The Caution Stalling Podcast

Kainoa, a multi-sport athlete from Las Vegas High School, joins the podcast to reflect on his athletic journey. A three-year varsity football letterman and four-year varsity wrestler, Kainoa balanced two demanding sports while becoming a key contributor to a strong Las Vegas football program and building an impressive wrestling résumé.The youngest of his siblings, Kainoa often speaks about the importance of family. Coming from a strong foundation, he credits his support system for helping him pursue his goals and become the person he set out to be. His faith has also played a major role in shaping both him and his family, serving as a constant source of guidance and motivation throughout his journey.On the wrestling side, Kainoa is a two-time State Finalist and capped off his senior year by winning the 4A State Championship at 150 pounds. Over time, he developed a deep love for the sport, which led him to focus more heavily on wrestling as his career progressed. While he continued to give everything he had to football, he made sacrifices in the offseason to put himself in better positions on the mat.After practices and during the offseason, Kainoa consistently sought extra work, frequently attending club practices and continuing to train whenever possible. That dedication ultimately paid off, helping him reach the top of the podium in his final high school season.

Ryder, a sophomore in high school, has built himself into a State Champion — not through flash or hype, but through discipline and a willingness to embrace what’s difficult. For much of his early journey, he was simply trying to find his way in the sport. What separated him wasn’t immediate dominance, but his commitment to doing the hard things over and over again. Now, as a State Champion, Ryder speaks with gratitude about the lessons in accountability, toughness, and resilience that wrestling has given him as a young man.Ryder is quick to joke about being a “staller,” embracing the comments with a smile. While the label doesn’t truly define his style, it doesn’t bother him either. In high-level matches, many elite wrestlers become calculated and protective of position. Ryder understands that strategy. Though he confidently expresses his ability to score, he admits he often feels more comfortable shutting down opponents’ attacks than initiating them. It’s a self-awareness that reflects his growth — from youth wrestling, to his freshman season, to now capturing a State Title as a sophomore.He also opens up about early struggles in his career. Without going into deep detail, Ryder shares two pivotal challenges he faced as a child: weight cutting and the pressure to win. At just 11 years old, he experienced a 16-pound weight cut — something that shaped his perspective on the sport. He also put immense pressure on himself to win, driven by his admiration for his coaches and his desire to make them proud.The turning point came in high school under Coach Pineda. Coach Pineda removed the burden of outcome and asked Ryder to focus on one thing — wrestling hard. That shift changed everything. By emphasizing effort over results, Ryder was freed to compete without fear. He learned how to process losses, how to grow from them, and how to separate his identity from the scoreboard. That period became one of the most critical stages of his development.Today, Ryder stands not just as a State Champion, but as an athlete shaped by adversity, perspective, and the right guidance at the right time. His story is a reminder that growth doesn’t always come from winning — it often comes from learning how to handle everything that comes with it.

On this episode of the Caution Stalling Podcast, Daniel is joined by newly crowned State Champion Tylene Tran. They open the show by breaking down Tylene’s championship performance and what it meant to finally get the job done. As a four-time State Finalist, Tylene reflects on the differences between her previous finals appearances and this year’s title run. She shares insight into her strengths, the struggles she’s faced along the way, and why she feels ready to transition into freestyle competition.The conversation then shifts to a full recap of the Girls State Tournament. Daniel lists the State Champions and placers at every weight, followed by a fun segment where he and Tylene hand out superlatives from the girls’ side of the bracket. They explain the reasoning behind each selection and close out the segment by naming their top three pound-for-pound wrestlers to watch moving forward.To wrap up the episode, they turn their attention to the boys’ tournament. Since Tylene wasn’t able to thoroughly watch the boys’ matches, they take a broader approach — giving an overall assessment of the tournament, handing out a few superlatives, and highlighting key storylines. Daniel then runs through the State Champions and placers to round out a complete State recap.

