The Sunbirds Sports Show with Paul Meadors

Host Paul Meadors isn’t joined by any student-athletes this week, but has two fantastic guests join him in the ESPN Studios.  First up is FPU’s first-ever head coach of STUNT, Alyssa Troutt, and she’s followed by KSEE24/CBS47 Sports Director and voice of Sunbirds hoops, Scott Bemis.

STUNT is one of the fastest growing sports in America, and Alyssa is here to school Paul and the entire audience on the ins and outs of this brand-new program at FPU that will begin competing in 2025/26.  It’s exciting what Coach Alyssa has in store!

Then Scott drops by to talk about his first season broadcasting FPU men’s and women’s basketball on 790 ESPN and the PacWest Network – often with Paul on the co-commentary – and to preview the FPU Women’s PacWest Tournament first round game on Thursday.

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Host Paul Meadors is back in the ESPN Studios and he’s joined by men’s basketball head coach C.J. Haydock and his stellar senior class: Australian Ryan Abbott, Fresno’s Jonah Geron and Ryas Vang, and grad transfer Cooper Sheldon.

It’s been a wild season for men’s hoops and Coach Haydock and the boys will break it all down.  Paul also recounts a very special night for the FPU men that turned out to be one of the most memorable games of the season.

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This week, FPU’s resident broadcaster Eric Bentley fills in for host Paul Meadors who is covering central valley high school hoops playoffs.  Joining Eric in the ESPN Studios is head coach Robert Foster and members of the Track & Field team: senior Bo Olsen, juniors Shemar Palmer and Jackson Paramo, and freshman Gianna Menchu.

This speedy crew of sprinters, hurdlers, vaulters, and marathon runners from the nationally-recognized Sunbirds team share their journeys to FPU.  Coach Foster and Shemar – both from Jamaica – and locals Jackson, Bo, and Gianna talk everything from breaking school records to the grueling and punishing training they go through to compete with the nation’s finest.

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We’re back in the pool this week as Women’s Water Polo join host Paul Meadors at the ESPN Studios.  Coach Brian Suhovy is joined by two sets of sisters – senior Tatum Benson and freshman Frances Benson, junior Maggie Cook and sophomore Emma Cook.

It’s a fascinating look into their childhoods, families, and their unique bonds now as teammates that unite them at FPU.  As children of FPU alums, Clovis-natives Emma and Maggie discuss their similarities and differences.  For Tatum – FPU’s all-time leading scorer and senior leader – and Frances – a freshman looking to write her own chapter at FPU, it’s going to be an exciting season for the Benson family.  Plus, coach Bryan talks about the future of FPU Water Polo and some big changes coming to the program.

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FPU Tennis goes back-to-back on the Sunbirds Sports Show, with the Women’s team up this week.  Head coach Sam Gaeddert is back in the ESPN Studios with senior Daimy Paula, junior Malia Mitchell, and sophomore Halle Faherty.

Like the Men’s team, the FPU Women come from all over the world to play their tennis in Fresno.  Hear from two internationals as Daimy – from The Netherlands – and Halle – from New Zealand – discuss some of the unique differences from abroad, and SoCal-native Malia describes how FPU went from being an unknown to her new home.

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Host Paul Meadors is joined in the ESPN Studios this week by FPU Men’s Tennis: head coach Sam Gaeddert and seniors Ravi Nelson and Ben Cronau, along with co-host and senior Pablo Zubieta who is back on the show as a guest.

Coach Sam previews the new season that begins later this week and his high hopes for the year.  With the entire team from last year all returning, it could be a big year on the court in PacWest conference play.  Then, Sacramento-native Ravi is joined by Ben – from Germany – and Pablo – from Mexico City – to talk about their very international roster, culture shock, settling into life in Fresno, and what’s next after graduation.

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This week, host Paul Meadors sits down with FPU baseball head coach Oscar Hirschkorn and seniors Tim Ruiz, Jordan Smith and Connor Semone.

Hardball season is about to begin and the team’s outlook is sky high ahead of the opening of FPU’s brand-new Dan Martin Stadium complex.  Coach Oscar – FPU’s only baseball head coach in program history – talks about the new stadium and what it means to him and the program, and then pitchers Tim and Connor, and catcher Jordan – the 2023 PacWest Defender of the Year – talk about their different and unique journeys that led them to the FPU Diamond and what they are most excited about this year at the new stadium.

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With Christmas just around the corner, Women’s soccer is back in the ESPN Studios.  Host Paul Meadors welcomes in associate head coach Roberto Hernandez, plus juniors Karyssa Lopez, Karyme Hernandez, Paige Smith and sophomore Cadence Cunha.

Coach Roberto’s first season leading the women’s team saw many signs of progress for t he program, and the four local players talk about their roles on the team and what the season meant to them.  They also share their favorite moments from the season and what they’re most excited about for Christmas.

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Head coach Tim Beauregard and associate head coach Santino Reynolds join host Paul Meadors this week in the ESPN Studios.

From talking MJ to the Warriors to Shaq, FPU women’s hoops’ geek out on basketball with Paul while discussing their coaching styles and reviewing the season so far.  With the holidays coming up, Tim and Tino get fired up talking Christmas movies, breaking down their favorite post-game food spots while on the road, recruitment methods, and speaking on their many players and alumni who’ve been shaped by their time as Sunbirds.

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It’s a special episode of the Sunbirds Sports Show, as legendary Valley soccer figure and FPU Director of Soccer Jaime Ramirez sits down with host Paul Meadors.  The Fresno Athletic Hall of Famer and lifelong Sunbird began his FPU career as a player in 1977 and has spent over 40 years leading multiple generations of Sunbirds soccer.  In addition to numerous conference crowns and Coach of the Year honors, the FPU soccer field was renamed in his honor in 2001.  This is a captivating view into the mind of one of California’s most revered soccer leaders.

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