When Mr. O stands in front of his class, his students see him as both a teacher and a coach. What they don’t know is that back when he was in high school at Galileo, he was a star wrestler. His dedication earned him a full-ride scholarship to UC Berkeley, and now, as a coach, he helps guide the next generation of athletes.
It all started when Mr. O transferred to Galileo High School during his junior year from Nigeria. He wanted to play football, but by the time he arrived, it was too late to join the team. A friend of his suggested giving wrestling a try. At first, Mr. O thought wrestling was like WWE, just fake moves and body slams. But once he gave it a shot, he realized it was much more.
“My first year wasn’t easy. Making the transition, meeting new people, and trying to figure out how to get around the city by commuting made it tough as well. I struggled a lot, but I kept going. In my senior year, Mr. O decided to commit fully, dropping from 200 pounds to 160 and worked harder than ever, and went undefeated in the league,” said Mr. O.
Mr. O believes he achieved a scholarship to UC Berkeley because the school wanted a well rounded student showing that he was a student athlete and a student body officer and a club officer that showed a commitment to the sport while maintaining great academic performance.
Now, as a coach, Mr. O understands exactly how his wrestlers feel. He knows how tough the sport can be and how rewarding it is when you put in the effort. Wrestling taught him discipline and hard work, and he wants to pass those lessons on to his athletes. He and the other coaches, who are also alumni, have a special bond, knowing what it takes to succeed in wrestling.
When Mr. O steps onto the mat now, it makes him feel young again. His past as a wrestler helps him connect with his athletes, pushing them to be better, just like how his coaches did for him. He hopes that some of them will be like him and will look back one day and see how wrestling helped shape them into stronger, more committed people.
