The Live Oak wrestlers would like to thank their coaches, as only they can, for an outstanding 2011-12 season.
The Acorns crowned the school’s first CIF state champions in senior Amy Fearnside and sophomore Isaiah Locsin, who also won Central Coast Section titles, placed a program-best fourth in the Blossom Valley Athletic League Tournament while producing three individual-title winners – Tyler Pederson, Johnathan Robles-Rials, Locsin – and won a share of a third straight dual-meet crown in their first season as part of the BVAL’s elite Mount Hamilton Division.
This, from a team that took sixth in the C level West Valley Division four years ago, led Live Oak athletic director Mark Cummins to write, “We are very proud of our wrestling program at Live Oak. Our coaches do a tremendous job with our student athletes both on and off the wrestling mat.”
The program’s success is as much a credit to the wrestlers as it is to coach Robert Fernandez and his top-flight staff of Armando Gonzalez, Armando Gonzalez Jr., Martin Gonzalez, Adin Dueñas, Dan Locsin, “Papa” Mitch Collins, Wade Katsuyoshi, Raul Alvarez and Tumendemberel Zuunbayan.
The following are excerpts – edited for brevity – from letters written by the Live Oak wrestlers to their coaches, thanking them for the many, molding experiences they shared together.
“I would love to thank all the coaches for the wonderful year. Without all of them, we wouldn’t have done nearly as much as we did. (Coach Locsin) made everyone stronger with his Yoke Fit. Armando Gonzalez Jr. and Adin Dueñas just graduated from wrestling in college, so they brought even more technique.
“Coach Armando Gonzalez treats everyone on the team as if they were his own kid. He works hard to ensure that were the best we can be in wrestling and in life. The team is blessed to have a coach like him.
“Coach Robert Fernandez is fun and cool, but when it comes to business, he is all seriousness. I want to thank him for a great high school career.”
– Tyler Pederson, senior co-captain
“You would tell us to, “push, pull, snap,” so we did. You would tell us to “Get in your stance,” so we did. You told us to “shoot,” so we did. You never told us to win, but we did.
“Through the blood, sweat and tears, through and thick, you say you are honored and so proud to be my coach. In all honestly, I am who I am today because of you. For that, I thank you. I am honored and so proud to be your wrestler.”
– Ramon Lucatero, junior
“Couldn’t have done it without you guys this season. Danny helping me physically, pushing the whole team through the hard workouts we do; Adin getting me mentally ready for a tournament; Mondo for knowing what my potential is and pushing me year-round.
“I could always hear coach Fernandez – ‘Your mind quits before your body does.’
“Little Mondo helps me relax at practice and before a match, making sure that I can wrestle to my full potential.”
– Derek Peralta, junior
“I feel that they lead our team to make great steps forward to become an up-and-coming wrestling powerhouse. All of the support they gave us made it easier. They may have put us through hell some days, but it was worth every single second. I would like to thank them all.”
– Josh Acosta, junior
“Without my coaches, I wouldn’t be anywhere. When I came in the wrestling room for the first time, I was welcomed by Mondo. He is a very encouraging coach; he would get our spirits up. Mondo Jr. and Adin spread their learning onto us. Papa Mitch and Raul helped me at tournaments and in the wrestling room.
“Without the help and support of my coaches, I would have never made it this far.”
– Brody Garcia, freshman
“I want to thank all my coaches for being there for me during the season and being supportive whether I won or lost my matches. They me go from being big and slow to big, fast and strong. All the training and time they put into us is really amazing.”
– Hunter Shroff, freshman
“I just want to thank the coaches for all the time and effort they put into us. The time they take out of their days just to coach us, to help us train and get better, all they sacrifice to benefit us without expecting anything back. They always help us excel and succeed. That’s why we’re such a good team. That’s why we’re so focused. That’s why we have to train so hard and try so hard in our matches – that’s the only way we can pay them back.”
– Adam Mito, freshman
“I really appreciate what the coaches have done for us. They make us work hard. They push us to our breaking point, and they always want to be there. They coach with passion and heart, and I’m just happy to have the best coaches in the nation.”
– Nick Locsin, junior
“The coaches for the Live Oak wrestling team are some of the most driven, inspirational people I know. They have pushed everyone to be both physically and mentally strong young men and women. If you asked me who has taught me the most, I couldn’t say because all of them have taught me valuable lessons to carry with me for my whole life. Their advice ranges from good study habits to healthy eating.”
– Amber Aoehi, freshman
“Without our coaches, none of us would be at the level of success we are at today, nor would we have obtained the life skills we’ve gained. They are always telling us to give 100 percent to everything we do in life, to never give up and to never cheat ourselves out of anything in life. Our coaches taught us more than just how to wrestle, how to win and how to survive; they’ve taught us life lessons, that without determination and commitment, you will never get as far as you can.”
– Christina Perea, freshman
“You dedicated yourselves and your time to make us better people and great wrestlers.”
– Austin Langford, sophomore
“I really want to thank my coaches for putting so much time in training me. I could not have done it without them.
“Coach Armando is an awesome coach. Everyday I learn something new and great from him. He has a unique way of connecting with us and makes it really fun.
“Coach Armando Jr. knows how to motivate me and make me want to be a better wrestler. I am always influenced by him.
“Coach Adin, whenever I wrestle with him, he always shows me how to stay in good position and wrestle technically sound. He inspires me to work hard every day.
“Coach Dan, when my dad coaches, he knows how to make me want to work hard and be a better person. I want to thank him for all the hours he puts into working us out and cleaning the room every day.
“Coach Robert does so much for the team. He knows how to keep the energy up and make us laugh.”
– Isaiah Locsin, sophomore co-captain
“The coaches have transformed these team members from boys to men, and from girls to young women. All of our coaches play a special role in our physical and psychological development. They took this sport and made it useful in our lifestyles. They have shaped us into young adults with life skills like self-discipline, respect and leadership.
“Every coach is a new branch for our athletes to attach onto. The fruit of our success ultimately comes from the coaches.”
– Amy Fearnside, senior
