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May 01
0

Matilda Torres Tennis Aims For Championship, Paying Tribute To Beloved Teammate

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  “Our friendship and Memories Live Forever.”  

This is the motto that has inspired the Matilda Torres boy tennis team as they strive for history in the 2026 season. The slogan is dedicated to Rafael Barragan Donan, a beloved Matilda Torres student-athlete who died in a crash in September. Fueled by the spirit of Donan, the Toros finished second in league this season and earned the No.1 seed in the playoffs. Now, they’re looking to add a section championship to their memorable season.

This is what head coach Mark Melchor said about his team’s performance this year and how they have overcome adversity. 

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1) You guys finished second in league and earned the No. 1 seed in the playoffs. How proud are you of what you guys have been able to accomplish and what do you think has been the key to your success?

Words cannot describe how proud I am of my boys. Their perseverance and dedication has gotten us to where we are now. I think the key to our success is our chemistry/brotherhood. Our tennis program is not just about being a team and having each other backs on the court, but having a brotherhood outside of all of that. All my boys get together on their own time and hang out and enjoy making memories with one another. That speaks volumes and shows when we are out there fighting for one another. Another key to our success is accountability, where a lot of my boys have stepped up in being a leader on and off the courts and being able to hold each other to a higher standard.

2) Do you have any particular moments that stand out for you from the season so far?

This may sound crazy, but the stand out moment would be when we lost to Madera High. Because after that loss, the boys held their head high and weren’t dwelling on it, but ready to find ways to improve in what they messed up in. They were just ready to get back to work and try to improve. Taking a loss is hard, but having your head high and being able to want to learn from, it is what has stood out for me as a coach. 

Another stand out moment is when we played Lemoore yesterday. I saw a fire in all of my boys that I have never seen. I have seniors that do not really be yelling on the court when they are playing and yesterday I heard alot of COME ONs and LETS GO. At one point, one of my seniors got really nervous and didn’t play well and lost, he tried leaving the court sad and all my boys were there to pick his head up and let him know that we still got it. Seeing that made me tear up, because they’re not letting anyone dwell on a loss, but to support one another through it all. 

We had our number 4 sit because he was sick, so we had one of our JV boys step up and have a few of the boys move up on the ladder and did not disappoint. Despite playing up, the boys made it happen and showed that it does not matter where you are at the ladder. Just work hard every point and you will get the results.

3) Looks like you guys are inspired by a special motto this year: “Our friendship and memories will live forever.” Can you tell us what that is all about and why it’s special for you guys?

The quote, “Our friendship and Memories Live Forever” is about one of our boys that passed away in October. His name was Rafeal Barragan Donan. This was a very tough time for our tennis family, the boys took this really hard, as well as myself. We couldn’t believe it, and were unsure of what to do about this situation. 

One thing we did was be there for one another and make sure that we were there for his family as well. His parents would always be at our games, so we made sure to comfort them, as well as one another during this tough time. The boys and I wanted to show that he was just more than a brother and player to us. He was family and we wanted to keep his story going, so we all came together with this quote and put it on the back of our jerseys. 

This quote shows everyone that he is always with us and we always pray before every game and talk about Rafa in it, so hopefully he can hear us in heaven and know that we are fighting, not just for our school, but for him as well. We printed out his photo for matches to stay motivated and to remind us of him during the game, because he would have been here with us and even playing in the varsity ladder, so we believe he deserves this as much as we do.

4) Looks like you guys have a special group of seniors this year. What can you say about the character they have shown on and off the court?

My seniors are amazing individuals on and off the court. They managed to carry themselves very highly with a lot of integrity and grace. You’ll see them on the court supporting one another trying to keep one another motivated but to hold them accountable, they are jokesters and have a great balance and understanding of when it’s time to goof off and have fun, but also when we need to lock in and push ourselves. I love these boys and knowing they’re about to leave and move on makes me sad every time I think about it.

Off the court, they are all brothers. They hangout on their own and enjoy each other’s company. One time I caught them riding their bikes in town, seeing them creating a friendship and memories is what to me coaching is all about, getting kiddos that probably wouldn’t have talked about if it was not for tennis. Off the courts my senior boys are really involved in other extracurricular activities such as the chruch, FBLA, HOSA and  sports outside of school. They are really involved in their community and try their best to give back.

