Cuesta Wrestling hosts the 2021 CCCAA Southern California Regional Meet this Saturday on December 3. The Cougars are used to hosting big wrestling events and this shall be another action packed event. Cuesta hosted its annual Meathead Mover Invitational three weeks ago and also host the CCCAA Regional Meet in 2016, as well as the 2014 CCCAA State Meet. San Luis Obispo and Cuesta College has become a favorite venue for CCCAA Wrestling events, but is not yet the permanant championship site. The Cougars are ranked #13 in the state and are led 5th-ranked Humphrey Quirie (Tuolumne) at 165.
Last week: The Cougars took last week off to prepare for the 2021 CCCAA Regional Wrestling Championships.
Notes: Below is breakdown of the expected Cougars' Line-up.
125- Freshman Jonathan Gallardo (Nipomo: Central Coast New Tech) is 2-2 at 125 and 3-2 overall on the season.
133- No Entry
141- Freshman Sammy Benitez (Santa Maria HS) is a former All-CIF Wrestler for the Santa Maria. He is 2-4 at 141 this year.
149- Sophomore Jacob Yamaguchi (Kapolei HS, HI) a two-time All-State (Hawaii) at Kapolei HS, He earned all-SEC Honorable Mention in 2019, while posting a 14-10 record. He is 11-9 at 141 and 12-10 overall this season.
157- 2021 All-SEC Second Teamer Sami Barakat (Danville) and All-SEC Honorable Mention Kai Schaefer (Placerville) are expected in this division. Barakat began the season at 174 is 7-8 on the season, including 5-7 at 157. Schaefer, a 2019 State Qualifier, earned all-SEC honors this year. His is 9-7 on the year, including 3-3 at 165. Freshman Jacob Miller (Morro Bay HS) may also join. Miller is 5-9 over three weights, including 2-5 at 157.
165- #5 Humphrey Quirie (Tuolumne) and 2021 SEC-Runner-up Gabe Carrillo (Simi Valley) are both State Finals contenders. Quirie earned 7th place at the 2018 State Championship and is currently ranked 5th in the State. He is the SEC Champion at their weight and boasts a team-high 15 wins on the year. He is 15-6 at three weights, including 8-1 at 165. Carrillo, a highly regarded freshman, has wrestled as high at 197 this season and is 12-10 across four divisions, but his mark of 7-5 at 165 is his best.
174- 2021 All-SEC Second Teamer Nicolas Banas (San Jose) has worked his way up to this division. He was the 2021 SEC Runner-up and is 4-3 at this weight, but only 7-7 on the season, including seven matches at 165. Banas wrestled at Northeastern Junior College in Colorado in 2018-19.
184- 2021 All-SEC Second Teamer Quinn Patrick (Sacramento) is 10-9 on the season. Patrick is a wrestler on the rise. He was the SEC Runner-up in this division and won a title at The Brawl Tournament two weeks ago.
197- Freshman JT Forbes (San Jose) is 1-10 on the year over three weight classes.
285- Freshman Carson Brander (Carrizo Plains: Atascadero HS) is 2-15 this season.
