From a PE Class at age 15 to the NWCA Hall of Fame

 by Laura Stetser

Meet fellow SYC member Mike Gallego who recently celebrated an incredible accomplishment – he was inducted into the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Hall of Fame. The understated simplicity of his inductee write-up speaks to his impressive wrestling career:

Gallego was a three-time All-American for the Bulldogs, winning two College Division National Championships at 167 in 1967 and 1968. He also was a two-time NCAA Division I National Finalist in those years, winning the D1 title at 167 in 1968. He wrestled at Fresno State from 1965-68, and also represented the United States on two World Teams, in freestyle at 163 pounds in 1971, and in greco at 180.5 in 1973.  (2022, February) NWCA Announces Jim Koch Division II Hall of Fame 2022 Class. https://www.nwcaonline.com/nwca-announces-jim-koch-division-ii-hall-of-fame-2022-class/

THE BEGINNING

Mike’s wrestling career began at the age of fifteen in his sophomore year at McLane High School in Fresno.  As part of the physical education curriculum, students were introduced to a different sport, one of which was wrestling.

“This was my first year at a new school since my family had moved and the wrestling coach was also my neighbor. He eventually became a friend and a mentor, and he convinced me to try out for the team.  I had always wanted to do martial arts, and this was my first opportunity.”

Although Mike only wrestled for McLane High School for a year, his connection with his coach remained. When his parents moved to Pacific Grove, and the new school started a wrestling team in his senior year, Mike joined. He went from not winning one varsity match his first year to winning all his matches up to his last match in the state championships. He credits much of this to his coach at that time who, although he had no wrestling experience was a master at motivation and the psychology of winning. As Mike says, “Coaching has many ways to bring success.”

A PASSION FOR WRESTLING

Mike’s passion for wrestling was cemented and he graduated from high school determined to wrestle in college. “What I love about the sport of wrestling is how much it teaches one about life’s challenges.  The best lesson I learned was the importance of showing up for the challenge – which, being the first step, is usually the hardest.”

A NATURAL DECISION

When he learned his first coach from McLane High School was going to be the Fresno State wrestling coach it made returning to Fresno and wrestling for the Bulldogs a natural decision. It would be the start of a remarkable chapter in his wrestling career and an incredible relationship with his coach that had started in a PE class. They would go on to win the division one NCAA wrestling championship along with three other national championships.

TRAINING FOR SUCCESS

When asked about his training during those years he replies, “Training for success in anything is difficult.  The secret to easing that difficulty is picking out the things you enjoy doing.  In wrestling if I didn’t achieve my goals, I knew that in the worst-case scenario I would be stronger and healthier.”

“I credit this concept as the force behind being a member of two world teams, the 1971 freestyle wrestling team in Sophia, Bulgaria, and the 1973 Greco Roman wrestling team in Teheran, Iran.  Having summer vacation time between my four years in dental school – and wrestling being a great escape – it also allowed me to have a paid vacation sponsored by the San Francisco Olympic Club doing what I enjoyed. To my surprise I won the tournaments and was given the honor of representing the United States against the best in the world.”
 
 
(For those who might not know, the Olympics are held every four years with all sports together in one place, and the World Games are held each year in the four years between the Olympics in a separate location for each sport).

HIS FOCUS

Today Mike focuses on maintaining flexibility and strength by choosing a variety of the classes offered at South Yuba Club. “I am very thankful to have a facility such as the South Yuba Club that emphasizes the same goals with a professionalism that sets the standard for all gyms.” He aims to maintain working out an hour a day, five days a week along with a sensible lifestyle.

“My goal today is to enjoy life at 100 years old.”