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10 | NATIONAL WRESTLING HALL OF FAME & MUSEUM LATINO WRESTLING EXPERIENCE Growing up in Coachella, Calif., which he characterized as "a tough town," Alfred Castro and his family looked for a vehicle to steer him clear of fights and other sorts of academic and social trouble. Castro found that outlet during his freshman year at Coachella Valley High School: wrestling. Over his career for a school with the unusual moniker of "Arabs," Castro won a total of 40 matches at 121 pounds and became the institution's lone state champion in 1982. After graduation, he joined what was, in the early 1980s, a top-flight program with the Utah State University Aggies, under the guidance of Coach Bob Carlson (also a former Aggie grappler). Choosing to move to Utah, far away from his hometown, proved to be an excellent choice for Castro as this young Latino starred on the mat and completed his physical education degree in 1988. Starting as a freshman in 1984, Castro won the Pacific Coast Athletic Association (PCAA) crown at 118 pounds. and this success was just the start of his phenomenal career in Logan. He followed up with a 32-7-1 record as a sophomore and capped off that campaign with a seventh-place finish (and All America status) in his classification at the NCAA Championships, held that year at the Myriad in Oklahoma City. As a junior, he was ranked as high as No. 1 in the nation at one point and qualified for the NCAAs after winning the PCAA crown. This time, he finished eighth at the tournament held in Iowa City. Castro's wrestled in the East-West All Star match and was the only grappler not from an institution in Iowa or Oklahoma to be so honored. Castro hoped to repeat his accomplishments at the 126 lbs. level, but a shoulder injury prevented him from competing as a senior. After graduation, Castro utilized his USU degree (and a second degree in liberal arts) to work as a counselor for troubled teens at a juvenile facility in his home state of California. Afterward, he became an elementary school teacher; a job he has held for more than 20 years. His most recent assignment has been at the James Madison Elementary School in Indio, California. In addition to instructing his charges, Castro encourages pupils to take up the sport that did so much to shape his life. For his great accomplishments on the mat--he is only one of two two-time All Americans in USU wrestling history- -Alfred Castro was inducted into the Utah State University Hall of Fame in 2012. Wrestled 1984-1987 Utah State University 118lbs // 126lbs ALFRED CASTRO