Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/279748
22 | NATIONAL WRESTLING HALL OF FAME & MUSEUM LATINO WRESTLING EXPERIENCE Sergio Gonzalez is a native of Hawthorne, Calif.; born on October 18, 1947. He wrestled for Redondo High School where he was 1964 Southern Section Champion. After graduation, he wrestled for a UCLA program that had not had a great deal of success on the mat. Gonzalez was one of the first stars for the Bruins in this sport, as he earned All-America status and finished second in both the 1968 and 1969 NCAA championships at 115 pounds. In his first finals, Gonzalez came tantalizingly close to the crown, leading Ken Melchiore of Lock Haven University 3-0 in the second period before his opponent rattled off the final nine points to claim the victory. In the 1969 finals match, the loss was even more heartbreaking, as John Miller of Oregon (another school that was seeking it first individual title) subdued Gonzalez in overtime. While unable win an individual title for the Bruins, several important championships and honors soon followed including: 1968 alternate for the U.S. Olympic Team to Mexico City, 1971 Pan American gold medalist at 105.5 pounds, fifth place at the Freestyle World Championships that same year, and 1974 National A.A.U. champion at 114.5 pounds. In addition, Sergio represented the U.S. at the 1972 Munich Olympics, finishing in seventh place, although he went undefeated (all three of his matches ended in draws). After graduation and completing his mat career, Gonzalez became head coach at Medford (Oregon) Senior High School, leading that program between 1977 and 1984. He then moved on to an assistant post at South Medford from 1985 to 1994. He also led the Panthers' program from 1992 through 1994 and again from 2005 through 2010. One of his charges, Dave Alonzo replaced Gonzalez at the helm in the fall of 2010. In addition to teaching and coaching duties, Gonzalez and Alonzo also run the South Oregon Youth Wrestling Camp out of Jacksonville. Finally, Gonzalez also served as an assistant coach for the 1996 Olympic Freestyle team in Atlanta. In a 2006 letter to the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, Gonzalez clearly demonstrated that his passion for the sport had not waned. He advised Hall of Fame Director Lee Roy Smith that he wanted to be sure that he be noted in the Hall's archives as an "UNDEFEATED (capital letters his own) Seventh Place at the 1972 Olympics with three draws from highly questionable officiating." Clearly, even into his 60s, the fire for competition and victory on the mat still burns in the heart of Sergio Gonzalez. Wrestled 1968-1969 University of California-Los Angeles 115lbs SERGIO STEVEN GONZALEZ