Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/279748
LATINO WRESTLING EXPERIENCE NATIONAL WRESTLING HALL OF FAME & MUSEUM | 39 By the early 1980s, the Cal State-Bakersfield program, under the guidance of Coach Joe Seay produced an impressive number of national qualifiers, with several individuals earning more than one trip. Not bad for a program that started in 1972 and was often run on a shoestring budget. One of the individuals attracted to the program was Jesse Reyes. Starting in 1980, Reyes benefited from working with the likes of graduate assistant coaches Joe Gonzalez and John Azevedo, and matured into a tremendous performer for the Roadrunners. After honing his craft under excellent tutelage, Reyes went on to have two of the greatest seasons ever for the CSU-B program in 1983 and 1984. His combined record during those campaigns was 85-6, and he finished his overall career with a mark of 151- 22-1. Reyes won two Division II NCAA titles and advanced to the Division I finals in 1984 where he defeated Princeton's John Orr, 19-11, at 142 pounds. As of 2012, he is still in the top 10 in the program's history in single season wins (47), best winning percentage in a season (.959), career wins, and career winning percentage (.871). After graduating with a degree in business administration, Reyes followed his time on the mat with stints as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, followed by assistant coaching posts at Arizona State, Oklahoma State, and Michigan State. He then became head coach at Purdue University in 1993. During his time in charge of the Boilermakers, Reyes coached 16 All Americans and four Big Ten champions. His team's high water mark at the NCAA was a 14th place finish in 2003. His overall record at the time of his resignation in 2007 was 179-120-3; the winningest coach in Purdue history. He was inducted into the California Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2012. Wrestled 1980-1984 California State University-Bakersfield 142lbs JESSE REYES