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 – Ten area girls are headed to the the sixth annual Girls State Meete in Visalia, which gets under way today and Saturday at the Visalia Convention Center.

The area contingent is led by Los Banos senior Jalynne Hooker, who won the 235-pound division last week.

Also qualifying for state are Atwater’s Courtney Juarez (170), Pacheco’s Geralene Pomele (143), Los Banos’ Haley Ballez (106), Pacheco’s Ashlan Molina (189), El Capitan’s Adreyana Wickard (111), Buhach Colony’s Serena Rayon (160) and Livingston’s Cynthia Perez (160). Pacheco’s Miranda Lamela (121, sixth) will go as an alternate.

Dos Palos’ Arianna Marrufo became the Broncos’ first ever girls state qualifier at 108 in the Central Section.

This story was originally published February 25, 2016 at 2:02 PM with the headline "Veteran wrestling official and ex-champion prepares for Masters."