Apr 29
0

Sierra Pacific Sophomore Ayden Bernat Shattering Records On The Track

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Sierra Pacific‘s Ayden Bernat is in the midst of a sensational sophomore season on the track. Bernat set a school record in the 100-meter race at the TCC Tri Meet on April 15, finishing with a time of 11.16. He then broke his own record a week later at the TCC 3-WAY Meet, posting a time of 11.10.

The sophomore set another school record at the Sanger Metric Classic on April 24 when he finished the 200-meter race with a time of 22.55.

This is what Bernat said about the recent performances of himself and the team.

1) You’re only a sophomore, but you’re already breaking multiple school records. Have you surprised yourself with how you have performed or is this what you expected from yourself going into your sophomore year?

Yes, I’ve surprised myself a lot, but I also kind of hoped to take a big step this year. Putting in the work year-round and going in with a more confident mindset and stronger both physically and mentally, so I came into the season ready to improve. Breaking records this early is definitely unexpected and what I’ve been working towards , but I know I can do more in the next few years.

2) You also set a school record in the 200-meter race. How proud are you of that achievement?

I’m really proud of that. The 200 is tough because it’s not just straight speed, you’ve got to finish strong too. So seeing all the work come together in that race felt really good. It just makes me want to keep dropping my time.

3) What were some of the goals you set for yourself going into the season and how do you feel about how you’re meeting your goals so far?

My goals were to improve my times, help my team in the relays and hoping to break some records along the way. I also wanted to stay consistent throughout the season. I feel like I’m doing an amazing job so far, but I’ve still got a lot more I’m aiming for, so I’m just trying to stay focused and humble.

4) You guys have set several records as a team. Why do you think you guys have been able to have so much success so far this season and what do you hope to see from your team for the rest of the season?

I think our success comes from how we push each other every day. Everyone’s locked in, and we’ve built good chemistry, especially in the relays. That trust makes a big difference. For the rest of the season, I just want us to keep improving, stay focused, and see how far we can go.

Apr 12
0

Lions sink Waterdogs in GCC Championship

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The Fresno State water polo team (15-10, 5-2 in GCC) failed to bring home hardware, losing 8-6 Loyola Marymount University (23-4, 7-0 in GCC) in the Golden Coast Conference Championship on Sunday, April 12 at the Fresno State Aquatic Center.

The Water ‘Dogs were led by the trio of Hailey Andress, Marit van der Kolk, and Riaan Bryant—combining for five of the ‘Dogs’ six total goals. However, it wasn’t enough to keep the Water ‘Dogs afloat, as they faltered in the second half of the matchup despite the two-point cushion heading into halftime. 

The Lions’ resurgence was spearheaded by their suffocating defense and the duo of Emison Styris Anna Tarantino, who helped the Lions outscore the Water ‘Dogs 6-2 in the second half. 

As the Lions continued to pepper the Water ‘Dogs’ goal, goalkeeper Katelyn Mobley recorded a stout 12 total saves, but the Lions’ swarming offense proved to be too much en route to the 8-6 Lion victory. 

As a result of their performance, Andress and Mobley earned All-Tournament nods.

With the win, the Lions are crowned back-to-back GCC champions and earn a bid to the NCAA Tournament. 

Story written by Vincent Ordonio (FSM).

Apr 08
0

Fresno Pro-Am launches show to spotlight culture, talent, and community

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In a region where sports thrive and athletes prosper, the Central Valley was missing one thing: an outlet for elite basketball competition in the summer, especially for athletes aspiring to play at the college or professional level or those who simply love the game. The Fresno Pro-Am changed that. 

Alton Williams, president and co-founder of the Fresno Pro-Am, launched the league along with co-founders Seth and Ryan Stanley in 2021, answering the call for high-level basketball the area and its local talent had long been eager for. 

As participants continued to showcase their talent each year and tailor their summers and offseason programs around the Fresno Pro-Am, it became clear to Williams that it was time to shift focus to getting eyes on the league, leading to the launch of the Fresno Pro-Am Show.

