Bulldogs Regain Momentum at NCWA West Coast Conference Championships
SURPRISE, Ariz. — March 1, 2025
After a difficult second half of the season, the Fresno State Wrestling Club found renewed energy at the NCWA West Coast Conference Championships on March 1.
With automatic National Championship bids on the line, the Bulldogs arrived in Arizona looking to secure qualifications and build momentum heading into the final event of the season. The conference championships featured one of the strongest fields Fresno State had faced all year, including Menlo College and Vanguard University, both competing in the NCWA postseason while transitioning to NCAA Division II, along with competitive programs such as Utah Tech, UNLV, Sacramento State, Colorado State, San Jose State, Ottawa University, and UC Santa Barbara.
The Bulldogs responded with one of their strongest performances in months.
William Wareham and Damian Galvan each advanced to the semifinals at 149 pounds after returning to their competition weight class following a season spent filling lineup needs. Both secured automatic bids to the NCWA National Championships, with Wareham earning third place and Galvan finishing fourth.
Benito Saldivar added a fifth-place finish at 141 pounds to qualify for Nationals, while Michael Brent earned a third-place finish at heavyweight. Brent's tournament was highlighted by a pin over Utah Tech's Kason Longmore in the third-place match, avenging earlier-season losses and securing his spot at Nationals.
On the women's side, Valeria Mendoza battled through injury to finish sixth and earn an automatic National Championship berth. After reaching the quarterfinals and fighting her way through the consolation bracket, Mendoza was forced to medically withdraw following a re-aggravated injury.
The Bulldogs received another boost following the tournament when Gabriel Martinez was awarded a National Championship wild card selection. The biggest news, however, came with the announcement that team captain and returning NCWA All-American Diara Spencer had been granted a medical wild card, returning one of Fresno State's top wrestlers to the postseason lineup.
“Not only did we end the tournament on a high note by winning our final matches, but with Diara being granted a medical waiver into Nationals, it feels like the excitement and energy is back in the group," said Head Coach Jovany Gonzalez.
For a team that had spent much of January battling injuries, lineup shortages, and adversity, the conference championships provided something that had been missing for weeks: momentum.
Tournament Recap
125 lbs – Gabriel Martinez (Wild Card, National Qualifier)
Martinez recorded a fall over Om Kulkarni (UC Santa Barbara). Later received a National Championship wild card bid.
141 lbs – Benito Saldivar (5th Place, National Qualifier)
Saldivar defeated Caleb Lowell (Colorado State) twice, including a 12-6 decision in the fifth-place match.
149 lbs – William Wareham (3rd Place, National Qualifier)
Wareham recorded victories over Jack MacAndrew (San Jose State) and Ulyssis Short (UNLV) before claiming third place.
149 lbs – Damian Galvan (4th Place, National Qualifier)
Galvan advanced to the semifinals and secured victories over Ulyssis Short (UNLV) and Jack MacAndrew (San Jose State).
235 lbs – Michael Brent (3rd Place, National Qualifier)
Brent finished third after defeating Pascual Garcia (UC Santa Barbara), Mark Coopershlyak (University of Arizona), and Kason Longmore (Utah Tech).
131 lbs – Valeria Mendoza (6th Place, National Qualifier)
Mendoza opened the tournament with a fall over Destiny Henderson (Colorado State), battled back through the consolation bracket, and earned an automatic National Championship bid despite an injury-shortened finish.
Next Up
Fresno State closes out the 2024-25 season at the NCWA National Championships, held March 13-15 in Shreveport-Bossier, Louisiana.
