By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
PARK CITY -- Bob Gonzales arrived at Hartman Arena early Saturday morning and made the rounds prior to the start of the Class 6A boys wrestling tournament, making sure he made the most of his final experience as a high school coach after a banner 44-year prep career.
Gonzales, who announced his retirement from coaching earlier this week, went from team to team on the floor of the arena, visiting with coaches and taking pictures with his iPad to remember the moment.
"As I've been making my way around the arena, it's just been a blast to talk to all my friends,'' Gonzales said. "I feel a little sad because of the great friendships I've built. Most of the coaches that are coaching I actually watched them wrestle, but it's time.''
Retiring Manhattan wrestling coach Bob Gonzales, who lives in Topeka and coached at Topeka West and Shawnee Heights, hugs fellow coaches at Saturday's Class 6A state tournament. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Gonzales, who lives in Topeka and coached nine years as an assistant at Topeka West and 19 years as the head coach at Shawnee Heights, has served as the head coach Manhattan for 16 seasons, leading the Indians to three 6A state championships.
Gonzales, who got his start in coaching as a graduate assistant in football at Fort Hays State, has undergone left knee replacement and right hip replacement surgery over the past 10 months and returned to coaching on Feb. 3 after a five-week medical leave.
He said that the recent surgeries helped convince him that it was time to retire from coaching.
"That probably sped up the time table,'' said the 66-year-old Gonzales, who is widely known as Gonzo. "I felt fragile. I was out on the mat Christmas time and I felt very fragile and didn't feel I was contributing to our program in January. Our coaching staff (Shawn Bammes, Dan Grater and Dayton Christ) did a wonderful job of running things, but there just aren't any more bones in my body to break, so it's time to go on.
"I have my health. I've learned how to walk and I'm just going to look forward to being a teacher in the building and helping our administration wherever they need me, and if the wrestling community needs me, I'm available.''
Retiring Manhattan wrestling coach Bob Gonzales snaps pictures before Saturday's Class 6A state wrestling tournament. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Gonzales said he has cherished his relationships with coaches and athletes over the years and has also worked closely with Topeka media, dating back to local legends Ron Paradis and Bob Hentzen.
"I used to go down to The Capital-Journal building on Jefferson Street and I used to sit in there and Bob Hentzen would tell me stories about when he worked at The Daily Oklahoman and he actually knew wrestling,'' Gonzales said. "I just had a blast doing down there.''
As for wrestlng, Gonzales still plans to be around the sport he loves, and the state tournament, in the future.
"I'll probably come and maybe watch from high up in the bleachers,'' he said. "That way I'm not in anybody's way.
"I can't say enough positives. My relationships over the years have been just phenomenal. It's been fun, it's been a blast.''