With the Fresno Pro-Am Show, Williams views the league’s extension as a storytelling avenue to elevate and share the culture of Central Valley basketball with a wider audience through full length episodes on YouTube and snippets shared across social media platforms.

“The mission of the show is to entertain, inform, and inspire people in communities through the power of engaging storytelling, that is the mission, so everything you see will be in alignment with that mission,” Williams said.

Often called show business, the sport of basketball has limitless story lines, from the overseas pro who can’t put the ball down to the first-year college player looking to make a name for himself. All of it will be front and center in the Fresno Pro-Am Show. 

And in the Central Valley, those kinds of stories aren’t rare, it’s all a part of the Valley’s identity. With homegrown talent like Jalen Green, Cedric Coward, Robin and Brook Lopez, along with diamonds in the rough from Fresno State like Derek Carr, Davante Adams, Aaron Judge, and Paul George, what’s stopping the Fresno Pro-Am from sharing the next big headline of the Central Valley?

“There’s so much people don’t know—especially those who don’t live in this region—and we want to reflect that. We want to deliver that to the world,” Williams said. “Basketball is a global sport, so we want to deliver this to the global community in a way that’s well received and in a way that’s digestible, relatable, and engaging.” 

Williams also emphasized the role of storytelling in driving fan engagement, noting that it remains a challenge across the broader basketball community. 

Williams localized the issue to Fresno State’s men’s basketball team and the school’s transition into the Pac-12.

With nuances like NIL (name, image, and likeness) and the transfer portal, it can be difficult for fans to connect with players as they explore new paths. And for a school with limited funds, like Fresno State, it can be challenging to attract high-level talent and compete with talented teams.

In order to sell tickets and get fans involved, Williams believes fans need personal ties with players.

“Fans have to understand who these young men are, and a lot of that revolves around storytelling and sharing their stories, their backgrounds, their interests, and showing how they’re relatable to fans,” Williams said.

Turning to the future, he extended these ideas to the Fresno Pro-Am, highlighting the league’s ongoing growth.

“There’s a big problem when it comes to telling stories in the basketball community that I’m interested in tackling,” Williams said. “I want to make sure for the next five years we build a much larger fanbase, and we build a large audience. I’m not even looking in our own backyard, when it comes to cultural storytelling, I want to share these stories with the world.”

The Fresno Pro-Am Show is set to launch this summer, with more details to come. 

Story and cover photo courtesy of Vincent Ordonio.

Dec 30
0

‘Dogs come up short despite big night from Jacques

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The Fresno State men’s basketball team (6-7) have yet to earn their first conference win in a 72-63 loss to Utah State University (11-1) on Dec. 30 at the Save Mart Center.

In a game that started off slow for the Bulldogs, guard Bastien Rieber was an immediate spark off the bench as well as throughout the game, a trend head Coach Vance Walberg sees everyday in practice.

“Even when you don’t play, I want you to understand you’re still valuable,” Walberg said. “There’s times when basketball players play three to six minutes, but every practice, [Rieber] still comes out and busts his tail.”

Another highlight for the Bulldogs was center Wilson Jacques, who recorded his sixth double-double of the season and extended his double-double streak to five straight games. 

Jacques made a living in the post, where he created most of his points, and crashed the boards on both ends of the floor—something Walberg values. 

“Wilson probably jumps that high, his heart’s this big,” Walberg said. “He’s a stud, he’s a force inside—it’s a big load for people to have to carry. We just got to get some more help around and knock a few more outside shots and I think we’ll open up the inside.”

Key players

Jake Heidbreder (FS): 21 points, 3 steals, 38 minutes.

Wilson Jacques (FS): 15 points, 12 rebounds, 1 steal.

MJ Collins Jr. (USU): 18 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals.

Mason Falslev (USU): 16 points, 8 rebounds, 4 steals.

What happened

The Aggies opened the game with a full-court press, which gave the Bulldogs fits on offense, causing five early turnovers and forcing the ‘Dogs into poor shot selection. The Aggies also used this intensity on offense, generating points off paint touches and kickouts to gain the early 16-8 lead.

