August, 25, 2014 | Page 17

Max Burch: Head Coach Burch is beginning his twelfth season as wrestling coach for Shasta College. He attended Oklahoma State University for 3 1/2 years and graduated from California State University, Fresno in 1962. After receiving his Bachelor of Arts degree, he began teaching at Madera Union High School where he also began his coaching career as an assistant wrestling coach. In 1964, Max and his wife Connie, with their two sons, Bryan and Mike, moved to Redding, where Max accepted a teaching position at Shasta High School. In 1965, he was instrumental in initiating the first wrestling program at Shasta High where he served as Head Coach through the 1983 season. During those 18 years, his teams won five Northern Section CIF team championships. In 1981, Shasta High placed fifth in the State as a team, the highest place finish by any Northern Section team to date. During his high school tenure, he coached two State champions, one runner-up, and two third place finishers. He coached seven wrestlers during his tenure at Shasta High went on to wrestle at Division 1 schools. In 2001, Shasta College reinstated its wrestling program, and Coach Burch was picked to guide the Knights. Since that time, the Knights’ wrestling team has produced three State champions, 12 All Americans, and 28 California State CC place finishers.

Paul Keysaw: Coach Keysaw Jr. graduated from Athens High School in Athens, Pennsylvania in 1986. While in high school, Keysaw was a 3 time Northern Section Champion, 2-time District 4 Champion, 2-time North East Regional Champion, and as a junior, placed 2nd at the PIAA State Championships. As a senior, Keysaw capped off an undefeated season with a PIAA State Championship at 155lbs. In 1986, prior to entering college, Keysaw placed 3rd at the Junior Nationals at 178lbs.

Keysaw continued his wrestling career at the California State University, Bakersfield. While a roadrunner, Keysaw earned “All-American” status, placing 8th as a junior at the 1990 NCAA Division 1 National Tournament. As a senior, Keysaw won the PAC-10 Tournament and earned the most outstanding wrestler award. Culminating his competitive career, Paul Keysaw Jr. Won the 1991 NCAA Division 1 National Tournament; in which he defeated UFC star Randy Couture in the Finals at 190lbs.

Currently, Paul Keysaw is in his 16th year as a head wrestling coach in the California Community College System. “Coach” Keysaw was at the helm of Moorpark Junior College from 1996 thru 2005. Since 2006, Paul Keysaw has been the head coach at Fresno City College. Under his tutelage, Coach Keysaw’s teams have collectively won 8 State Titles, State runner-up once, and a 3rd place finish. Keysaw has been named California State Coach of the Year 6 times and has coached 22 individual State Champions.

At Fresno City College, Keysaw has amassed a record of 58-3: Winning the state Championship in 2006, 2008, 2010, and 2011. Finishing 4th in 2007, 3rd in 2009 and 2nd in 2013. In addition, under Coach Keysaw, the Rams also won the State Dual Meet Championship in 2006, 2010, 2011 and runner-up in 2009. Both the 2006 and 2010 teams finished the season undefeated! Coach Keysaw has coached 13 State Champions, 30 All-Americans, and 8 academic All-Americans at Fresno City College.

Finally, Paul Keysaw Jr. is a member of the PIAA State Hall of Fame, District 4 Hall of Fame, and the Northern Sectional Hall of Fame.

Joe Dansby: Coach Dansby, 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 wrestling program boasts of 7 State Champions, 53 All Americans, eleven conference titles and, one State Small Schools State Title (1980).

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 lives in San Luis Obispo.

Brody Barrios: Palomar named Brody Barrios head wrestling coach on June 12, 2011. He'd been a Palomar assistant since 2006 under Byron Campbell, who stepped down after seven seasons. Barrios' teams since have upheld the standard of excellence established by the legendary John Woods and and continued by Roye Oliver and then by former Palomar wrestlers Joe Ismay and Campbell. Barrios is the seventh head wrestling coach in Palomar history, following Mack Wiebe, Tony Lynds, Woods, Oliver, Ismay and Campbell.

In his first four seasons, Barrios has coached the Comets to sixth place in the CCCAA State Tournament in both 2011 and 2012 and to fifth place in the 2013 state tournament. In 2012, the Comets also reached the championship match in the Southern California Dual championships before losing to Mt. SAC.

Barrios wrestled for Cal Poly, advancing to the 75th NCAA National Tournament in St. Louis as a senior 165-pounder in 2005. In the National Tournament, Barrios lost to Mark Perry of Iowa, the eventual second-place finisher, in his opening-round match. He bounced back to defeat Sherwood Fendryk of Sacred Heart 12-3 but was eventually eliminated by Matt Nagel of Minnesota. Nagel went on to place sixth.

Barrios, who also is San Marcos High head coach, earned a Bachelor's degree in Kinesiology from Cal Poly and a Master's in Education from National University. Barrios was a two-time state champion at Poway High, setting a school win record by going 57-2 as a senior and placing second in the National High School Tournament. The Barrios family has long been a successful part of Palomar's athletics success. Brody Barrios' dad Don Barrios, his current assistant coach, wrestled for Palomar and UNLV. Uncle Rick Barrios was the Comets' football kicker for two seasons and was the University of Wisconsin's kicker in 1972 and 1973.