Daniel and Adrian, Eldorado's 120 lb State Champ reflect on 4A's State tournament. The host Daniel opens the show with Adrian and his performance ultimately defending his junior year's State Title his senior year at 4A. Adrian puts down a great performance to lock in becoming a 2 time Nevada State Champion. Secondly, Daniel and Adrian breakdown the brackets and discuss some of the outcomes. While some brackets had top performers, some did not. They discuss some of the day's big performances.Lastly, Daniel and Adrian use some questions sent in to end the recap of State. They discuss the top performers, some of the upsets, the biggest surprises and key in on somebody they were most happy for.

Eduardo never imagined himself on a wrestling mat. Soccer was where he believed his athletic future belonged. Having just moved to Las Vegas, he was quiet, reserved, and unsure of himself. Wrestling wasn’t even on his radar—until a single move he learned in PE class unexpectedly changed the next several years of his life.Though he started wrestling later than most, Eduardo made the absolute most of his opportunity through relentless dedication. He joined a club and showed up every single day. That first summer wasn’t filled with victories. In fact, success came slowly—but he kept showing up.Working with Coach Frank, Eduardo embraced his creativity and developed a unique “funk” wrestling style. While that scrambling, risk-taking approach sometimes led to shortcomings, he refused to abandon it. Instead of backing away from the positions that exposed him, he leaned into them. After practice, he stayed behind, asking questions and drilling situations over and over again until they became strengths.By senior year, everything changed.At the Nevada 5A State Championships, competing at 150 pounds, Eduardo stood on the podium as a 4th-place finisher. Just one year earlier, he had been a junior varsity wrestler in his first season ever. He hadn’t won JV Zones. He went 0–2 at Regionals as an alternate.But none of that defined him.That 0–2 performance didn’t discourage him—it fueled him. He took it personally. He made a promise to himself that he would never feel that helpless again. Through discipline, consistency, and belief in his own style, Eduardo transformed from a timid newcomer into a state placer.His journey wasn’t built on early success. It was built on resilience.

Kaija joins the podcast and brings an incredible amount of energy to her story. What began as wrestling in high school simply to be around the boys quickly turned into something much deeper. Kaija found a true connection to the sport and developed a genuine love for wrestling. While she’s achieved significant success, much of her journey—and daily athletic life—has been a battle. Kaija is truly inspiring.A top wrestler in Nevada, Kaija battles more than just opponents on the mat. Alongside the grind and hardships every wrestler faces, she also manages diabetes—something that changes everything in a sport built around making weight. While she has done an incredible job competing even five pounds under, it’s a challenge far greater than most understand. At times, she has to step off the mat to prioritize her health. Monitoring weight alone is exhausting for wrestlers; balancing that while needing to intake sugar adds another layer of difficulty few ever experience.Kaija is more than just a wrestler. She’s a retired high-level gymnast, a track athlete, and a powerlifting competitor. Her pursuit of excellence shows up in every phase of her life, not just when she’s wearing a Green Valley singlet. Her dedication, resilience, and daily battles are what truly make Kaija extraordinary.

Daniel and Frank get together to recap Nevada's Southern Women's Regionals and make their predictions for 4A Desert and Mountain Regionals for State Qualifications.

Khy’ree, a young man chasing his dreams through the grind of wrestling, joins the podcast. Coming from a non-traditional wrestling school in North Las Vegas, Khy’ree is determined to represent himself on the highest podiums. Where many might fold under the pressure, Khy’ree thrives in discomfort.His wrestling journey began in New Jersey with his grandpa, who served as his first coach. After moving back, Khy’ree committed himself to honoring the path his grandparents helped pave—his grandpa guiding him on the mat, and his grandma serving as his loudest and proudest supporter. When things get tough, Khy’ree leans on the memory of his grandparents to keep pushing forward.Today, wrestling is more than a sport—it’s a lifestyle. His support system shows up, makes themselves heard, and ensures you know exactly what mat he’s on. While many chase accolades, Khy’ree is chasing a legacy. His goals aren’t shaken by circumstance because his mind is made up.Tune in as Khy’ree shares his wrestling journey and the road ahead. No matter the obstacle, Khy’ree and his support system are ready to knock it down and get the job done.

