Fresno State Repeats as NCWA California State Champions
FRESNO, Calif. — February 14, 2016
The Fresno State Wrestling Club defended its home mat in impressive fashion on Sunday, February 14, earning its second consecutive NCWA California State Championship inside the Rec Center - West Gym. With a total of 166 team points, the Bulldogs finished ahead of UCLA (108 points) and USC (72 points) to secure the title once again.
The state tournament featured teams from across California, including CSU San Marcos, UCLA, USC, Sacramento State, and UC Merced, giving the Bulldogs valuable head-to-head experience ahead of the postseason. With most brackets contested in round-robin format due to smaller turnout, it provided a unique chance for wrestlers to sharpen up before the Conference Championships.
Winning back-to-back state titles is a major step forward for a program still in its early years. The victory represents more than just points on the board—it highlights the club’s growth, consistency, and commitment to building a respected presence in the NCWA. The team continues to show that it belongs among the best in the region, with a strong lineup and a dedicated support system helping push them forward.
The Bulldogs were led by standout performances from Eric Loredo (125 lbs) and Mason Temple (165 lbs), who both claimed individual titles, as well as several other placers who added crucial team points. Across the board, Fresno State wrestlers showed they were prepared, focused, and ready to make their mark this postseason.
Tournament Recap
125 lbs – Eric Loredo
Loredo swept a best-of-three series against Dauren Aubakirov (USC) to claim the 125-pound state title, marking his first career NCWA championship.
133 lbs – Hugo Rodriguez
Rodriguez wrestled tough in a short bracket, taking second after a loss to Justin Acala (CSU San Marcos).
141 lbs – Jonathan Jimenez
Jimenez picked up a win over Mark Radgowski (UC Merced) to reach the finals before falling to Freddie Hsiao (UCLA), earning a silver medal.
149 lbs – Kevin Pereira
Pereira finished second in round-robin action. He notched a win over teammate Christopher Dela Cruz but dropped a close match to Jacob Tabatchnick (UC Merced).
149 lbs – Christopher Dela Cruz
Dela Cruz took third in the bracket, though he did not contribute to the team score.
157 lbs – Greg Garrison
In one of the tournament’s deepest round-robin brackets, Garrison was sharp. He defeated teammate Francisco Cardenas, Aaron Johnson (Sac State), and Jesus Nunez (UCLA), only falling to three-time NCWA All-American Nick Cegelski (USC) to finish as the runner-up.
157 lbs – Francisco Cardenas
Cardenas had a solid day at 157. He scored a win over Aaron Johnson (Sac State), but fell in competitive bouts to Jesus Nunez (UCLA), teammate Greg Garrison, and Nick Cegelski (USC), placing fourth overall. He was not a point scorer for the team.
165 lbs – Mason Temple
Temple remained a consistent force at 165, defeating Kian Stephens (Sac State) and Jason Matthews (USC) to secure the tournament title.
165 lbs – Omar Benavides
Benavides lost to Matthews (USC) and later medically forfeited out of the bracket. He did not score for the team.
174 lbs – Jarette Suikowsky
Suikowsky battled through a tough bracket. He earned a win over Ted Anderson (Sac State) but fell to Frank Berduo (UC Merced) and Anthony Delgado (Sac State) to place third.
184 lbs – Cameron McLeod
McLeod competed in a three-man round robin and, despite going 0-2 against Allen Bonilla (UCLA) and Andres Briones (USC), took third place and scored important team points simply by showing up ready to wrestle.
197 lbs – Jesus Izazaga
Izazaga wrestled Connor Shinn (CSU San Marcos) in a best-of-three series for the state title. After splitting the first two bouts, Shinn won the rubber match, handing Izazaga a close 1-2 series loss. Izazaga took second place.
235 lbs – David Gallardo
Gallardo advanced to the finals with a win over Donovan Lay (CSU San Marcos), then lost to Enrique Carranza (UCLA) to secure a runner-up finish.
235 lbs – Evan Ram
Ram was unable to bounce back after losses to Carranza (UCLA) and Lay (CSU San Marcos), finishing outside the team scoring.
285 lbs – Jesus Marez-Lopez
Marez-Lopez notched a win over Julian Zamora (Sac State) to reach the final, where he was bested by Carl Hulick (UCLA), earning second place.
Next Up
The Bulldogs now shift their focus to the NCWA West Coast Conference Championships, set for February 27 and hosted by the University of Arizona in TUCSON, Ariz. The top four placers in each weight class will earn automatic bids to the NCWA National Championships at the Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee, Florida. With momentum from their second consecutive state title, Fresno State enters the postseason looking to qualify a strong roster for nationals.
