Alex CisnerosIn fact, Cisneros won every tournament he entered … and every match he wrestled, compiling a 46-0 record in his first year of high school competition.
If that weren’t enough, Cisneros maintains a 4.1 grade point average in college prep classes, is active in his school’s ROTC program, and helps young kids at his church with their Bible studies.
And he’s very modest about all of it.
“He’s a kid who’s never opened his mouth and said 'I’m going to do this or I’m going to do that,’” Sam Lopez, his high school coach, told the Fresno Bee. “He just wrestles. I mean, he wants to win, there is no doubt about that. But he’s not a kid that’s going to put himself out there and brag about himself. It’s hard to believe a kid can be that humble, because if I was that good, I’d be telling everybody who would listen.”
California’s youngest state champ
When asked for this article to name the greatest accomplishment of his decade-long wrestling career, Alex Cisneros immediately replied without hesitation, “Winning the state title. It’s the biggest by far. It’s so much more meaningful because my brother Joe had won it.”
At age 14, Alex Cisneros was the youngest wrestler ever to win a state title in California (Photo/Tech-Fall.com)At the 2009 CIF state championships in Bakersfield, Cisneros was the top seed in the 40-man bracket at 103 pounds. In his first match, he got a 15-0 technical fall over Norwalk’s Steven Joyce … while, in the second round, he pinned Michael Nolasco of El Modena at 1:42. Cisneros followed up with a 1:10 fall over Beyer’s Jake Congleton in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, the Selma freshman shut out Vinny Moita of De La Salle, 4-0.
Now it was time for the state title match. Before the tournament, there had been a lengthy profile of Alex Cisneros in the Fresno Bee … and a lot of speculation in the wrestling community throughout California -- and beyond. Much of that buzz centered on whether Cisneros was on his way to becoming only the second four-time state champ in California history … before he had even wrestled a single match at the state tournament.
The only wrestler to win four CIF titles weighed in with his perspective. Before the state tournament, Darrel Vasquez, who, until recently, had been an assistant coach at Harvard, told the Fresno Bee, “He's done far more than I ever did [at his age]. I didn't win a schoolboy state title, I didn't win a cadet state title. I won tournaments and was always right there, but I never won the big tournaments going into my freshman year like he has."
Alex Cisneros (Photo/Tech-Fall.com)Just before the championship match, Alex Cisneros was comforted by the sight of a familiar face: “As I was walking to the mat for the finals, it was great seeing Joe in the front row.”
For the 103-pound title, Alex Cisneros faced off against Stevan Knoblauch of Clovis West, who brought a 26-5 record to the state tournament. The undefeated freshman from Selma kept his perfect record, getting a decisive 11-1 victory over his sophomore opponent, and earning the state championship in one of the few states where all wrestlers compete in a single class.
What helped Cisneros win the title? Here’s Sam Lopez’s analysis: “At the state finals, both wrestlers were equal on their feet. However, on top is where (Alex) came through, using the Mendoza double tilt.”
“Most kids work on their strengths, focusing on what they’re already good at. Alex works on his weaknesses, and it’s one way he continues to get better and better.”
A gamble in Las Vegas pays off
About a month after winning the California state title, Alex Cisneros entered the Western Regional Tournament in Las Vegas … with a bit of a gamble.
“We bumped him up to 112 to give him more competition,” discloses Sam Lopez, who was named 2009 Wrestling Coach of the Year by the Fresno Bee.
Turns out that gamble paid off big time for the newly crowned 103-pound CIF champ.
Alex Cisneros won the 112-pound title at the Western Junior Freestyle tournament for high school wrestlers April 8-10 in Las Vegas … by beating a string of other prep state champs, including Christopher Ornelas of Arizona, Minnesota’s Mike Fuenffinger, Ryan Nakagawa of Hawaii, Utah’s Carson Kuhn, and Steven Romero of the state of Washington. In the finals, Cisneros pinned Iowa high school state champ Eric DeVos at 1:59 to win the event’s title.
An early start toward success
Alex Cisneros first started wrestling at age 3.
“We lived in Ventura (California),” says the 14-year-old state champ. “I’d go to wrestling practice with my older brother Joe. I’d roll around on the mat. I thought it was fun.”
Alex Cisnerous finished his freshman season undefeated at Selma High School (Photo/Tech-Fall.com)Alex Cisneros started participating in the wrestling program at the Boys and Girls Club in Ventura. He started competing in school as a fifth grader, which was about the time his parents, David and Jocelyn Cisneros, started taking him to tournaments, including major ones such as the Reno Tournament of Champions, and the Tulsa Nationals, where he went up against the top mat talents from across the nation.
