Women's Wrestling Starts First Official Season

Mar 1, 2023 —

On Thursday, March 2, the FCC Rams will participate in their first-ever women’s wrestling match as women’s wrestling officially begins in California Community Colleges. The Rams, competing in the Big Eight Conference, will face Sacramento City College at 6:00 p.m. in the FCC Gym. The FCC team consists of 14 wrestlers, all freshman and almost all from valley high schools.

Head Coach Paul Keysaw and Assistant Coach Gracie Figueroa are ready for this historic competition. “This match has been years in the making. Fresno City College is proud to be the first college in the central valley to sponsor a collegiate women’s wrestling program. We look forward to an exciting first year,” said Coach Keysaw.

Fresno City College is one of 12 community college women’s wrestling teams in the state. They are Fresno City College, Sacramento City, Lassen, Santa Rosa, Mt. San Antonio, Cerritos, Palomar, Moorpark, East Los Angeles, Santa Ana, Cuesta and Bakersfield. College of the Redwoods will begin in 2023-24.

Figueroa was tapped in the fall to help recruit the inaugural team. Figueroa, a star wrestler from Selma High School, won four state titles before going to Menlo College where she was also a champion wrestler.

Fresno City College will also host the State Duals on March 11 from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. in the FCC Gym. All 12 teams in the state are expected to participate.

2022-23 FCC Womens Wrestling Roster
Kemaryia Anderson McLane High School
Kenya Atrisco Windsor High School, Ca.
Horizon A. Botello Central High School
Daniela Campa Firebaugh High School
Jacqueline Duarte Firebaugh High School
Jasmine Estrada Buchanan High School
Evelyn Garcia-Escobedo Sanger High School
Janitza Lopez-Valle Madera South High School
Vanessa Mares Selma High School
Elena D. Pasqual Central High School
Ashley Paz Selma High School
Elizabeth Rojas Ramos Madera South High School
Anika Schneider Sanger High School
Aliya Smithson Bressel Sierra High School