Added confidence helps Cheyenne South's Josh Bustos start season strong
Dec. 15—CHEYENNE — Cheyenne South wrestling coach Jojo Ojeda saw a noticeable difference in the way Josh Bustos carried himself during the first few weeks of practice.
Ojeda chalked it up to Bustos gaining confidence from an offseason spent wrestling at the club level and attending wrestling camps. Ojeda also figured Bustos' change of demeanor had to do with him being a senior wanting to make the most of his final high school season.
The only question Ojeda had was whether Bustos could carry that into competition. The 106-pounder answered in resounding fashion.
Bustos won all four of his bouts at the season-opening Charlie Lake Duals by pin. He followed that by recording a pin to open the bracketed Charlie Lake Invitational the next day. Bustos notched an injury default win to advance to the semifinals.
He dropped his semifinal by major decision and lost the third-place bout 4-0.
While Bustos would have liked to pick up two more victories last weekend, he walked back into practice Monday knowing his offseason efforts were bearing fruit.
"I want to thank my coaches, teammates and everyone around me because they helped me do all of the little stuff outside the (wrestling) room people don't think helps, but does," Bustos said. "Things like going for runs after practice, going for runs on the weekends when you're tired and don't want to helps.
"It's all about wanting it more than the guy you're wrestling."
Desire has rarely been a question for Bustos. Confidence is another story, Ojeda said.
"In previous years, he was worried about where the kids he was wrestling sat in the ranking and that sort of thing," the coach said. "He'd count himself out before he even took the mat. This weekend, I didn't see him counting himself out. That makes a huge difference.
"You have to have the right mindset. If you put in the work and invest in your sport, the better you're going to carry yourself. You're going to be more confident in those matches. That's the way (Bustos) was."
Bustos will try to continue his hot start when the Bison wrestle at the Keith Kilker Memorial tournament starting today at Weld Central High in Keenesburg, Colorado.
Bustos went 7-14 and didn't qualify for the Class 4A state tournament during his freshman campaign. He was 6-20 as a sophomore, including an 0-2 mark at state. Bustos posted a 5-5 record and did not wrestle in the postseason as a junior, according to TrackWrestling.com.
Bustos admits to sometimes lacking confidence when he stepped on the mat. That wasn't the only thing he lacked against many of his foes. He also was on the light end of the 106-pound weight class. Bustos now tips the scales just north of 100 pounds, but that's still significantly less than most of his opponents, especially once wrestlers get a two-pound allowance after the new year.
"I was about 80 pounds my freshman year, but I was still out there giving it my all," he said. "I had to have the mentality of, 'You might be bigger than me, you might be stronger than me, but I'm still going to go out there and do my thing.'"
Bustos has overcome the weight disadvantage by getting better at technique, Ojeda said.
"He has to stay on his toes because it helps him move and makes him heavy, to some extent," the coach said. "If you get down on your knees, guys will pick you up and lift you because you're so light. You have to keep yourself in position and use it to your benefit."
Thus far this season, Bustos has learned how to harness the frenetic pace he used to wrestle with. Rushing to make things happen frequently resulted in Bustos being in bad positions.
"I used to be too aggressive," Bustos said. "I know if I make the first move I'll win matches nine times out of 10, but I've learned not to force anything.
"I'd rather give up one (point for an escape) than give up a reversal or pin."
On the mat
South's girls will compete at the Columbine Invitational on Saturday in Littleton, Colorado.
Cheyenne Central's girls and boys and Cheyenne East's girls are at the Northern Colorado Christmas Tournament today and Saturday in Greeley, Colorado.
East's varsity boys will take part in the Flatwater Fracas dual tournament today and Saturday in Grand Island, Nebraska. East's junior varsity boys square off with Burns-Pine Bluffs tonight.
In the pool
Central and East's boys swimming and diving teams compete at Kelly Walsh today and Saturday in Casper. South's boys host Newcastle today and Saturday.
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Jeremiah Johnke is the WyoSports editor. He can be reached at jjohnke@wyosports.net or 307-633-3137. Follow him on X at @jjohnke.