Coach Fiorito joins the Caution Stalling Podcast in a truly unique way. Joshua isn’t a coach tied to a specific sport—he specializes in the mental side of athletics and competition. Through his own experiences as a competitor, Joshua fought personal battles that ultimately shaped his desire to help others navigate theirs. At the end of the day, he reminds us of something important: this is still just a game.Joshua shares glimpses of his wrestling career—just enough to give us insight into who he was becoming. Though he found success, he always felt there was more to pursue. It wasn’t until he lost wrestling that he truly realized how deeply he loved the sport.Coach Josh also dives into the mission behind his business, The Centered Athlete. Rather than explaining it outright, we challenge you to listen and experience it for yourself. Using host Daniel as a live example, Josh walks both Daniel and the audience through part of his process—offering a real-time look into how he helps athletes dial in mentally and compete with clarity.

Unique, a born combat athlete, steps into the wrestling world. Though she competed in judo and jiu-jitsu, neither captured her heart the way wrestling did. Through wrestling, Unique discovered her true gift—the scrap.In a short amount of time, Unique built an impressive résumé. While she never claimed a state championship title, her career is nothing to overlook. Rather than avoiding challenges or shifting weight classes, Unique sought out the toughest competition Nevada had to offer. She embraced the more physical, gritty side of the sport, giving her an edge over most competitors. Her willingness to wrestle boys also played a major role in her development and toughness as an athlete.Today, Unique continues to make an impact on the wrestling community. She is a coach at her alma mater, Sierra Vista, where she gives back to the program that helped shape her. Beyond coaching, she’s also the eye behind the lens—capturing wrestling moments as the program’s photographer. All of this while balancing work and continuing her own training in jiu-jitsu.Unique is living proof that it’s never too late to step into wrestling—and that embracing the scrap can shape who you become, both on and off the mat.

Emilio, a third generation wrestler joins The Caution Stalling Podcast. While wrestling has taken over his family, Emilio found peace on the mat. Even today he often refers to it as, "it's all I know." While some people look at wrestling as job, Emilio significantly benefitted from a wrestler. Today, Emilio has left the mat but the mat never left Emilio. Emilio while credentialed in his own right in wrestling, continued the family success as the 3rd generation wrestlers in the Garcia family. He speaks on the aid and guidance he received as well as the moment of being apart of the induction to the Hall of Fame. While his journey has come to an end, he discusses missing wrestling and the grind that has built him to what he is, a success story. While wrestling has changed his life through the grind, Emilio has now taken that same grind into his new profession of tattooing. He has worked none stop as an apprentice to make it. Practice makes perfect and through every rep, he continues to imply his wrestling mindset in his craft.

Nathan, an inspiring young player idolizing Jackie Robinson, walked into the Eldorado High School baseball program. A young man, with no club experience, no high level ball minus the zoned little league, was inspired to become the absolute best player he could be. While struggling in little league, Minton just put his down and was willing to outwork everybody.During his high school career, Minton was arguably the worst player on the roster. While conquering his own development battles, Minton showed up everyday. Minton volunteered as tribute to workout with the best players in hopes they would fast track him. Many days, Minton got outplayed BUT, only the strong survive. After two years of partnering with the best players, Minton started to impact the team. Minton became the beacon of hope for many players in our program. This grind and dedication pushed Minton into his biggest baseball role ever, Captain.Senior year, Minton changed into arguably one of the most impactful players in Coach O's coaching career. Nathan maintained the status of the 'Face of the Program' and our absolute best defensive player on the field. his willingness to make high level diving plays allowed his leadership to flourish; he always put it on the line for the team. Now, Minton gets to reap his own fruits by signing to play in College. A dream that seemed so farfetched to many but Minton met somebody who believed in him just as much as his own dream.

