pound conference title, becoming the fourth individual conference champion in program history.
At 125lbs, Nathen Diaz advanced to the finals and finished second, while 235lbs – Diara Spencer reached the championship match after avenging an earlier-season loss to Byron Anderson (Utah Tech) in the semifinals, before dropping a hard-fought final to Dylan Jahrling (UNLV).
125lbs – Gabriel Martinez rounded out Fresno State’s placing performances with a fifth-place finish, earning an automatic berth to nationals. The remaining Bulldog competitors did not place but were awarded wild card bids based on their body of work throughout the regular season, completing a clean national qualification sweep for the men’s squad.
Men’s Results
125lbs – Nathen Diaz
Diaz advanced to the championship match, defeating UCLA’s Kaleb Klarcyk in the semifinals before finishing second to Sacramento State’s Joseph Jimenez.
125lbs – Gabriel Martinez
Martinez battled through the consolation bracket to earn a fifth-place finish, closing his tournament with a major decision over Ricardo Almodobar (Grand Canyon).
141lbs – Benito Saldivar
Saldivar picked up a consolation-round fall before being eliminated, narrowly missing the podium.
149lbs – Damian Galvan-Calderon
Galvan faced a tough draw and was eliminated after two consolation-round losses.
157lbs – William Wareham
Wareham recorded two pinfall victories but was eliminated in the consolation rounds.
165lbs – Nathan Vargas
Vargas earned a consolation-round win by forfeit before exiting the bracket.
184lbs – Justin Nieves
Nieves captured the conference championship, defeating Bryce Mack (UNLV) by technical fall, Nathan Engelbertson (San Jose State) by fall, and Austin Mattson (Utah Tech) by technical fall in the final.
235lbs – Diara Spencer
Spencer placed second, pinning Byron Anderson (Utah Tech) in the semifinals before falling to Dylan Jahrling (UNLV) in the championship match.
WOMEN’S RECAP
On the women’s side, Fresno State secured national qualification through a combination of podium finishes and a medical wild card.
136lbs – Vanessa Mares, the top-ranked wrestler in her weight class, was granted a medical wild card as she continues recovery from an elbow injury sustained earlier in the season.
130lbs – Jamilynne Gonzalez delivered one of the strongest performances of the day for the Bulldogs, advancing to the finals and finishing second, while 116lbs – Natalia Villalobos battled back through the consolation bracket to place fifth, earning automatic qualification.
Women’s Results
116lbs – Natalia Villalobos
Villalobos placed fifth, earning a national berth after navigating the consolation rounds.
130lbs – Jamilynne Gonzalez
Gonzalez reached the finals with two pinfall victories before finishing second to Kali Westover (Utah Tech).
136lbs – Vanessa Mares
Mares qualified for nationals via medical wild card.
NEXT UP
The Bulldogs now turn their focus to the 2024 NCWA National Championships, where Fresno State will send its full qualifying roster to compete on the national stage.
