Talented Tiger wrestler inks letter-of-intent to take his considerable mat skills to Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo

Kloster, who signed a letter-of-intent on Tuesday in the school’s event center while family and many of his football and wrestling teammates looked on, will wrestle for the Division 1 Mustangs. He is also a talented student and a former state wrestling qualifier whom his coach says has the skills to go all the way this year in his final season as a Tiger.

He also happens to be the son of former Tiger Josh Kloster (a solid athlete himself who played football and track for the Tigers and later earned a football scholarship to Fresno State) and his wife Katy, earned kudos on the football field as well, earning West Yosemite League first-team all-league status his final season.

Cal Poly apparently likes what it sees with Kloster. As a junior, wrestling at 160 pounds, Kloster finished eighth overall at last year’s California State Wrestling Championships in Bakersfield.

“The education, at the school, is amazing,” said an elated Kloster minutes before signing. “I’m majoring in agricultural engineering, so it’s a perfect fit. It’s also not too far away from home, and I really fell in love with the coaches and the campus when I went on my visit. I think it’s the best fit for me.”

Kloster, the oldest of three brothers, says while he enjoys football too, the sport may not be on his agenda at Cal Poly. “I recently talked to my coaches, and they said they’re not going to allow me to dual sport. It was a possibility, but they said want me to unlock my full potential in wrestling and just wrestle all year round.”

What’s his potential? Are championships on his agenda? “I’ve never really wrestled year-round. I’ve never been able to unlock my full potential. I hope to be a two-time all-American and make to the big stage and be a national champion one day,” he said.

What got him interested in the sport that’s going to provide him with a college education? As an elementary grade student, a football coach suggested he give wrestling a try. He did, and it paid off big time for Kloster. “I just fell in love with the sport,” he said.

His high school coach, Marcio Botelho, himself a former Tiger state wrestling champ, says the young Kloster has all the tools to be successful. “Will is one of those special kids. He’s such a great athlete, and he’s a student of the game. Also, he’s a great student, in and out of the classroom. He’s a great student-athlete, and Cal Poly’s going to be happy with him. They’re going to see characteristics that I see in that his best wrestling is still to come. He’s going to grow into a great Division 1 athlete.”

“We’re very proud of him and very proud for his family, the hard work and dedication that they’ve put in to get to where he’s at today," said the longtime Tiger coach.

How about this wrestling season? After all, the young wrestler just started his senior season. “This year Will should be in the running for winning a state championship,” said Botelho. “I truly do believe he has the ability to do it. We see it, and I know Cal Poly sees it. He’s one of our top seniors in the state, and hopefully, he’ll put everything together, and when that time comes, he can win himself a state championship.”