PEAK Wrestling Club
ABOUT US
PEAK Wrestling Club was started in 2018 by Coach Erik Gonzalez with a great deal of support from his Heritage High School Associate Head Coach Jake Thomas, Prairie High School coaches Rob Smith (Head) and Jake Wilcox (Assistant). Additionally, we were fortunate to have so much more incredible support from our families as well as other guest coaches from time to time in our inaugural season! PEAK was created to provide more opportunities for more wrestlers who choose a lifestyle of success as outlined in our four core principles of PASSION, ENDURANCE, ACCOUNTABILITY, and KNOWLEDGE to gain the tools necessary to become champions on and off the mat. As such, we are trying to teach young wrestlers that a successful lifestyle knows no "off-season" and transcends all environments and circumstances and is therefore life changing!
COACH GONZALEZ
Coach Erik Gonzalez just finished his 20th season of coaching wrestling at all levels- youth, middle & high school, adult mixed martial arts, and 14 years running USA Wrestling clubs where he has coached multiple state champions including one triple-crown winner. In 16 years as a high school head coach, he has coached 3 teams to top 10 finishes at Mat Classic and 26 individual state placers including 3 state champions, 2 runners-up (one of which was female), and 5 academic state champions. In four years as an assistant prior to becoming a head coach, he also coached 2 more state champions and 2 more runners-up. During this time, in 2009, Coach Gonzalez completed a dual Master's Degree in Sports Coaching and Sports Management through the United States Sports Academy. As a result of all of his efforts, he has won 5 League and two Region Coach of the Year awards. He credits all of his success first and foremost to the Lord Jesus Christ as well as the undying support of his lovely wife of 21 years, Angela Gonzalez. Finally, Coach Gonzalez thanks all of his wrestlers over the years for all of their hard work and their families for all of their support. He considers it an honor and a privilege to be able to coach young men and women in this honorable sport and to be able to be a part of their formative years!
COACH SMITH
My wrestling background is rather extensive in both aspects of being an accomplished athlete and coach. I started my competitive career at the age of 8 and began coaching nearly year round in 1987 and have never looked back nor regretted a single day. My individual efforts culminated in my winning a Junior National Freestyle Championship in 1980.
Wrestling has given me so much as an individual that my one desire to give back to our youth the same attributes that I learned. Wrestling to me is the greatest sport ever conceived because of what it teaches: Self Discipline, Confidence, Respect, Work Ethic, Compassion, Courage, Dedication, and Defeat. These traits help guide our youth as they enter adulthood and the increase in commitments and life expectations. My philosophy on coaching is real simple. All I ask from my student-athletes is to put forth their best effort at all times, whether at practice or in competition. We have a couple of slogans that guide our efforts. The first is “State of Mind”. Wherever you are at and whatever is happening the outcome of that event will be based on your state of mind and your attitude will be directly related to prior events. Secondly, “PrACTice like a Champion”. We focus on this statement by asking the following questions. How does a champion act outside the wrestling arena? What do they do when no one is around? Do they carry themselves in a manner that is acceptable in our community? When an athlete leaves my program my singular goal for them is to be a good neighbor, good spouse, and good parent. With these attributes I believe they will be an asset to our community and pass down these beliefs and actions to their families. Based on the above, two of my teams have finished in the top 5 in the state and I have coached over 30 state placers including 6 state champions.
COACH THOMAS
COACH BROWN
