Veteran wrestling official and ex-champion prepares for Masters
Adam Cuestas, a low-slung 5-foot-2, circles the wrestlers on the mat as he inspects the action, and there’s no doubt who’s in charge.
He’s worked as a wrestling official for 27 years and figures he’s presided over thousands of matches. Each weekend, Cuestas is there at a tournament, and there’s nowhere else he’d rather be.
“This is the closest I can get to it,” he said. “It’s the best seat in the house.”
Cuestas, 55, projects authority with each call. He’s been there and done that. He was a state champion for Merced High in 1977 and ’78 and later an NCAA champion at Cal State Bakersfield.
He’ll be there, as always, at the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters on Friday and Saturday at Stockton Arena. The teenage wrestlers may or may not realize that Cuestas, the man making the calls alongside them, knows exactly what they’re thinking. In fact, he may know what they do before it happens.
“Our Section Masters is larger than 95 percent of the state meets in the nation,” Cuestas said with a trace of pride. “I lost seven matches out of 160 in high school. I still remember the losses, the guys who beat me and the score. The wins are great, but the losses show your character.”
In 1977, Adam and brother Dan became the first brothers to win state titles at the same meet. Since then, it’s been done 15 times. Adam understands the importance of wrestling to his life and the role it has played.
“I wasn’t tall enough for basketball. I didn’t have the power to hit a baseball. I never did like running,” he said. “Wrestling is for the little guy.”
Cuestas identifies with the me-vs.-you of his favorite sport and, without question, recognizes the importance of this weekend’s competition. The top six in each weight class will advance to the state meet March 5-6 at Bakersfield’s Rabobank Arena.
“This is the time of year,” he said, “where you have to push it up a couple of notches.”
Girls State Meet – Enochs’ “Fab Four,” the quartet that carried the Eagles to an unlikely state girls team title last year, will return to Visalia on Friday and Saturday to defend their championship at the sixth annual Girls State Meet.
The foursome – senior and 2015 individual state champion Sariyah Jones (106), junior Micaela Kent (101), sophomore Rory Coscia (116) and sophomore Katrina Guevara (139) – led Enochs to a third-place finish last week at Section Masters. That matched their third-place finish a year ago.
Then they shocked observers by totaling 81 points at state to edge Northview with 79 and third-place James Logan with 76. One year later, they’re once again underdogs at the Visalia Convention Center.
“Our chances are about the same as they were last year,” Enochs coach Duane Brooks said. “Last year was a pleasant surprise. We’re hoping the girls place high and go from there.”
Among other Stanislaus District qualifiers are Masters champions Molly Wallace of Orestimba (143) and Jalynne Hooker of Los Banos (235).
Our chances are about the same as they were last year. Last year was a pleasant surprise. We’re hoping the girls place high and go from there.
Enochs coach Duane Brooks
Prep Wrestler of the Week – Guevara (22-1) went 4-0 en route to the 137 Masters title last week via three consecutive pins and a 3-2 decision over Kaliegh Burrage of Del Oro in the final. Guevara missed the season’s first half because of a broken hand.
Notes – All three of Gregori’s Villavicencio brothers – Mike (145), Aiden (138) and Ethan (132) – qualified for Masters. ... Elk Grove will send 14 to Masters and is favored for team honors. Other contenders figure to be Del Oro, Ponderosa, Vacaville and Benicia. Oakdale, with seven wrestlers (seven of them divisional champions), also could be a factor.
Ron Agostini: 209-578-2302, @ModBeeSports
This story was originally published February 24, 2016 at 5:42 PM with the headline "Veteran wrestling official and ex-champion prepares for Masters."