Cuesta College athletics delivered a strong postseason showing across multiple sports, from record-breaking performances in the pool, conference runner-up finishes on the track, and a baseball team that extended its playoff streak to seven straight seasons. The Cougars baseball team has been eliminated from the postseason and will begin preparing for next season.
Swim and Dive
The Cuesta Cougars competed in the 77th Annual CCCAA Championships, highlighted by a standout performance from sophomore Grant Huston. Huston led all swimmers as the top overall scorer, capturing four golds and one silver, while setting multiple program records. He broke marks in the 400 IM (3:45.47), 200 freestyle (1:35.76), 200 IM (1:44.88) and 100 freestyle (43.97), Huston finished as the meet’s top scorer with 60 points. Sophomore teammate Brady Lind also contributed to the Cougars’ success, earning a top-10 finish and adding team points. Cuesta finished fifth overall with 280 points behind Sierra, Mt. SAC, American River, and Riverside.
Track and Field
Cuesta’s women’s team finished second at the 2026 Western State Conference Championships. Individually, the women claimed four event titles over the weekend, led by returning all-state sophomore Kiera Taylor, who won two. Taylor led a Cuesta sweep of throwing events at the WSC Championships. Taylor took the title in both the discus and hammer, while fellow sophomore Kristy Huynh and freshman Bella Teresi claimed the javelin and shot put. Huynh made a big impact, placing second in high jump, third in long jump, and sixth in triple jump. Freshman Riley Passanisi followed closely, adding a second-place finish in the 200 hurdles.On the track, contributions from Passanisi and sophomore Samatha Duran in the hurdles, and a standout performance in the distance by freshman Rebekah Waterbury kept them in contention for the WSC title. The Cougars will now advance and prepare for regionals.
Meanwhile, the Men’s Track and Field team finished second at the 2026 Western State Conference Championships. Individually, the men claimed five events over the weekend and were led by Sophomore Harrier Anthony Frere, who took the title in both the 800- and 1,500-meter runs. Frere’s double-victory came alongside his teammate and defending 3C2A Champion Weston Greenelsh, who finished second in the metric mile, then later claimed another title on the track by winning the 5000-meters. The men’s team also received a pair of titles from their flyers, freshman Matthew Taylor and freshman Zayne Ellison. Taylor soared to the top of the podium by clearing a season-high 13-7.25 in the pole, while Eillison joined Taylor as the WSC Champion in the long jump, before taking fourth in the triple jump. Sophomore Alexander Oldham placed third in high jump with a season best of 6′ 2.25, and took fourth in the 400 hurdles.
Baseball (20-22)
Cuesta baseball qualified for the 3C2A Regional Playoffs for the seventh straight season. The Cougars have only missed the postseason four times since 1990. The Cougars did not have to travel far for the postseason because, in a rare circumstance, the Cougars spent the weekend in nearby Santa Maria, joining local rival Allan Hancock and Grossmont for a three-day, double-elimination playoff series. In game one against Grossmont, Cuesta lost 8-7. Freshman Gavin Colombo led the charge for Cuesta, going 2-4 with two RBI’s, while sophomore Jax Sinclair delivered a strong performance with two doubles, an RBI and a stolen base. Cuesta totaled 10 hits with seven different players driving in runs. On the mound, Sophomore Brady Rea was able to strike out five over four innings, and freshman relief pitcher Zac Savino struck out two in four innings, while also allowing zero earned runs. Cuesta pitchers allowed nine walks, which helped Grossmont score late.
In game two of the double-elimination playoff series, Cuesta took on rival Allan Hancock. Once again, freshman Gavin Colombo led Cuesta at the plate, going 1-4 with a double and two RBI’s, accounting for almost all of Cuesta’s runs. Sophomore catcher Jack Gradel also added a strong performance at the plate and behind the plate, going 2-4 with an RBI and contributing defensively. Cuesta collected eight hits, but a four-run sixth inning by Allan Hancock made the difference in this game, 7-3 Allan Hancock.
