The Western State Conference Relays opened the season for most of the circuit's teams at Antelope Valley College in Lancaster last Friday.  The non-scoring meet featured several non-championship races, including seven relays of various lengths, and only three individual running events, which were paired with four field and four throwing events. 

The Cougars performed well against their first competition and boasted five Top 3 finishes among the individual competitors. Returning Freshman Evan Schweitzer won the shortest individual race, when he cleared the course in :23.64 to win the 200-meters.  Cuesta Record Holder Gabriel Katches claimed another event title for the Cougars with a toss of 178-2 in the Discus.  It was about ten feet off his record mark, but an excellent throw for the initial meet of the season.  Katches decided to sit out the Shot Put, where he ranks 7th all time at Cuesta, but only one thrower was within ten feet of his best.  The Cougars also received a pair of runner-up performances in the field events.  Returning Freshman Thomas Rodda finished 2nd in the Triple Jump (40' 10.5"), while True Freshman Dean Dodge cleared 11-11.75 and was 2nd in the Pole Vault.  Rodda cleared 44' 0.75" last year and ranks 9th all time in the event at Cuesta, while Dodge need to clear more than 16-feet to reach the hallowed reaches of Cuesta's Pole Vault Top 10, which includes four State Champions.  Returning Freshman John Martinek earned the Bronze in the Hammer with a career-best throw of 126-10. 

The Cougars compete in the 2022 Western State Conference North Meet this Friday (Noon) in Bakersfield.  The 15-team WSC splits itself twice during the season.  Cuesta and half of the circuit will compete in the WSC North Meet, while the other half competes in the WSC South Meet.  The WSC will split along the lines of longitude in April, when Cuesta will host half the loop for the WSC Coast Meet.