Update: Unique Training Prepares Tesoro Senior for State Wrestling Finals

(Updated at 11:59 p.m., March 4: Tesoro wrestler Tyler Adams won his first-round match, 5-1, over junior Josh Miranda of Poway but then lost to junior Martin Ramirez of El Grove, 17-2, and to Ty Stevenson of McKinleyville, 2-1, on Friday at the CIF State Wrestling Championships at Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield. To follow the state meet, click on this link and go to bottom of the list.)

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Determination, a love for the sport and a unique workout plan have helped prepare Tesoro High senior Tyler Adams to take on the competition this weekend in the CIF State Wrestling Championships at Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield.

Already this season, Adams, competing at 119 pounds, has won the Sea View League title, finished second at the Southern Section division individuals and placed fourth at the Masters Meet. Next stop: a state title.

“My goal is to win it,” Adams said of the ultimate prize. “It takes a lot of dedication, hard work and a good routine to become a champion.”

Adams' routine consists of two hours of group practice followed by high-level yoga exercises three or four times a week under the guidance of Tesoro coach Ken Workman.  The addition of yoga to Adams' training regiment has contributed tremendously to his success, according to the master and student.

 “Yoga is great for overall maintenance,” Workman said. “It builds muscular strength, muscular endurance and helps control breathing, which are very important in wrestling.”

Added Adams: “The yoga workouts really keep you in shape.  They help with flexibility and help me keep my weight down. It’s taken my wrestling to another level.”

But the addition of yoga to his training, in and of itself, is not enough to make a good wrester great.  There are many crucial intangibles necessary for winning at this demanding sport.

“He’s a smart kid," Workman said of Adams. "He’s a great studen, both academically and in the sport of wrestling. He is scrappy, disciplined and tough.”

Workman, in his 10th season as wrestling coach at Tesoro, has watched Adams' steady growth in the sport over the past four years. He improved on last year's third-place finish in the section division individuals and fourt-place finish at Masters. 

Early this season Adams suffered a strained ligament in his left knee but was able to recover fully before serious competition began.  As far as inflicting pain on his opponents,  Adams said with a laugh that he “definitely has hurt some, but I’m not sure who or how.”

“I got into wrestling in eighth grade after football season and decided to focus solely on wrestling during my sophmore year,” he said.  “I started with the Valentin Kalika Wrestling Club [in Rancho Santa Margarita] and I’ve been there ever since.”

His club coach, Valentin Kalika himself, said, "First I teach them how to be a man, then I teach them how to wrestle. With Tyler, I was impressed by his ability to fight and not give up. He is only going to continue to become a better wrestler."

Adams is presently undecided about what college to attend, but he definitely wants to keep wrestling.

The year-round competition has allowed Adams to work continuously on his craft.  Workman acknowledged that the off-season experience is one the biggest reasons Adams has developed into a state title contender.

“I hope he wrestles to the best of his ability,” Workman of the task ahead of his protege this weekend.  “I just want him to put it all together and lay it out there.”