Cash, a young wrestler striving toward success, joins the podcast to discuss his journey so far. At such a young age, Cash is already a highly regarded athlete, and this episode offers insight into what separates him from the rest. Through adversity, Cash has developed a strong mindset—one that has become his greatest weapon.Now in his sophomore year, Cash reflects on the path that brought him to this point. Through relentless hard work and dedication, he continues to push forward regardless of results. His commitment to becoming the best goes beyond technical development on the mat; Cash has embraced the process of getting bigger, faster, and stronger. That same mentality carried him to Bishop Gorman, where he’s learned that excelling as an athlete also means meeting the demands of academics.Mature beyond his years, Cash embodies the meaning of “Chop Wood, Carry Water.” He doesn’t chase outcomes—he focuses on the next battle, the next test. While the power of the “G” can intimidate some, Cash embraces it, understanding that representing the “G” is weightless when your focus is on honoring your school, your family, and yourself.

Antonio Saldate, a Nevada native, chose a different path. Rather than joining a powerhouse program like Green Valley, Antonio attended Las Vegas High School—where he helped write his own legacy. During his time there, he reached four State Finals and captured three State Championships. While those accomplishments speak for themselves, Antonio is most proud of helping his coach turn the program around and build a truly competitive team.After high school, Antonio continued his wrestling journey at the Division I level. Today, he’s transitioned from competing on the mat to standing in the corner for athletes chasing their own dreams.Highly respected as a wrestler, Antonio now brings that same drive and work ethic into coaching. He is the head coach of Gold Rush Reno, where his goal is to shift the mentality in the north and build a competitive counterpart to the South—instilling the same discipline and grit that defined his own career.Antonio has also paved the way for his family in wrestling. He shares stories about his competitive relationship with his brother, as well as his excitement and pride for his sister and younger brother as they continue to grow in the sport. Family is everything to Antonio, and throughout the podcast, we get a deeper look at how central that bond is to who he is—both on and off the mat.

Sterling, arguably Nevada’s most decorated wrestler, joins the Caution Stalling Podcast. A multi-time Fargo champion, multi-time Nevada State champion, and now an Iowa Hawkeye, Sterling walks us through the journey of her wrestling career.While many know her for what she’s accomplished on the mat, Sterling opens up about what defines her off the mat. For her, success isn’t only measured by world teams or medals—it’s about building a meaningful career and one day having a big family.She also shares what’s closest to her heart, including her #thinkingofyou initiative and what it means to be a superhero for a young kid named Yadier. Though many see her as the GOAT, Sterling describes herself simply as Sterling.One of a kind—a great wrestler, a strong family-oriented person, and an even better role model.

Zyon, a kid driven by combat, was led into the wrestling room by mentors who saw something in him. At first, he wanted to quit. Instead, he stayed — and fell in love with the sport. While his long-term dream has always been to fight, Zyon committed to mastering wrestling first, setting his sights on becoming a Division I All-American. What once seemed far-fetched became reality when UVU believed in him.Zyon began his athletic journey in jiu-jitsu before shifting his focus fully to wrestling. That background paid off immediately, helping him find success early. Since then, Zyon has captured three state titles and earned his spot as a Division I wrestler. Now in the starting lineup at Utah Valley University as a true freshman, he remains locked in on constant improvement. Before his wrestling career is finished, his goal is clear: become an All-American. After that, his path leads to the UFC.While Zyon thrives in combat, there’s more to him than the grind. He’s a Sour Patch Kid addict, a Lego enthusiast, and a fan of campaign-style video games. Zyon is more than just his ambitions — but in the wrestling world, he’s a fighter determined to prove every doubter wrong.

