Colorado State University Athletics
Fight Like a Ram Returns Saturday
2/5/2026 8:09:00 AM | Men's Basketball
CSU Athletics and UCHealth continue partnership in fight against cancer
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – The impactful Fight Like a Ram program returns for the seventh year with the Colorado State men's basketball program on Saturday, when they host San Jose State at 7 p.m.
In partnership with UCHealth and Colorado State Athletics, the men's basketball program will celebrate 14 cancer warriors and their journey in battling cancer.
"The Fight Like a Ram program is such a special initiative we started here at Colorado State. It brings us closer to our community and allows us to celebrate the incredible Cancer Warriors each year," head coach Ali Farokhmanesh said. "I look forward to this initiative every year and the impact it has on our program."
The program assigns a cancer warrior to each player on the team, who, instead of their name on their jersey, will wear the warriors on Saturday.
Along with the jerseys, the program also includes personalized letters, a meet and greet practice, a hospital visit to the local cancer center and a pregame talk from Coach Farokhmanesh.
This program has forged bonds beyond players' times at CSU. Most recently, CSU alum and current Sacramento King Nique Clifford reconnected with one of his cancer warriors, Jennifer Hord, when he was in Denver earlier this season.
This year's cancer warrior pairings are:
#0 – Carey Booth | Brandon Aguilar
#1 – Josh Pascarelli | Richard Armentrout
#2 – Brandon Rechsteiner | Stacey Avalos
#3 – Darnez Slater | Kenneth Brown
#4 – Jase Butler | Frank Heine
#5 – Jon Mekonnen | Anthony Jansa
#8 – Jojo McIver | Alicia Jones
#11 – Augustinas Kiudulas | Jason Kuster
#21 – Rashaan Mbemba | Brent Page
#23 – Nikola Djapa | LeeAnn Prodoccini
#30 – Charlie Dortch | Dan Smeak
#35 – Kyle Jorgensen | Holly Thompson
#41 – Docker Tedeschi | Robin Trujillo-Maestas
#55 – Jevin Muniz | Jessica Winter
In partnership with UCHealth and Colorado State Athletics, the men's basketball program will celebrate 14 cancer warriors and their journey in battling cancer.
"The Fight Like a Ram program is such a special initiative we started here at Colorado State. It brings us closer to our community and allows us to celebrate the incredible Cancer Warriors each year," head coach Ali Farokhmanesh said. "I look forward to this initiative every year and the impact it has on our program."
The program assigns a cancer warrior to each player on the team, who, instead of their name on their jersey, will wear the warriors on Saturday.
Along with the jerseys, the program also includes personalized letters, a meet and greet practice, a hospital visit to the local cancer center and a pregame talk from Coach Farokhmanesh.
This program has forged bonds beyond players' times at CSU. Most recently, CSU alum and current Sacramento King Nique Clifford reconnected with one of his cancer warriors, Jennifer Hord, when he was in Denver earlier this season.
This year's cancer warrior pairings are:
#0 – Carey Booth | Brandon Aguilar
#1 – Josh Pascarelli | Richard Armentrout
#2 – Brandon Rechsteiner | Stacey Avalos
#3 – Darnez Slater | Kenneth Brown
#4 – Jase Butler | Frank Heine
#5 – Jon Mekonnen | Anthony Jansa
#8 – Jojo McIver | Alicia Jones
#11 – Augustinas Kiudulas | Jason Kuster
#21 – Rashaan Mbemba | Brent Page
#23 – Nikola Djapa | LeeAnn Prodoccini
#30 – Charlie Dortch | Dan Smeak
#35 – Kyle Jorgensen | Holly Thompson
#41 – Docker Tedeschi | Robin Trujillo-Maestas
#55 – Jevin Muniz | Jessica Winter
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/ Men's BasketballColorado State Basketball (M): Ali Farokhmanesh Post Game (Wyoming)
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Colorado State Basketball (M): Kyle Jorgensen Post Game (Wyoming)
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Colorado State Basketball (M): Ali Farokhmanesh Post Game (Utah State)
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Colorado State Basketball (M): Josh Pascarelli (L) & Kyle Jorgensen (R) Post Game (Utah State)
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