GHS Athletic Standouts, Sarah Villar and Armando Gonzalez,
Have Each Signed a Letter of Intent to Play at the Collegiate
Level
Time after time, Gilroy wrestler Armando Gonzalez hit the mat, went for a run or ate a salad when he’d rather have ice cream.
Year-round since age 10, Gilroy softball player Sarah Villar threw hundreds of pitches in practice and games, constantly looking for ways to become a better pitcher.
The sacrifices of the two Gilroy senior athletes have been many. But now they’ve paid off in the form of athletic scholarships.
Four-time Central Coast Section champion and state qualifier Gonzalez signed with Fresno State while three-year varsity starter Villar signed with Sonoma State during the November early signing period.
Gonzalez, who is the second-ranked wrestler in his weight class, said he originally wanted to go to Cal Poly, but that the Bulldogs’ program ultimately won him over.
“I liked the coaching staff and tournament schedule. There’s a lot of opportunity there,” Gonzalez said. “(Fresno State) is where I knew I’d be most successful.”
Last March, the Bulldogs sent five wrestlers to the NCAA Championships. Since then, Shawn Charles has taken over as Fresno’s head coach.
The first-year coach was pleased to be able to bring in a wrestler with the pedigree of Gonzalez, who grew up learning how to wrestle under the guidance of his father Armando as he worked his way through the ranks of the Gilroy Hawks wrestling club and the Gilroy High team.
“Armando is another talented wrestler that we are glad to be able to bring into Fresno State from inside California,” Charles said in a press release from the university. “As a result of his background, he really knows wrestling and loves the sport.”
Gonzalez said he will wrestle at either 133 or 141 pounds at the collegiate level.
In signing with Division II Sonoma State, Villar feels her goals have come full-circle.
“(Playing in college) is what has motivated me to keep on going,” she said. “I’ve had so much fun with the game.”
Villar, who became Mustangs’ starting pitcher as a sophomore, becomes the fourth softball pitcher from Gilroy to have earned a college scholarship. Sara Caudle, a ’99 GHS grad who went on to become an All-American at Baylor, Andrea Bunten (’01, Canisius University) and Jen Olvera (’03, Vanguard University) all preceded Villar.
Fittingly, it was Caudle who first taught Villar how to pitch when she was 10 years old. Since then, Villar has played for several travel teams, including the San Jose Xtreme Gold for the past two years.
It was when Villar was playing for the Xtreme that she caught the eye of Sonoma State coach Jamie Wallin.
Sarah’s dad, Dave, didn’t even have to make a sales pitch when he spotted Wallin eating a burger in a hotel restaurant during a travel ball tournament. The coach was already on her way to see Sarah pitch.
“He came up and we talked and he said, ‘What are you looking for?'” Wallin recalled. “I told him I had to see this girl Sarah Villar and he said, ‘Well, that’s my daughter.'”
After Wallin saw Villar pitch in person, she said it was a “no-brainer” that she wanted her to play for the Seawolves.
“Sarah does a lot of things well on the mound. She’s a tremendous pitcher, very gritty and competitive and that shines through right away,” Wallin said.
For Villar, Sonoma State was a perfect fit.
“It’s far enough away from home that I have my own space, but I’ll be able to come back on weekends,” she said. “I love the team and the coaches.”
With the weight of making a college decision of their shoulders, both Gonzalez and Villar now look forward to relaxing and enjoying the rest of their senior years.
“It’s nice that I’ve already signed, that I know where I’m going to be,” Gonzalez said.