Wrestling has remained fun for Cisneros, even as he’s gone up against older, top-ranked talent from across the nation … and had to deal with all the attention leading up to the state tournament in March. “I’m never focused on the pressure, but on having fun,” says Cisneros.
“Going undefeated, along with all the hype, put on some pressure. But I’m pretty much used to that.”
“I had already been to some big tournaments before the state championships, which took some of the pressure off.”
In fact, Alex Cisneros snagged the title at every tournament he entered this past season, including the Reno Tournament of Champions, Five Counties Invitational, MidCals Invitational, the Central Sequoia League Championships, the Sequoia-Sierra Divisionals, the Central Section Grand Masters, and the Clovis West Shootout.
It’s a family affair
The Cisneros family is very much in Alex’s corner … and then some.
“His dad delivers fuel, working at night,” according to Sam Lopez. “He takes his son to early-morning workouts, and attends Alex’s matches.”
Sam LopezCoach Lopez adds, “Dad works with Alex on technique, striving to make him a better wrestler.”
“Mom is also very supportive,” Lopez continues … a thought backed up by Alex.
“When we lived in Bakersfield, dad would have to go to work even earlier, so mom took us to practice early,” says Cisneros.
“They both want Alex to succeed in life,” according to Lopez. “They see wrestling as the way to do that. After all, you need to be a champion out in the real world.”
Alex Cisneros serves as something of a champion in his role as a big brother. “I set the example for my three younger brothers -- Jacob, who will be seven in August, Josh, who’s ten, and Chris, who’s 12. I try to be the role model for them through wrestling.”
One of a kind
“I’ve been coaching for about 20 years, and I’ve never seen anyone quite like Alex,” says Sam Lopez, who just completed his first season as head wrestling coach at Selma High.
“His work ethic is amazing. He’s very mature for his age; you’d think he was 20. He’s incredibly coachable.”
Lopez, who once wrestled at Fresno State, elaborates. “Alex’s anticipation is incredible for his age. He does a great job wrestling angles. His positioning is outstanding.”
“Like all the great ones, he makes things look easy, but he works incredibly hard.”
"When he comes to practice, he is really focused," Lopez told the Fresno Bee. "The guy doesn't waste time. For being a freshman, he's drilling hard and working hard. It's just business. He's not screwing around.”
“He’s one of those guys who leads by example,” Lopez said in an interview for this article. “After winning huge tournaments like Reno, Five Counties, it could be expected that he might want to take it easy, or brag on what he’s just done. But just comes in to work, then stays to help roll up the mats.”
Alex Cisneros (Photo/Tech-Fall.com)For Cisneros, it means early-morning workouts with weights in the gym, then, after a full day of classes, at least a couple hours of wrestling practice. But, the 2009 103-pound state champ isn’t comfortable taking it easy.
"I always think if I am laying down on the couch, there is someone else out there working just to beat me. I tell myself I have to push harder and harder every day to get to the next level," Cisneros told the Fresno Bee, in a quote that sounds very much like what Dan Gable said as an Iowa State wrestler and force in freestyle.
“Alex has incredible time-management skills,” concludes coach Lopez. “He’s mature beyond his years.”
Driven to compete
Sam Lopez also cites another trait that makes Alex Cisneros a winner: An incredible competitive drive that’s on display on the wrestling mat … and off it, too.
“He finds a way to win. He has a very aggressive style, always pushing the pace. He can apply pressure from the bottom, from all positions. He’s incredible at leg riding and grapevining.”
“He loves to compete, even in practice. He hates to be taken down, whether it’s by a teammate, or one of us coaches.”
In a separate interview, Alex Cisnero’s self-analysis lines up with his coach’s: “I see myself as an all-out, in-your-face wrestler. I’ll be setting the limit, wrestle my style.”
Lopez, who is a special ed teacher, also sees that competitive fire in Alex Cisneros outside of wrestling.
“Alex is a leader in our school’s ROTC program,” according to Lopez. “He’s very focused on being the best. I think he likes the structure, likes preparing for inspections.”
Alex Cisneros (Photo/Tech-Fall.com)One could also imagine Cisnero’s competitive fire comes through in his favorite sport outside of wrestling: paintball.
Yet Alex Cisneros has a quieter, more contemplative side as well. He is a young man of deep religious faith, active in his church, Valley Life Christian Church in Selma, who enjoys helping kids study the Bible.
With all his mat talent, a powerful work ethic, an unquenchable competitive spirit, and a love of working with youngsters, it might make sense that Alex Cisneros might someday want to be a wrestling coach. When asked, he immediately responded, “Yes” but then followed up, “Right now, I’m living one year at a time, one match at a time.”
For wrestling fans from Selma, California to Selma, Alabama, it’ll be fun to see what more great things Alex Cisneros accomplishes … one match at a time, one year at a time.
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