Cuesta Wrestling sent nine grapplers to the 2025 3C2A Championships and claimed 8th place overall, while boasting four place winners, including 3C2A Wrestler of the Year Preston Scharf (pict).  Two-Time All American Preston Scharf (165) became the Cougars' 9th State Champion since the program began in 1965-66. Sophomore Grant Eklund (157) also earned All American Honors, while Kodie Cooks (174) and Kaden Pryor (149), 5th and 7th, respectively, also placed in the event.  On the day, the Cuesta "Ninesome" posted a combined 17-15 record, while competing in eight of the ten divisions.  Prior to the State meet, the Cougars set a new program standard by breaking the 2014 teams record of 297 victories in a season.  The 2025 team's new mark stands at 319 individual victories.  

Scharf's title was the first for the Cougars since All American Alex Garcia (174) won a title in 2016.  A two-time All American, Scharf is also the first wrestler and ninth Cuesta athlete to be accorded 3C2A State Athlete of the Year Honors.  Scharf blew through the competition winning his four matches by a combined 56-15, including a 7-0 shutout in the title match.  He finished the season with a 35-3 record, while moving into 3rd place on the Cougars' single season win list and 2nd on the career win list (63).  His winning percentage of 92.1% this season landed him the 4th spot on the Cougars list, while knocking his freshman mark (90.3) down to sixth all time.  The combination of those two campaigns has him ranked 2nd all-time at Cuesta with 63 career wins and #1 all-time with a career 90.3 winning percentage.  

Eklund, who just missed All American status with a 5th place finish in 2024, went straight through his opponents on the way to the title bout.  He won his first three matches, while allowing on three points, before losing the title match, Mt SAC's Maxximus Martinez.  Eklund, like Scharf, wrestled his way onto the Cougars' all-time leader board.  After setting Cuesta's single season win record (37) as a freshman, Eklund bounced back with a 30-4 record this season and set the Cougars' career mark with 67 career victories.  He also sidled up to to his teammate, Preston Scharf, and ranks 2nd on the Cougars' career winning-percentage list at 85.9

Former Atascadero Greyhounds, Sophomore Kodie Cooks and Freshman Kaden Pryor also placed at State.  Cooks finished one spot away from all-American with a 3-2 record and 5th place at 174.  Pryor earned 7th at 149.  He opened the day with a big win, 11-0, but was sent to the consolation bracket after his second match.  He battled back through the consolation bracket, while also posting a 3-2 record on the day.   

Sophomores Dom Marquez (133) and Marshall Beecham (165), who shared a division with Scharf for two seasons, did not place at the State Meet, but did join Scharf and Eklund on the Cougars' all-time lists.  Marquez, who boasted a 30-13 record, which left him one win short of the Cougars' Top 10 for a season.  However, he did win a SouthEast Conference title and a SoCal Regional Bronze, before finishing his career ranked #4th on the all-time win list with 58 career victories.  Beecham, who battled with Scharf for two seasons at 165, also earned the All-SEC on his way to the State Meet.  His 51 career victories rank 7th all time.  2024 All American Chance Evans also earned a place on the Cougars' leader boards, despite having to battle all season through a wrist injury.  Evans was the 2024 State Runner-up, won his first match at State, before losing to the eventual Champion and bowing out of the competition.  Despite competing one-handed for most of the season, Evans posted a 15-4 record, while finishing 2nd in the SouthEast Conference and 3rd at the 2025 SoCal Regional.  Evans, despite the setbacks, also earned a spot on the Cougars career record board.  His 44-11 overall record left him three wins short of the Top 10 for victories; however, his 80.0% winning percentage earned him in a tie with former All-American Jake Shields for the 4th spot all-time. 

 

Preston Scharf (165)         4-0   1^st                       

Grant Eklund (157)           3-1   2^nd       

Kodie Cooks (174)             3-2   5^th

Kaden Pryor (149)             3-2   7^th

Dom Marquez (133)          1-2   DNP

Marshall Beecham (165)    1-2   DNP

Drew Croft (184)              1-2   DNP