With the win, Fresno State improves to 5-6 overall and 2-3 in Big 12 duals this season while knocking off its first nationally-ranked opponent in its two seasons since returning to the mat as a program.
"It was a good team win," said head coach Troy Steiner of the 'Dogs performance. "There were some battles in there in a lot of weights and we won some and we lost some, but I really like our intensity and came out firing and on the attack and that is what it is going to take to beat teams," added Steiner.
How It Happened
Starting the dual at 125 pounds, redshirt freshman Robert Garcia IV got the 'Dogs winning ways started early with an 11-3 major decision over UVU senior Josh Jensen. The Selma native secured a pair of first period takedowns for a 4-1 lead and added a takedown in the second period and two more in the third and a point for riding time to earn his second major decision of the season.
Leading 4-0 in the dual, redshirt freshman Gary Joint doubled up the score with a 9-0 major decision over Dylan Gregerson to push the 'Dogs ahead 8-0. Joint tallied three takedowns, an escape, a stalling point and riding time to notch only his fourth shutout of the season.
Utah Valley (7-7, 0-1 B12) got on the scoreboard at 141 pounds with a 16-0 technical by No. 8 Matt Findlay over the 'Dogs Chris Deloza to cut the lead to 8-5.
Making his return to his former school, redshirt junior 149-pounder Khristian Olivas, who attended Utah Valley as a freshman in 2015-16, topped the Wolverines' Landon Knutzen, 14-8 to give the 'Dogs a 11-5 lead. Olivas jumped out to a 8-1 lead after the first period with a pair of takedowns and a four-point near fall as he cruised to his 14th win of the year.
Moving to 157 pounds, redshirt junior Isaiah Hokit made his first dual meet appearance since the Battle on the Midway in November as he made quick work of Spencer Heywood with a 19-6 major decision recording seven takedowns in the match.
Heading into intermission leading 15-5, Utah Valley won its second match of the dual at 165 pounds as No. 9 Demetrius Romero topped the 'Dogs Brandon Martino, 7-5. Martino fought tough the entire match getting a takedown near the end of the match, but came up just short.
The 'Dogs got back on the winning side of the scoreboard at 174 pounds as redshirt junior Dominic Kincaid topped Koy Wilkinson, 8-4 behind three takedowns, an escape and a riding time point.
The Wolverines got their final win of the dual at 184 pounds as redshirt senior WIll Sumner upset the Bulldogs' Jackson Hemauer, 6-2 using a third period four-point near fall to close the dual to 18-11 in favor of the 'Dogs.
With the final two matches both featuring ranked wrestlers, the 197 pound match was a highlight of the night as junior and No. 16 Josh Hokit recorded a fall of No. 11 Tanner Orndorff in 6:38 as the Bulldog used Orndorff's own takedown attempt to roll through and put the UVU redshirt junior on his back.
After each team lost a team point following that match, the 'Dogs had secured the dual meet win leading 23-10 heading into heavyweight. The Bulldogs' No. 21 AJ Nevills knocked off No. 10 Tate Orndorff, 5-1 using a takedown, an escape and another takedown to close out the dual and close out a great night for Fresno State.
Notables
- The major decision at 157 pounds was Isaiah Hokit's fourth of 2018-19.
- The fall at 197 pounds by Josh Hokit was his second of the season and it was also his second win over a ranked opponent.
- It was Nevills' second win over a ranked opponent this season.
Up next
The Bulldogs now return home to host South Dakota State (1-5, 0-2 B12) on Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Save Mart Center. It is Staff and Faculty Appreciation Day as all Fresno State Staff and Faculty get in to the match for free.
Results:
125: Robert Garcia IV (FS) maj. dec. Josh Jensen (UVU), 11-3 | FS 4, UVU 0
133: Gary Joint (FS) maj. dec. Dylan Gregerson (UVU), 9-0 | FS 8, UVU 0
141: No. 8/12/15 Matt Findlay (UVU) tech. fall Chris Deloza (FS), 16-0 (5:44) | FS 8, UVU 5
149: No. 17/18/15 Khristian Olivas (FS) dec. Landon Knutzen (UVU), 14-8 | FS 11, UVU 5
157: Isaiah Hokit (FS) maj. dec. Spencer Heywood (UVU), 19-6 | FS 15, UVU 5
165: No. 9 Demetrius Romero (UVU) dec. Brandon Martino (FS), 7-5 | FS 15, UVU 8
174: Dominic Kincaid (FS) dec. Koy Wilkinson (UVU), 8-4 | FS 18, UVU 8
184: Will Sumner (UVU) dec. No. -/-/21 Jackson Hemauer (FS), 6-2 | FS 18, UVU 11
197: No. 16/-/- Josh Hokit (FS) wins by fall over No. 11/13/14 Tanner Orndorff (UVU), 6:38 | FS 23, UVU 10*
285: No. -/-/21 AJ Nevills (FS) dec. No. 10/10/10 Tate Orndorff (UVU), 5-1 | FS 26, UVU 10
- FloWrestling, Intermat & Trackwrestling rankings
*Both teams lost a team point for unsportsmanlike conduct after the 197 pound match.
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