Wrestling Has Hold On Cunanan Central Valley Athlete Grows Into Stardom In Sport He Used To Ignore

Until he was a seventh-grader the thought to wrestle never occurred to Central Valley’s Shane Cunanan. He was more into soccer.

“I never did the little kids program or anything,” he said. “I actually didn’t like wrestling.”

The CV senior has changed his mind. Now he likes everything about wrestling, including the fact that he has to cut weight to make his 129-pound limit.

“It makes you work harder and be more mentally tough,” Cunanan said.

That toughness has translated into three straight placings at the State AAA tournament in Tacoma.

Cunanan would like to complete his high school career with an unbeaten season and state championship.

The goal isn’t out of the question. Cunanan last year finished second at 122 pounds, losing 6-4 to a two-time state champion.

Cunanan had surprised himself by placing third at 108 pounds as a freshman. It convinced him to focus on wrestling. After one more spring of soccer, he gave it up.

“I didn’t think I had that kind of potential,” he said. “But I started liking wrestling more and attended more camps.” His sophomore season, although CV finished second in state, he placed a disappointed fifth at 115.

“I’ve always thought if I won that semifinal, which I should have, we’d have been state champions,” he said.

The letdown, following his semifinal loss, resulted in the only pin loss of his career. It also served as motivation. Cunanan improved a lot between his sophomore and junior year, producing last year’s 29-3 record, including an upset win over Mann for the regional title.

Again, the season had a bittersweet quality about it. CV, considered the state favorite, struggled with expectations, injuries and academic casualties.

“Last year was more work,” said coach Dale Ethridge. “It’s not fun when you’re supposed to win.”

This year’s Bears are supposed to win again.

“This year there are a lot of seniors and everyone’s been on the mat a lot,” said Cunanan.

Typically, Cunanan has not dodged anyone, not even in the practice room. He has spent four years working with two-time state-placing teammate John Reese, also back for his senior year.

He’s practiced against state champions. He’s wrestled up a weight to face unbeaten competition. That, he says, is the way to get better.

His parents, Domingo Cunanan, Janet King and stepfather Steve King, he said, have been his support, filming matches so he can study, “and putting up with me and my bad moods.”

“The thing that makes Shane tough,” said Ethridge, “is he practices the basics. The tendency with success is to go to fancy moves. He’s successful because he never breaks position.”

Which could position Cunanan and the Bears for more trophies.

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