Schumacher Unanimous WSC Player of the Year.

SAN LUIS OBISPO (February 24, 2009)— The Cuesta men’s basketball team beat Pierce in its regular season finale to clinch its first Western State Conference title since 1999 and also earned a playoff berth after a one-year break from the post-season. The Cougars picked up the #14 seed in the 2009 Southern California Regional Playoffs and will host #19 West LA in the first round. On Sunday the coaches of the Western State Conference met to determine seeding order out of the conference as well as to determined the loop’s seasonal awards. Cuesta, who shared first place in the loop with Ventura, earned a greater share of the recognition from the coaches than any team. All five members of the starting line up were accorded all-WSC status, including WSC Player of the Year Tom Schumacher (Luxembourg), and Coach Rusty Blair, who was tabbed the 2009 WSC Coach of the Year.
Freshman Shooting Guard Tom Schumacher (Luxembourg) made his way to Cuesta College after establishing himself as the top scorer on the Grand Duchy’s national team. He is a consistent threat from three-point territory and his mark of 41.0% from beyond the arch ranks as one of the best in the state. He also leads the Cougars with 18.6 points per game, which he increased to a conference best 20.1 during WSC play. Schumacher enjoyed his best game of the season by scoring 37 points to lead the Cougars to a 96-70 win over Santa Barbara on January 14th. Schumacher not only scores in bunches, but also is adept at setting up his teammates and playing defense. He second on the team with 2.8 assists per game and leads the Cougars with 65 steals this season. The Western State Conference coaches unanimously selected him as the best player in the loop, an honor so rare, that most of the voters do not believe that it has ever occurred in the conference. Schumacher’s selection automatically lands him a spot on the All State team, which will be announced at the conclusion of the season. He is only the second Cuesta player to be named WSC Player of the Year, joining two-time All State Guard Jaron Singletary. Singletary earned the honor after leading the Cougars to the 1998 WSC crown.
Forward Joe Ayarza (Panama) became only the 14th player in 44 years of Cuesta basketball to be named first team all conference twice. Ayarza finished the regular season as the Cougars second leading scorer, averaging 16.9 points per game. He enjoyed his best game of the year against SD Mesa, when he scored 34 points and pulled down 11 boards in a win over the Olympians on November 30th. Ayarza is an impact player whenever he is on the floor and is the squad’s leading rebounder (6.8 rpg) and shot blocker (2.7 bpg). He will end his Cuesta career among the top three in both career points (1,156) and rebounds (485) and with an extended playoff run he could own both records. Ayarza has been nominated for the All State team and has signed to play at Southern Mississippi next season.
Power Forward Frank Muller (Luxembourg) joined both Schumacher and Ayarza among the top four vote getters in the conference- John Johnson of Oxnard was second in the all conference voting. Muller also joined his teammates on the 2009 All Western State Conference First Team. Muller increased his scoring and rebounding during conference play and was the Cougars second leading scorer during those games at 13.8 points per game. He also enjoyed two of his finest games during WSC play, recording back-to-back double-doubles against Santa Barbara (17 points and 13 rebounds) and Oxnard (19 points and 12 rebounds). On the season, Muller has averaged 12.1 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. He also leads the team in shooting percentage with a mark of 50.9%.
The Cougars also placed Guards Christian Koutras (Sweden) and Roger Guardia (Spain) on the 2009 All-WSC Honorable Mention team. Koutras is the Cougars point guard and is challenging the school mark with 5.3 assists per contest. He is also averaging 5.1 points per game and is second on the team with 64 steals. Guardia has filled the small forward position for the Cougars this year and his all around game has been a key to the Cougars’ success. He ranks third on the team in rebounds (4.4 RPG), assists (2.2 apg) and steals (1.3) and is fourth on the team in scoring (7.7 ppg).
Coach Rusty Blair was named the 2009 Western State Conference Coach of the Year in a unanimous vote by his peers. Blair led the Cougars to a 24-10 record during the regular season and led his team to its first conference title since 1999. This season Coach Blair, on his way to leading his team back to the post-season after a one year break, also picked up his 300th win at Cuesta College. He is one of only three basketball coaches to lead the program over its 44 years and the only coach to post a winning record. This season marks the Cougars’ 11th trip to the playoffs under Blair and the fifth time that he has led the Cougars to a conference title (Although investigations of Ventura’s program are expected to yield more titles for Cuesta). Coach Blair was also named WSC Coach of the Year following the 1997 and 1998 campaigns.

