Gilroy
– He’s simply
”
Little Man.
”
Gilroy High freshman sensation Jesse Delgado always walks around
with a smile on his face. On the mat, he’s an assassin.
Gilroy – He’s simply “Little Man.”
Gilroy High freshman sensation Jesse Delgado always walks around with a smile on his face. On the mat, he’s an assassin.
“He’s a stud, an awesome wrestler,” marveled GHS senior 189-pounder Andres Barragan recently. “He goes in and does what he has to do every weekend. That’s why he’s ranked first in the state.”
Delgado doesn’t say much. But his wrestling speaks volumes.
“He quietly goes about his business,” GHS coach Armando Gonzalez said. “He works extremely hard. He knows what it takes to be the best because he’s been the best.”
Delgado was a decorated wrestler before his first match at Gilroy High. A three-time Schoolboy Nationals champion, Delgado has been in the spotlight for the past three years.
He caused quite a stir when he finished fifth at the Tournament of Champions in Reno. It was an auspicious debut that would have pleased the most discerning wrestler. Not Delgado.
“I could have wrestled better,” Delgado said. “It’s one of the toughest tournaments in the country. I don’t like to lose. Nobody does.”
And yet few take it so personally.
“He hates to lose,” Gonzalez said. “He didn’t realize the enormity of the accomplishment (at Reno) because he’s so young. That put him in the national rankings. You notice he hasn’t lost since then.
“He’s been focused and motivated (since the two losses). He knows what it takes to be best. He’s very grounded and calm.”
Delgado has quite an impressive resume – tournament titles at Zinkin, Doc Buchanan, Five Counties and Overfelt. With a 25-2 record, he leads the team in wins and pins. Only Hunter Collins has lost less bouts.
“I look at Hunter and that’s one of my motivations,” Delgado said. “I want to get to where he is, to be a state champion.”
Yes, but even Collins hasn’t reached that exalted status. As a sophomore, Collins finished second in the state at 171. Count Collins, however, as a Delgado admirer.
“He’s trained at a whole different level since he was little,” Collins said. “He has a great attitude. He’s just hard-nosed when he’s on the mat. When he’s around us, he’s a funny guy who is quiet and a hard worker.”
Delgado has been trained and coached by his father, Jesse Delgado, Sr., since he began wrestling as a 4-year-old. He started with Gilroy six years ago. Gonzalez praises the support the 103-pounder got from his parents, including mother Liz Delgado. Even younger brother, Joseph, 6, is wrestling now.
Delgado appreciates the work his father has put in with him. Jesse Sr. wrestled in high school in Sacramento. He didn’t have the resume of his son. But he is there for Jesse Jr., and has traveled to all the youngster’s tournaments.
When the 103-pounder puts his game face on, look out. Whether it’s drilling with a partner or listening to some rock music in preparation, he is always ready to go when the referee says, “Ready, wrestle.” He’s got a good role model in his father and Collins.
“I like his attitude and the way he looks at things,” Delgado said of Collins. “I like how he pushes himself at practice.”
He also likes how Collins pushes himself in school. Delgado is the same way, maintaining an A average in the classroom. It’s all about hard work in the classroom and on the mat.
Gonzalez senses something special in his midst.
“Right now, he’s eclipsing all the best wrestlers I’ve had,” Gonzalez said. “He could be our first state champion.”
First things first and that means Delgado has his sights set on Mid-Cals. The Little Man still has some big things to do.