10 minutes into the game, Rieber checked in and provided an immediate spark, forcing two turnovers and timely cuts to the basket. His effort was contagious as Jacques crashed the boards on both ends of the floor to help cut into the Aggies’ 18-13 lead.

But the Aggies continued to play through the number one scorer in the Mountain West, guard MJ Collins Jr. (20.1 ppg), who bloomed the Aggies lead to 35-26 heading into halftime. 

Through one half, Collins Jr. leads all scorers with 10 points followed by Rieber’s 8 points—the lone bench scorer for the Bulldogs. For the Aggies, they showed a well balanced two-way effort, with eight players contributing to the scoring column and five players contributing to the team’s nine steals. The Bulldogs were spearheaded by Rieber and his ability to get to the line, shooting five of the team’s nine free-throws. 

Aggies start the second half hot with the help of backcourt duo Collins Jr and Mason Falslev, but with some off-ball movement, the Bulldogs get some threes to fall from guards Jake Hiedbreder and Cameron Faas to cut the lead down to 48-40 six minutes into the quarter.

Despite the momentum and getting stops on defense, the Bulldogs struggled to capitalize on offense as they went five minutes without a made field goal—which was put to an end after a Heidbreder layup and a Jacques hook shot to trim the Aggies’ lead to 64-55.

Following the field goal drought, the Bulldogs made a late-game push led by the post play of Jacques—who was one of the lone shot-makers in the final minutes—but it wasn’t enough to halt the Aggies’ late game execution en route to their 72-63 win.

What’s next

The Bulldogs continue conference play at home against former Bulldog Elijah Price and the University of Nevada, Reno (9-3), which eliminated the ‘Dogs in the first round of the 2025 Mountain West Tournament, on Jan. 3 at 4 p.m.

Recap written by Vincent Ordonio, cover photo by Ryan Sepulveda (FSM).

Nov 12
0

UCSD stifles Bulldogs late comeback attempt

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The Fresno State men’s basketball team (2-2) falls to the University of California, San Diego (3-0) in a 78-73 loss on Wednesday evening. 

After making the game competitive halfway through the second half, and even taking a brief lead, the Bulldogs were unable to complete the 13 point comeback.

After a slow start, guard Zaon Collins helped the Bulldogs erase the 13 point deficit with his two-way performance, recording seven of his nine points and three of his four steals in the second half—something that head coach Vance Walberg wants to see more of.

“Zaon should be giving us 14, 15 points a game—six, seven, eight, assists a game—that’s what I expect from him, I think he’s that good.” Walberg said. “I just gotta find a way to open up a few more things for him.”

The Bulldogs also had strong play off the bench, with 33 of the 73 points coming from the second unit—with Mani contributing 21 points. 

Guard Bastien Rieber, despite it not showing up in the box score, made a big impact off the bench with his grit on both ends on the floor. 

“[Rieber] is going to give you everything he’s got everytime—he’s just a tough little son of a gun,” Walberg said.

Key stats

  • Zaon Collins (FS): 9 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists, 4 steals.
  • Jac Mani (FS): 21 points (8-9 fg, 2-3 3fg), 7 rebounds.
  • Leo Beath (UCSD): 22 points, 5-10 from three, 7 rebounds, 2 assists.
  • Tom Beattie (UCSD): 13 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists.

What happened

The Bulldogs open the game with a slow start on offense with four early turnovers, and the Tritons capitalize with an 11-5 lead six minutes into the game.

The Bulldogs respond with grit on both ends, chasing loose balls, and following a putback by Mani and a three-pointer from guard Bastien Rieber, the ‘Dogs now trail 11-10.

The grit continued to be on display, but after chasing a loose ball, guard Zaon Collins exited the game grabbing his left shoulder—but would come back a few possessions later donning tape.

While Collins was out, the guard Tom Beattie and the Tritons kept the Bulldogs’ defense honest, draining shots from beyond-the-arch and doing damage in the paint to add to their 19-16 lead 11 minutes into the first half. 

However, the Bulldogs’ second unit would provide a spark, led by Mani’s offense and Reiber’s spirit, who combined for 15 points. But, it wasn’t enough, as the Tritons continued to work the paint to go up 42-30 heading into halftime.

