Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/279748
14 | NATIONAL WRESTLING HALL OF FAME & MUSEUM LATINO WRESTLING EXPERIENCE For Jesse Delgado—a 2009 state wrestling champion from Gilroy, Calif.—winning at the collegiate level would not come on the west coast. Instead, it came when he moved to the heart of the Midwest. The 125-pound wrestler came to Champaign, Ill., when he chose to wrestle at the University of Illinois after spending one year redshirting at Cal Poly. "I've never been more proud of anybody and how far this kid has come," said Illinois Associate Head Wrestling Coach Mark Perry. "He was fourth in the state as a high school senior in 2010 and in 2013 he won an NCAA championship." And if there is anyone who understands how far Delgado has come, it would be Perry. The former two-time NCAA champion originally signed Delgado to join him when he was an assistant at Cal Poly. When Perry moved to Illinois, Delgado chose to follow Perry to Champaign. "After I took the Illinois job, he was not going to get released," Perry said. "But once Jesse got released, he came with me. We have a close bond. I tell people we're like brothers." Delgado has family in California, but only his father, Jesus, is able to spend any time in Champaign. Jesus also happened to be in Des Moines, Iowa, to watch his son win the 2013 NCAA championship at 125 pounds as a sophomore. Unfortunately, Jesse's mother, Elizabeth, had to work the night her son won gold at the NCAA tournament. She also tended to his infant sister and younger brother. The entire Delgado family reunited the first week in April of 2013 to celebrate Jesse's special victory. "Coming to Illinois was important for a number of reasons," said Delgado. "It gave me an opportunity to grow not only as a wrestler, but as a person. I had to deal with not seeing my friends or family for two or three years. "Everybody has their own personal problems, and when you're in college, it's just kind of hard when your parents and your friends aren't there, but wrestling gave me an opportunity to grow." Wrestled 2011-Present University of Illinois 125lbs JESSE DELGADO