Anthony (Tony) Andrade is a
league, state and national champion wrestler at 195 lb.
for Gilroy High School. He also played defensive end on
the Gilroy High championship football team.
In his senior year at GHS, Tony ran into some issues
with poor grades. Here was a nationally-ranked athlete
who was not cutting it academically. Matt Corona and
family stepped into the picture. Matt himself wrestled
at GHS and in college. He tried out for an Olympic
wrestling spot. Throughout Tony’s career Matt had
been a mentor and friend.
Matt and his family (in photo below) offered a
solution. Tony would move in with them for the rest
of the year. While Matt would continue to monitor
Tony’s wrestling, the Corona family would provide focus
and support for Tony’s academics and graduation. The
formula worked. Tony played football and then moved
into wrestling taking top honors in his weight class in
the local CCS, (Central Coast Section), state honors at
CIF (California Interscholastic Federation), and national
honors at NHSCA (National High School Coaches
Association).
Tony graduated from Gilroy High School this spring
and will be heading to Northeastern Oklahoma A&M
College in August.
Tony is a gentle soul in a 195-pound athlete’s body.
He is honest and straightforward. He has overcome
adversity. In high school he tore his ACL, recovered and
went on to earn championships. He faced his academic
shortcomings, studied and is now on his way to college.
Tony is one who elevates those around him. This
summer he has been working with a wrestling “boot
camp” for kids in grades 2 to 8. He also holds down a
part-time job at Sarah’s Vineyard. In college he hopes to
acquire a degree in sociology that might allow him to
return to the area and maybe work as a counselor at
the Boy's Ranch.
While Tony might not have had been given every-
thing he deserved in life, he has learned the value of
determination, courage, hard work and community.
He has the heart of a champion and has a great future
…thanks to family, friends, teammates, coaches
and mentors.
“Competing in college has
always been a dream of
mine; however, my priority
is to obtain my degree and
go back to my community
and become a mentor for
the future generation.”
GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN
AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2018
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