The second half was headlined by the performance from Collins on both ends of the floor. Collins scored nine points midway through the half, came away with three steals, and four assists to help tie the game 57-57. 

Mani also pitched in, scoring 10 points on 4-4 shooting from the field and 2-2 from three-point range midway through the half.

But, the play from Beattie and forward Leo Beath—who combined for 13 points—was enough to keep the Tritons afloat and battle through the Bulldogs’ barrage on offense to tie the game 62-62.

To close out the game, Beath continued his strong performance to help the Tritons pull away with the 

What’s next

The Bulldogs’ showcase of resilience in this game was something that Walberg values, and called it something to build on. 

“The beauty of what we have this year is we got guys that care and they want to get better,” Walberg said. “I think you’re going to see that progression.”

The Bulldogs continue their home stand as they look to bounce back against Utah Valley University on Nov. 15 at 7 p.m. at the Save Mart Center.

Story written by Vincent Ordonio, cover photo by Ryan Sepulveda (Fresno Sports Magazine)

Nov 03
0

‘Dogs earn first win in the “McCarthy Era”, beating FPU 87-38

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Fresno State women’s basketball earns their first win in the “McCarthy Era” against Fresno Pacific University, beating the Sunbirds 87-38 on Monday, Nov 3 at the Save Mart Center. 

The win was spearheaded by the Bulldogs’ suffocating defense, which resulted in 22 steals and  37 Sunbird turnovers. The ‘Dogs also got strong guard play from guards Dane Powell and Emilia Long, something head coach Ryan McCarthy valued. 

“The guards did a really good job—this is as offensively efficient as we’ve seen them,” McCarthy said. “Our biggest thing was taking care of the ball and not giving it to the other team.”

McCarthy also liked their effort on the defensive end, noting that’s going to be the expectation every night. 

“I thought we were really good defensively, we pretty much dominated—thats the expectation every night,” McCarthy said.

The Bulldogs’ effort on the court was another highlight of the game—whether it was on loose balls, offensive rebounds, or picking up full-court. 

“That’s the standard of this program, if you don’t get on the fifty-fifty’s you’re going to have a longer practice,” McCarthy said. “If we can’t win those, we can’t have “mayhem” on our shirts.”

Key stats

  • Danae Powell: 18 points (8-12),  3 assists, 4 steals.
  • Jaisa Gamble:18 points (8-12), 3 assists, 4 rebounds, 2 steals.
  • Emilia Long: 14 points (6-12), 5 assists, 4 rebounds, 4 steals.

What happened

To open the game, the Bulldogs showed an immediate full-court press upon tip-off and that effort was on display throughout the first quarter—diving on loose balls, resulting in 9 steals and 12 Sunbird turnovers

The Bulldogs also had the size advantage, and it showed on the boards, grabbing 19 rebounds and 8 offensive rebounds for seven second chance points to add to the ‘Dogs’ 21-6 first quarter.

The second quarter belonged to the Bulldogs, holding the Sunbirds to zero points (0-14) and seven second quarter turnovers. On top of that, the ‘Dogs also tested the paint defense of the Sunbirds, and passed, scoring 12 of their 21 second quarter points in the paint en route to their 42-6 lead heading into halftime. 

In the third quarter, momentum switched sides, with the Sunbirds finding some rhythm of their own. 

The Sunbirds outscored the Bulldogs 21-19, doing their damage in the paint (8 paint points) and on the defensive end as they came away with a blocked shot to go with their two steals. But the Sunbirds still found themselves in a 61-27 hole.

To close the game, the Bulldogs found their footing, with their five steals and Gamble scoring 14 of the ‘Dogs’ 12 points.

In the fourth quarter, Gamble found herself running the offense at times as she looked to make the right play. 

“I think I’m just looking for the advantage—the advantage means getting a step on the offense and getting into that domino effect where we can keep going at them,” Gamble said. 

What’s next

The Bulldogs are on the road as they take on California State University, Bakersfield on Friday, Nov. 7 at 6:30 p.m. They will return home to the Save Mart Center on Tuesday, Nov. 11, with tipoff at 6:30 p.m.

Recap by Vincent Ordonio (Fresno Sports Magazine)