Members of the Ceres Pups Wrestling Club started training for the 2025-26 campaign in October.
President Steve Festa co-founded the club in 2015.
“When I see what we built, it makes me happy and proud,” he said. “It’s exactly what I hoped it would be. We’re giving back to the community.”
Approximately 80 boys and girls, aged 4-13, signed up for the club’s Folkstyle season.
The Pups have a roster size of 48 wrestlers and 32 cheerleaders.
The club’s registration fee of $120 covers the first month’s membership cost and pays for Pups warmup gear for each wrestler.
Membership dues are $60 per month.
“I have Pups wrestlers in high school now,” Festa said.
“This sport helps men and women reach their full potential,” he added. “This sport changed my life.”
Ceres has 11 wrestling coaches, including Tony Ormonde, Mike Tubera, Mark Kangas, Jake Whittenburg, Josh Swartz, Rich Thompson, Josh Kemplin, Joaquin Aceves, Ryan Caraveo, Matt Whittenburg and Jake Castle.
Ormonde (head coach), Kangas (assistant), Swartz (assistant), Thompson (assistant), Kemplin (assistant) and Jake Whittenburg (assistant) work with the Pups’ advanced wrestlers.
Tubera (head coach), Castle (assistant) and Matt Whittenburg (assistant) work with Ceres’ beginner grapplers.
Aceves and Caraveo help out at the advanced and beginner levels.
The Pups also have a cheer program.
Ceres’ primary coaches are Melissa Ruger (competitive/littles), Angelina Sather (intermediate) and Debbie Ruger (tumbling).
Brittany Caraveo (competitive), Ashley Caraveo (intermediate), Casey Lester (littles) and Esha Castle (littles) are assistant coaches.
Wrestlers practice three days a week at the Pups House, a 1,500-square-foot training facility located at 3037 5th Street in downtown Ceres, and one day a week at Bonsu Elite Athletics sports performance training facility.
Cheerleaders practice three times a week.
“We’re trying to get better."
The Pups competed at home for the first time during the 2025-26 season on Nov. 23.
Ceres hosted the Pups Brawl, a USA Wrestling SCWAY Zone 2 Kickoff Tournament, at Central Valley High School.
The event featured 419 grapplers.
“It was a great turnout. Our numbers were up from last year. We had a strong showing. A lot of our kids wrestled well. We had multiple champions. Everyone showed a lot of heart. It was fun to watch.”
Former UFC champion Daniel Cormier attended the SCWAY Kickoff as a coach and father. Cormier’s son wrestles for the Gilroy-based Daniel Cormier Youth Wrestling Academy.
“It was exciting having him there. He’s an amazing ambassador to the sport. He’s a regular guy with huge accolades. He’s really humble and respectful. He was willing to take pictures with whoever asked.”
Ceres finished third in the team standings with 102.5 points.
Elk Grove Wrestling Academy (156) and Calaveras Youth Wrestling (107) placed first and second, respectively.
Daniel Cormier Wrestling Academy (59.5) took sixth.
The Pups won the 10-and-under division age group title at the SCWAY event.
Ceres had three individual champions.
Zoey Swartz (10-and-under, 130 pounds) placed first.
Easton Caraveo (10-and-under, 70 pounds) placed first.
Bodhi Johnson (8-and-under, 45-50 pounds) placed first.
Levi Whittenburg (6-and-under, 40 pounds) placed second.
Lincoln Whittenburg placed second (8-and-under, 55 pounds) and fourth (10-and-under, 55 pounds) while competing in two different weight brackets.
Aaliyah Kemplin (15-and-under, 100-110 pounds) placed third.
Rambo Jacuinde (12-and-under 127 pounds) placed third.
Cristian Ortiz (10-and-under, 87 pounds) placed third.
Mason Whittenburg placed third (8-and-under, 65 pounds) and fourth (10-and-under, 65 pounds) in two different weight brackets.
Evalin Thompson (12-and-under, 115 pounds) placed fourth.
Ferreira placed (10-and-under, 111 pounds) placed fourth.
Mathias Kangas (10-and-under, 70 pounds) placed fourth.
Israel Navarro (8-and-under, 70 pounds) placed fourth.
Steven Festa Jr. (6-and-under, 58 pounds) placed fourth.
Grant Whittenburg (6-and-under, 40 pounds) placed fourth.