Athlete of the Month
January 2009
Tom Schumacher - Basketball

Cuesta College Athletics Department is proud to announce this month’s selections for the Cuesta Athlete of the Month. This distinct honor recognizes two Cuesta College Athletes each month during the school year who have performed to the highest standards in their sport. Our male selection for January is freshman Shooting Guard Tom Schumacher.
Freshman Shooting Guard Tom Schumacher has enjoyed a tremendous second month of his collegiate career. He averaged 18.8 points, 2.9 assists and 2.0 steals per game in December and was named to the all Tournament Team at both the Delta and Grossmont Tournaments. Schumacher is a pure shooter and converted 42.2% of his three point attempts this month, however he is also a workhorse that leads the Cougars in steals on defense and can take over the offense at point guard if needed. He has started every game for the Cougars this season and leads the team in minutes played, an average of 32 per game. On the season he is second on the team in both scoring and assists, with 17.8 and 2.8 per game.
Schumacher is from Dudelange, Luxembourg and is one of ten international players on the Cuesta roster.
The Cuesta Men’s Basketball team is ranked #20 in the State and as it enters the 2009 Western State Conference schedule. The Cougars are 15-7 on the season.

WESTERN STATE CONFERENCE PLAYER OF THE WEEK (North)
TOM SCHUMACHER—Cuesta College
Tom Schumacher scored 70 points in three games with 6 assists and 9 steals. Tom was 24 of 41 from the field (18 of 32 from three) and 4 of 5 from the line. Tom scored 28 points versus Chaffey with 2 assists and 3 steals. Tom is a 6-4 205 lb. freshman guard from Dudelange, Luxembourg.

FRANK MULLER—Cuesta College
Frank Muller scored 28 points in two games with 10 rebounds, 6 assists and 1 steal. Frank was 10 of 23 from the field (2 of 4 from three) and 6 of 9 from the line. Frank scored 23 points versus Oxnard with 5 rebounds and 3 assists. Frank is a 6-7 225 lb. freshman forward from Dudelange, Luxembourg.

Athlete of the Month
February 2009
Frank Muller - Basketball

Cuesta College Athletics Department is proud to announce this month’s selections for the Cuesta Athlete of the Month. This distinct honor recognizes two Cuesta College Athletes each month during the school year who have performed to the highest standards in their sport. Our male selection for February is freshman Forward Frank Muller.
Freshman Forward Frank Muller has emerged as a force in the Western State Conference and one of the most consistent players in the loop. He is averaging 14.1 points and leading the Cougars with 7.5 rebounds a game in WSC play. He spent the two months of the season averaging a solid 11.1 points and 6.2 boards per game, but has become an impact player during conference play. He enjoyed two of his best games of the season with back-to-back double-doubles against Santa Barbara, 17 points and 13 rebounds, and Oxnard, 19 points and 12 rebounds. On the 30 games this year, Muller, an undersized power forward at 6’ 7”, is averaging 11.9 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game. He is from Dudelange, Luxembourg and is one of nine international players on the Cuesta roster.
The Cuesta Men’s Basketball team is ranked #1 in the Western State Conference and in closing in on a playoff berth. The Cougars are 20-9 on the season.

The Cuesta Men's Basketball has earned the #14 seed in the 2009 Southern California Regional Playoffs. The Cougars will host #19 West LA this Wednesday (7 PM) in the first round. Cuesta shared the 2009 Western State Conference (North Division) title with Ventura College and has earned its first home playoff game since the 1999 season. The West LA Oilers finished in fourth place in the Western State Conference (South Division) and ended the regular season with a record of 16-15. The Cougars ended the year with a record of 24-10 and boast the 2009 Western State Conference Coach of the Year Rusty Blair. Coach Blair is in his 17th season at Cuesta and earned his 300th victory this season. He has led Cuesta to the playoffs on ten other occasions, most recently in 2007. In 1997 he led Cuesta to its only State Tournament appearance and its finest season, 33-5.

Be sure to join us this Wednesday, February 25, for the 2009 Southern California Regional First Round Playoff game between the #14 Cuesta Cougars (24-10) and the #19 West LA Oilers (16-15). The game will begin at 7 PM. The winner of the game will play #3 San Bernardino (25-8) in the second round on Saturday, February 28, at San Bernardino.

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