Fresno State Bulldoggers hoping for another season on top

The Bulldoggers are back and they are ready for another year.

The Fresno State Rodeo Team made headlines last season when freshman Brittany Dias led the team to a tenth place finish, which is their highest-ever place in the College National Finals.

Dias won reserve and was named Rookie of the Year.

“It was a little overwhelming I’d say coming in as a freshman but I kinda just took it just like every other rodeo,” Dias says. I’m not going to put a lot of pressure on myself. I’m just going to enjoy it, hang out with my friends.”

Teammate Rial Engelhart knew Dias would do well at Nationals.

“It was no surprise because she is just a stud like that and does work all the time,” Engelhart says. “So it was just very exciting to hear our team on the map.”

Dias hopes to top that performance this year.

“I’d like to go back to the college National Finals Rodeo, hopefully leading the region like I was last year,” Dias says. “Hopefully, I’ll come in and I’d like to take that National title.”

But Dias does not do it alone.

“The relationship I have with my teammates, I have with my horse, if not more,” Dias says.

She says her horse Bo is more than just an animal — he is family.

Coach Tony Branquino has been a positive help for Dias and the team as they start a new year.

“My expectations are huge every year,” Branquino says. “I hope to win the region, to come away with women’s all around champion, win every event championship, go to Nationals and walk away as a National Champion Women’s team.”

Branquino hopes this will be a great year for the Fresno State rodeo team.

“To get to Nationals this year, I hope to just do exactly what I did last year, practicing with the team, practicing as often as I can, as much as I can, without putting a whole lot of stress on myself and doing it with God by my side.”