Joe Dansby was honored as an inductee to the California Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame on October 24.
Joe is one of the most accomplished members of the Cuesta staff. He was a two-time NCAA Qualifier on his way to receiving his Bachelor of Science Degree in Physical Education from Cal Poly SLO. While at Cal Poly he was named the 1994 Physical Education Major of the Year. He continued his wrestling career as a three-time Olympic Trial Qualifier and a member of the US National Team. In 1997, he earned his Master's Degree from Cal Poly SLO in Kinesiology.
Joe coached at Cal Poly SLO as an assistant from 1994 to 1997, when he moved to Palma High. He joined the Cuesta Coaching Staff in 2001 and has continued teaching fulltime at nearby Mesa Middle School. Joe has also served as the National Freestyle and Greco–Roman California National Team Coach in 2000.
Joe began his tenure at Cuesta without much time to recruit, but still pieced together a squad that finished third in the Western State Conference and 17th at the State Championships in his first year. Within two years Joe had led the Cougars to second place at the 2003 State Championships.
The NWHOF was created to honor individuals throughout the United States who should be recognized for their many years of involvement an dedication to the sport of wrestling. State chapters were organized to achieve this goal.
The Board of Governors of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum established the State Chapter program in 1988. The purpose is to pay tribute to those coaches, officials and contributors who represent the best qualities of what the sport of wrestling has to offer and who share those characteristics with young people day in and day out.