The 10-year dynasty built by Coach Jon Ferry at Green Valley High School is arguably the greatest decade-long run in Nevada wrestling history. During that span, Coach Ferry led the program to seven state championships and three state runner-up finishes. While debates can always be made about eras and programs, Coach Ferry has unquestionably earned his seat at the table as one of Nevada wrestling’s all-time greats.Wrestling was never just a sport for Jon Ferry — it was part of his bloodline. In the Ferry family, wrestling and coaching were simply what you did. Although his own competitive career came to an early close once he reached college, that ending opened the door to something even more impactful.Coach Ferry’s coaching journey began when an old friend recognized his potential and invited him to help with the wrestling program at Las Vegas High School. There, he learned the ropes and developed his coaching philosophy before making the move to Green Valley High School. Over time, he became the head coach, and with that role came a vision.One of Coach Ferry’s greatest contributions was his commitment to building from the ground up. By heavily investing in the youth program, he laid the foundation for what would become a powerhouse — Team GV. That pipeline fueled Green Valley’s dominance and reshaped wrestling in the area.Eventually, Coach Ferry made the selfless decision to step away from the mat to focus on his son. Determined to be present, he dedicated himself to becoming the best baseball coach he could so he could coach and support his son’s journey. Now, with his son thriving and off to college, Coach Ferry has returned to where it all began — back on the mat at Green Valley, serving once again as an assistant coach.A dynasty builder. A mentor. A father. Coach Jon Ferry’s impact on Nevada wrestling is undeniable.

Morris Wolfley is a small-town wrestler chasing greatness against the odds. A 3A athlete with no high school club and 30-plus-minute drives in any direction just to find training partners, Morris has built his success on an unshakable mindset and relentless work ethic. Despite the disadvantages, he refuses to let circumstance define his ceiling.In this episode, Morris walks us through the moment everything changed — the loss that forced him to take wrestling seriously and the conversation with his father that followed. That defeat hurt, but it also gave birth to the competitor we see today.Since committing himself to excellence, Morris has stacked an impressive résumé: multi-time state champion, regional champion, and one of the top 3A wrestlers in Nevada. While his goal is to wrestle in college, Morris is equally committed to honoring his faith. His plan includes stepping away for a two-year mission before returning to the mat to continue his wrestling journey.Morris represents 3A wrestling with pride, humility, and grit. With unmatched discipline and an unbreakable mindset, he’s chasing another mountaintop finish to his high school career. After that, he’ll serve his faith — and when the time is right, find his way back to wrestling.Morris Wolfley is the definition of an underdog you can’t help but root for.

Tatiana, once a dominant runner on the track, found herself searching for direction beyond the lanes. Though she qualified for state every year in high school, she wanted something different — something that would push her to become the absolute best version of herself. That search led her to the wrestling room.From the moment she stepped onto the mat, Tatiana fell in love with the environment. The grind, the accountability, and the reality that everything had to be earned fueled her competitive fire. Early on, she was gifted something priceless — a lifelong friend and training partner in Kaylynn, who pushed her to improve faster, work harder, and believe deeper. Just as important, Tatiana found a family in the wrestling room. The friendships, bonds, and shared grind with her fellow wrestlers became what she loves most about the sport.In this episode, Tatiana opens up about the possibility of walking away from athletics instead of chasing the dream of competing at the collegiate level. But one thing is clear — because of wrestling, she knows she’s prepared for whatever path she chooses. Sports don’t end when competition does; they become part of who you are.Tatiana is Tatiana because of sports — and they will always live within her.

Ray, a proud and devoted father, sits down to share the journey of raising two wrestlers — and the life lessons that came with it. He opens up about the challenges of supporting each of his sons differently, while still giving both the same unwavering foundation of love, structure, and belief. Through the highs and lows, Ray reflects on what it truly means to walk the path of “Dad.”Ray learned early that he couldn’t treat both boys the same. Wrestling helped him understand that each son is his own individual, with his own personality, mindset, and way of approaching adversity. Through both wrestling and MMA, Ray watched his sons express themselves uniquely, using their own styles and identities to grow into the young men they are destined to be. From the front row, he witnessed their evolution — fueled by exposure, creativity, and the confidence to be themselves.Ray also shares what it was like watching Saoul and Nat’aani Prado use their talents in completely different ways. The process wasn’t always easy, but his philosophy remained steady: support them fully, let them “sink or swim” on their own merits, and trust that they would rise. Even with the weight of not wanting to let his boys down, he always believed in their ability to accomplish whatever they set their hearts on.While the Prado Brothers became the first brother state champions in SLAM history, Ray knows their greatest accomplishment isn’t found on a podium — it’s in the men they are becoming.