Takedown Report

Sport changed their lives and led two coaches to Wrestling Hall of Fame

By Greg Mellen

Wrestling gave two men very different lives when they easily could have gone down dangerous paths.

When Mark Calentino found wrestling, he had been in alternative high school and was acting out in school. Calentino was made captain of a fledgling program at Laguna Hills High and felt he had to live up to the title.

Ricardo “Rich” Trevino was a street kid in Santa Ana whose friends were into tagging and heading into dark waters. Trevino likes to say “wrestling found me,” and the sport saved him.

For both, the sport provided purpose and discipline.

Calentino and Trevino went on to have stellar careers as high school athletes and prominence in the sport as coaches. Both were recently honored with wrestling’s highest accolade: induction to the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Calentino, 60, known as Coach Cal around San Clemente High, spent virtually his entire career at the school as a Life Science & Physical Science teacher teacher and wrestling coach. He joined the school in 1990 and later succeeded local legend John Owens. Calentino retired from coaching this year, although he still teaches science. … rest of story and pictures at … CUSdinsider.org/sport-changed-their-lives-and-led-two-coaches-to-wrestling-hall-of-fame

September 20, 2023 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized