KISSIMMEE, Fla. — March 10–12, 2016

The Fresno State Wrestling Club wrapped up its 2015–16 season with a milestone performance at the 2016 NCWA National Championships, held March 10–12 at the Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee, Florida. The team, worn down but undeterred after a long and grueling season, made program history by securing its first-ever NCWA All-Americans on both the men’s and women’s side. Mason Temple finished 8th at 165 lbs, while Rossana Aguilar placed 3rd at 123 lbs in dramatic and unforgettable fashion.

While Temple’s All-American run capped off a season of growth and redemption for the returning national qualifier, Aguilar’s podium finish nearly didn’t happen at all—through no fault of her own.

Aguilar had advanced to the 3rd-place bout following a strong run through her bracket, with her match scheduled for Session V of the six-session championship format. However, confusion over scheduling nearly cost her the match—and her All-American status. Fresno State’s delegation had returned to the hotel to rest between sessions, believing her medal match would take place in the final session, alongside the men’s placing bouts. But the women’s 3rd- and 4th-place matches had been unexpectedly moved up.

Assistant coach Jovany Gonzalez received a call from an unfamiliar number.

“The head coach of Texas A&M called me asking where Rossana was,” Gonzalez recalled. “I told him we were back at the hotel waiting for the next session. He said they were waiting on her to wrestle, her opponent was already at the mat.”

To complicate matters further, neither Aguilar nor her Texas A&M opponent were present at the mat when the match timer expired. With both sides absent, the match was officially ruled a double forfeit.

Determined not to let the mistake erase Aguilar’s hard-earned success, Fresno State’s coaches and athletes rushed back to the arena. Rossana, still with half a face of makeup on, arrived in an almost empty arena. The Texas A&M coach, also frustrated by the confusion, agreed to run the bout anyway. A referee was brought over. In an impromptu but spirited showdown, Aguilar dominated her opponent.

Only her teammates were in the stands, watching with pride as she wrestled for a finish that the entire program felt she had earned.

With the match complete, all that remained was whether tournament officials would recognize the outcome and overturn the double forfeit.

With tears welling in her eyes, Rossana waited anxiously.

“We were hearing it could go either way,” said assistant coach Gonzalez. “So we pulled Rossana aside and told her—no matter what the officials decide, we know the truth. She’s top three in the country. A technicality wasn’t going to erase what she’s accomplished this season. The work, the growth, the heart—she proved exactly who she is out there. We’re incredibly proud of her.”

Finally, tournament staff informed the team that the result would be accepted. Rossana Aguilar had officially placed third in the nation—and became Fresno State’s first women’s NCWA All-American.

Tournament Recap

125 lbs – Eric Loredo
Loredo opened his national tournament strong with a win over Clayton Visek (Iowa State WC). He ran into #5 seed Timothy Sakow (Central Florida) next, falling by decision. In the wrestlebacks, Loredo picked up a fall over Nicholas Kramer (Iowa WC) and a hard-fought 10–6 win over Nicolas Gonzalez (Wayne State), advancing to Day 2. His tournament ended after a tough battle with #8 seed Brett Himes (Penn State – DuBois).

149 lbs – Kevin Pereira
Pereira had a challenging draw, opening with a loss to Robert Mendoza (Washington State). He was eliminated after falling to Jonah Swinson (Liberty) in the consolation bracket.

165 lbs – Mason Temple – All-American (8th Place)
The #9 seed, Temple earned a first-round bye and opened his campaign with a solid 11–6 win over Bailey Poitra (Washington State). After a narrow 3–1 loss to #8 seed Michael Bryant (Liberty), Temple stormed back in the wrestlebacks, pinning both Chad Simmons (Apprentice) and #3 seed Beau Doerr (Florida) to secure All-American honors. Temple ran out of steam in Sessions 5 and 6, dropping a match to No. 2 seed Clay Kocsis (Penn State – Mont Alto), then falling again to Bryant in the 7th-place bout. Despite the late losses, Temple became the program’s first male NCWA All-American, capping off a brilliant season.

174 lbs – Jarette Suikowsky
Battling through injury, Suikowsky still gave it his all. After a first-round bye, he dropped a close bout to Noah Villermarette (Texas State). In Session 2, he faced Deontay Wadley (Penn State – DuBois), where he started strong but couldn’t hold the lead, losing the match and ending his tournament.

197 lbs – Jesus Izazaga
Izazaga’s national tournament was marked by heartbreakingly close matches. He dropped a sudden victory overtime bout to Chase Eldredge (New Hampshire) before being edged out 5–4 by Dovydas Simanskis (UConn) in his final match.

235 lbs – Evan Ram
Ram’s tournament ended early after losses to Kavrin Cox (Houston) and Riley McDowell (Montana Tech), closing his season.

285 lbs – Jesus Marez-Lopez
Marez-Lopez opened against #8 seed Jacob Schwartz (Wayne State) and was unable to pull off the upset. He followed with another loss to Durell Robinson (Marion Military), ending his second nationals appearance.

101 lbs – Mai Xiong
Xiong faced a familiar foe in her first match — #3 seed Malie Gonsalves (Southwestern Oregon CC), who had beaten her earlier in the season. This time, Xiong executed the game plan perfectly, building an 8–3 lead. However, a late-match throw by Gonsalves caught Xiong to her back, ending the bout by fall. She was eliminated in her next match by Valeria Rivera (Ottawa), but not before showing serious growth and competitive fire on the national stage.

123 lbs – Rossana Aguilar – All-American (3rd Place)
Seeded 4th, Aguilar earned a solid opening win over Jenna Wilson (Ottawa) before falling 6–3 to #1 seed Brandi Elizalde (Southwestern Oregon CC) in the semifinals. In the placement rounds, she pinned Sara Levine-Ramirez (Miami) and eventually defeated Legacie Dominguez (Texas A&M) by major decision, 15–3, to claim 3rd place and All-American honors — Fresno State’s first-ever female NCWA All-American.

Final Results

The 2015–16 season marked a turning point for the Fresno State Wrestling Club. Fueled by depth, dedication, and an unwavering belief in their growth, the Bulldogs navigated one of the most challenging schedules in the NCWA West with grit and determination. Every road trip, every bracket, every setback served as preparation for something greater. That long journey paid off with a historic showing at the NCWA National Championships, where the team took a major step forward on the national stage. With both the men's and women's programs setting new standards for postseason qualification, Fresno State’s rise is no longer potential—it’s reality. The progress made this season has elevated the expectations, and it’s clear: the Bulldogs are just getting started.