Fresno State Sends Young Squad to Bill Musick Open Amid Late Schedule Change
FRESNO, Calif. – November 4, 2023
The Fresno State Wrestling Club competed at the Bill Musick Open on Saturday at Fresno City College, using the event as an early-season opportunity to gain mat time against experienced California junior college competition.
Preparation for the tournament came together under less-than-ideal circumstances. The Bill Musick Open was not originally on Fresno State’s schedule, as the program had planned to travel out of state before those arrangements fell through. With limited alternatives available on short notice, the Bulldogs turned to a familiar local event to keep competition opportunities intact.
Interim head coach Jovany Gonzalez, who stepped into the role approximately one month before the season began, acknowledged the challenges of navigating both administrative and coaching responsibilities during the transition. Originally appointed as Director of Operations, Gonzalez assumed interim head coaching duties after the program’s incoming staff was unable to take over prior to the season.
“The schedule was made with in-conference matchups in mind, and I definitely overestimated the logistics side of being a head coach,” Gonzalez said. “It’s been a bit of a whirlwind, but the goal at the end of the day is to get mat time and get better. The focus is preparing our athletes for the national tournament.”
Despite the late adjustment, Fresno State benefited from the proximity of the event. The Bill Musick Open, held annually across town, is a tournament the Bulldogs are familiar with and one that traditionally draws deep and competitive junior college fields.
Fresno State entered a young lineup designed to gain experience in a demanding early-season environment. On the men’s side, 133lbs – Jerry Coleman, 149lbs – William Wareham, and 149lbs – Damian Galvan each faced early adversity against seasoned opponents. On the women’s side, 136lbs – Ebony Cardenas and 136lbs – Alexus Chavira were able to secure valuable folkstyle match experience.
“This is a very tough opening tournament,” Gonzalez said. “California junior colleges begin practicing in late August and compete as early as September. They’re much closer to peaking, while we’re only about a month into our season. There’s a long road ahead in our development.”
The Bill Musick Open served as an important early benchmark for a Fresno State program working through transition while prioritizing long-term growth and competitive readiness.
