He followed that with three more league titles: 112 pounds in 1980 and 119 pounds in 1981.
In 1982, he became one of only two wrestlers in Channel League history to win four individual championships. He helped guide Dos Pueblos to four consecutive league titles and was named MVP of the Channel League as a Junior and Senior.
In 1982, Mike earned his fourth individual league title, second MVP award, and was crowned Champion at both the CIF Southern Section and California High School championships. His performance at State Tournament helped lead Dos Pueblos to fourth place, the highest finish ever earned by a Channel League Team.
Mike became the first wrestler in Channel League history to be named to the National High School All-American Team. This remarkable prep career earned Mike a full scholarship to Utah State University, where he registered an 11-10 win loss record as a freshman before suffering several devastating knee injuries.
Mike returned to Goleta in 1986, becoming an assistant on Mike Hart’s coaching staff at Dos Pueblos. He helped the Chargers win four consecutive league Championships (1986-1989), along with the Division I CIF Crown in 1989. Mike was named head coach in 1993 and added two more league titles (1995-1996), along with a second place finish in the CIF Southern Section (1996), to the school’s trophy case. He was named “Coach of the Year” by the Tri-Counties Wrestling Coaches Association in 1996.
Mike presently works as a managing partner for Gold’s Gyms of Santa Barbara. He and his wife Kate reside in Santa Barbara with their two boys, Aidan (3) and Sean (1).
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